ToolBOX
Local Governance Self-Assessment (Bangladesh)
| Purpose |
The main objective of the community level local governance self-assessment is educational. However, the Self-Assessment exercise is also meant to mobilize action by the people and contribute to better functioning of governance in their Union Parishad (local governments), through the following specific objectives:
Use the outcome as baseline information for the community, the Union and projects. At the Union Parishad level, the LGSA main objectives are to raise the level of awareness and understanding of the participants in regard to different local governance issues and to encourage the Union Parishad (UP) to take initiatives to improve local governance functioning. Apart from these objectives the results of the assessment can be used as baseline information for the Union Parishad itself as well as for projects. |
|---|---|
| Types of data used |
Quantitative and qualitative outputs from the discussions undertaken as well as the questionnaire presented and filled during the meetings held at the community and UP levels. Information is mainly subjective given the focus on local actors’ perceptions. |
| Methodology |
The Local Governance Self-Assessment exercise is conducted through stakeholders’ meetings at two different levels: at the ward/citizen/community level, and at the Union Parishad level.The meetings follow some common steps: Identify and discuss roles of different actors regarding local governance; Identify key local governance issues (demand and supply sides issues); Evaluate local governance issues; Define priorities that need improvement; Assign responsibilities for forwarding assessment results (at the community level) or Elaborate Local Governance Improvement Plan (at the UP level); Feedback and closing.
The first stage aims to help participants (at the community and UP level separately) understand that local governance is not only about the Union Parishad but that there are many more actors in the Union that play an important role in regard to local governance. Flashcards with pictures of all important categories of actors should be displayed and the participants invited to explain what different roles these actors play in the Union regarding local governance. The following are the groups of actors that feature on flashcards: the (i) Union Parishad, (ii) community organizations/ citizens, (iii) traditional leaders/institutions (e.g. the elite, religious leaders), (iv) government line agencies, (v) private sector, (vi) support organizations (NGOs). Participants are invited to discuss these two questions:
The evaluation of local governance issues, at both the community and UP levels, takes place in several small groups of maximum 8 persons. Such an assessment is undertaken through a questionnaire examining some “core governance issues” (20 for the community LGSA and 28 for the UP LGSA, organised into the demand and supply sides of local governance).Once participants in each group all agree on what the question means and what the ideal situation would look like, they make their individual ranking regarding the current situation. The ranking is done on a common poster paper on a score from 1 to 6. Table 27 provides some examples of “core governance issues” covered in the community questionnaire, and the scoring system.
Once all issues are assessed, each group should decide on a maximum of four issues that they would like to see improved; these issues will be further discussed with the other groups in order to draw up a final list of priority issues that have to be improved. At the community level LGSA, these priorities can be expected to be improved either by community groups or by the Union Parishad; while, at the UP level LGSA, the priority issues identified in the meeting will only be the responsibility of the Union Parishad that is meant to develop a Local Governance Improvement Plan accordingly. Results from the community self-assessment are expected to be presented to the Union Parishad in order to be integrated in the Local Governance Improvement Plan. |
| Region |
Asia and the Pacific
|
| Area of Governance |
Local Governance and Decentralization
|
| Pro-poor /gender sensitive aspects |
The LGSA strongly encourage the participation of women in the decision-making process. In particular, during the assessment’s phase concerning the evaluation of governance issues, a particular group for women is expected to be constituted for both the community and UP LGSA in order to allow them to express their opinions freely. Furthermore, in the (community LGSA questionnaire, a key question concerns the extent of women participation in the UP meetings; while, in the UP level assessment, specific questions are formulated about the voice of women members in UP meetings as well as the participation of women in the decision-making of the village court and in the coordination meetings.
The participation of the poor and other marginalised groups in the decision-making process and in the community self-assessment is strongly requested. In addition, specific questions are formulated in both the community and UP LGSA about the extent of representation and voice of the poor and marginalised in CBOs and in the coordination meetings as well as the level of participation of poor/marginalised in general public meetings (e.g. To what extent are poor and marginalised well represented and have a voice in these CBOs? What is the level of participation of poor/marginalized groups in coordination meetings?) |
| Example indicators |
|
| Where to find this tool |