|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
 |
  |
Bangladesh
>> Regional Overview >> Bangladesh Overview Program Data Sheet
388-009
USAID MISSION: Bangladesh
PROGRAM TITLE: Democracy and Governance Strengthened (Pillar: Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE AND NUMBER: Strengthened Institutions of Democracy, 388-009
STATUS: Continuing
PLANNED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $5,500,000 DA
UNOBLIGATED PRIOR YEAR FUNDS AND FUNDING SOURCE: $200,000 DA; $1,004,931 CSD
PROPOSED FY 2003 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $8,350,000 DA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 2000 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2006Summary: USAID’s program is designed to strengthen institutions of democracy. Funded by DA, CSD and ESF resources, it includes:
- grants, technical assistance and training to promote strong local government;
- technical assistance to civil society and parliamentary committees to increase citizen input in the lawmaking process; and
- grants, technical assistance and training to civil society organizations advocating for human rights.
Beneficiaries include under-represented and vulnerable people, especially women and children. Civil society groups are direct beneficiaries of the human rights program. Education activities will target under served children, in particular girls.
Inputs, Outputs and Activities: FY 2002 Program: USAID will fund democracy and governance programs to support local government development, human rights, parliament and efforts to combat trafficking of women and children. The local government program will stimulate national level public debate and analysis of policy alternatives for strong local government. Parliamentary programs will support: (1) civil society input into parliamentary deliberations; (2) expansion of political party development efforts; and (3) an effort to improve media coverage of parliament. Grants and training will support advocacy of human rights by Bangladeshi civil society organizations on such issues as trafficking of women and children, violence against women, garment workers’ rights, and child labor. New grants will be made to non-government organizations (NGOs) for innovative basic education projects contributing to improvements in the quality of education and access for underserved children. A basic education assessment will be conducted to help direct USAID’s future basic education resources to have the greatest impact while complementing the efforts of the government and other donors.
Planned FY 2003 Program: USAID plans to use FY 2003 resources for ongoing support to local government development, parliamentary strengthening and human rights programs initiated in the FY 2002, and for expanding grants to NGOs working in the above areas. USAID intends to fund a new initiative to improve the accessibility and quality of basic education for underserved children. ESF funds will be used to protect the labor rights of women workers in export industries, and for public opinion polling and media work.
SUBMISSION OF THIS PROGRAM DATA SHEET CONSTITUTES FORMAL RENOTIFICATION OF USAID’S INTENT TO OBLIGATE FY 2002 RESOURCES FOR THE ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED ABOVE. Performance and Results: Two major agreements were recently concluded to initiate new grant-making, technical assistance and training activities for Bangladeshi NGOs in FY 2002. This assistance will build support for stronger local government and build capacity for the advocacy of human rights.
During FY 2001, the USAID program provided assistance for the October 2001 parliamentary elections, support for the civil society watchdog and voter education, political party poll watchers, international observers, and a UN coordination office. USAID and the U.S. Embassy were major contributors to free and fair elections, in close coordination with other donors. Over 150,000 domestic observers were deployed; 630,000 manuals were printed, distributed and used in training over 450,000 political party poll watchers. The outcome of USAID’s support in coordination with other donors and civil society organizations was the freest and most transparent election in Bangladesh’s history.
USAID’s anti-trafficking in humans program began to produce some of the first systematic, periodic data this year. One USAID-supported NGO has effected the return of 44 women and children from India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, released six women and 24 children who were victims of internal trafficking, and has helped the police to arrest 108 traffickers over a fifteen-month period, three of whom were convicted. USAID-funded anthropological research has already begun to uncover aspects of international trafficking that had not been recognized before.
A USAID-supported center for women working in the garment industry was established this year. Demand has been high for its nightly training program on human rights, health and labor issues, and several human rights organizations have stepped in to assist in training and advocating for issues affecting women garment workers. A small fire-safety program was funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and endorsed by the garment manufacturers association, based on the existing USAID-supported program.
The USAID-supported Bangladesh chapter of Transparency International (TIB) took a higher profile role this year. A major analysis of corruption in the education sector, a fact-finding exercise on the Bangladesh Bureau of Anti-Corruption, and the TI (Berlin) corruption perception survey (placing Bangladesh at the bottom) received wide press attention and became an important national political discussion. USAID's funding has allowed TIB to test its grassroots organizational model by establishing and monitoring six local civil society watchdog groups.
USAID anticipates that its support through FY 2006 will result in a substantive public debate on the devolution of power to local government, a parliament that is increasingly responsive to its citizenry, and improved civil society advocacy of human rights.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: USAID’s democracy program is implemented through Associates in Rural Development, Transparency International Bangladesh, The Asia Foundation, Academy for Educational Development, National Democratic Institute, American Center for International Labor Solidarity, The International Foundation for Election Systems, Creative Associates International, and local organizations such as the Bangladeshi National Women Lawyers' Association and Action Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children.
US Financing in Thousands of Dollars
388-009 Strengthened institutions of democracy CSD DA ESF Through September 30, 2000 Obligations 0 389 0 Expenditures 0 111 0 Unliquidated 0 278 0 Fiscal Year 2001 Obligations 495 4,493 0 Expenditures 0 472 0 Through September 30, 2001 Obligations 495 4,882 0 Expenditures 0 583 0 Unliquidated 495 4,299 0 Prior Year Unobligated Funds Obligations 1,005 200 0 Planned Fiscal Year 2002 NOA Obligations 0 5,500 0 Total Planned Fiscal Year 2002 Obligations 1,005 5,700 0 Proposed Fiscal Year 2003 NOA Obligations 0 8,350 2,500 Future Obligations 0 3,218 0 Est. Total Cost 1,500 22,150 2,500
 |
|||
Last Updated on: June 10, 2002 |
