BIGD, BRAC University
Semianr on Revenue Mobilisation and Womwn's Representation in the Union parishad and State of Accountability of the Transferred Departments at the Upazila Parishad
At the local government, while a lot of functions have been given to the UP, these have not been complemented by adequate authority and capacity to raise local revenue to meet the financial need for discharging these functions. To resolve the gap, increasing revenues alone will not empower UPs to carry out effective public service delivery. This has to be matched with enhanced capacity for managing local revenues and engaging citizens in planning and budgeting development. Also, while there is interest among the political parties to increase the involvement of women and the interest of women and young girls in the local government level, various social norms and prejudices prevent them from joining. In addition, the culture and the ways of functioning of the parties are not women friendly. This gap needs to be addressed by the political parties to expand their membership, develop their younger members and ensure that women and girls are encouraged to join and develop their skills and leadership. The provision of safe spaces and culturally appropriate activities could help break the barriers and hesitations that women and their families have. Moreover, the officials of the service delivery departments of local government level are strongly accountable to their higher authority i.e. to their ministerial hierarchy above instead of being towards UZP elected body for their functions and activities. Although the departments are linked with UZP through Committees and other meetings, these linkages do not ensure any real transfer of power and authority to the UZP in terms of utilisation of departmental funds.
For more Please click: bigd.bracu.ac.bd/index.php/highlighter/665-bigd-sharique-...
Semianr on Revenue Mobilisation and Womwn's Representation in the Union parishad and State of Accountability of the Transferred Departments at the Upazila Parishad
At the local government, while a lot of functions have been given to the UP, these have not been complemented by adequate authority and capacity to raise local revenue to meet the financial need for discharging these functions. To resolve the gap, increasing revenues alone will not empower UPs to carry out effective public service delivery. This has to be matched with enhanced capacity for managing local revenues and engaging citizens in planning and budgeting development. Also, while there is interest among the political parties to increase the involvement of women and the interest of women and young girls in the local government level, various social norms and prejudices prevent them from joining. In addition, the culture and the ways of functioning of the parties are not women friendly. This gap needs to be addressed by the political parties to expand their membership, develop their younger members and ensure that women and girls are encouraged to join and develop their skills and leadership. The provision of safe spaces and culturally appropriate activities could help break the barriers and hesitations that women and their families have. Moreover, the officials of the service delivery departments of local government level are strongly accountable to their higher authority i.e. to their ministerial hierarchy above instead of being towards UZP elected body for their functions and activities. Although the departments are linked with UZP through Committees and other meetings, these linkages do not ensure any real transfer of power and authority to the UZP in terms of utilisation of departmental funds.
For more Please click: bigd.bracu.ac.bd/index.php/highlighter/665-bigd-sharique-...