Second Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement (Sector) Project (UGIIP-II)

Presented by

Md. Shafiqual Islam Akand Project Director Second Urban Governance & Infrastructure Improvement Sector Project (UGIIP-II)

ADB Sub Regional Workshop: Gender and urban poverty in South Asia 26-28 March 2012, Colombo

Local Government Engineering Department Bangladesh

The views expressed in this paper are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. The countries listed in this paper do not imply any view on ADB's part as to sovereignty or independent status or necessarily conform to ADB's terminology.

Project Background
38 million people live in urban areas i.e. 27% of national population Urban population growth rate is 2.5 percent (i.e. 1.5% higher than national growth rate) Lack of urban services, poor governance and weak citizen participation are among key urban issues UGIPP II follows lessons learned from a series of urban projects supported by ADB Policy shift: from only infrastructure to also capacity building of local government institutions Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement Project (UGIIP-I) from 2003 to 2010, 30 municipalities) Second Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement (Sector) Project (UGIIP-II), 35 municipalities (duration 2009-2014)

Expected Outcome:

Expanded access to and usage of urban infrastructure and services, and improvement in urban governance

Project Objectives:

Enhance capacity of Pourashavas (municipalities) toimplement, operate, manage and maintain basic urban services Improve urban governance Increase accountability of Pourashavas to their citizens Provide improved physical infrastructure and services

PROJECT AT A GLANCE
Component A: Urban Infrastructure & Service Delivery
Urban Transport Solid Waste Mgt.
Urban Drainage Water Supply & Sanitation Municipal Facilities

Component B: Governance Improvement & Capacity Development (UGIAP)

Citizen awareness and participation Womens participation Integration of urban poor Urban planning Financial accountability and sustainability Administrative transparency Output Municipalities

Component C: Project Management & Implementation Supports Establish PMO at LGED office

Basic Services for Urban Poor

Establish PIU at Pourashava level Capacity Building Training Support Extra Manpower Allocation of Resources

Main Features of the GAP

Improving Womens Representation in Local Governance
Gender Committees formed headed by Female Ward Councillors with at least 1/3 women members Municipal Standing Committees formed with at least 40% women participation Slum Improvement Committee focused on women (at least 2/3 women participation) Town Level Coordination Committees (TLCC) formed headed by Mayor with adequate representation of women: at least 1/3 members in all target PS; Ward Level Coordination Committees (WLCC) formed headed by Ward Councilor with adequate representation of women: at least 1/3 members in all target PS ; Community Based Organizations (CBO) formed outside the slum areas led by male/female ward councilor & headed by the community people

Main Features of the GAP

Improving Womens Participation in Infrastructure Planning
Mass awareness and participation campaigns on different issues (FGD, Visioning at Ward and Municipal Level); Effective participation of all female members in different committees (CBOs, WLCC, TLCC) ensured; Praparation of Pourashava (Municipal) Development Plan with at least 33% women participation Preparation of Community Action Plan (CAP) addressing women need with more than two-third women participation

Main Features of the GAP

Improving Womens Participation in Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance Ensure at least 20% women labour in construction Ensure equal wage for equal labour for men & women Provide personal & occupational safety to women labour Ensure separate toilets for women laborers, and female employees and visitors in the municipality; Engage women labour in constructing toilets & platforms of tubewell in locations per womens need and priority

Main Features of the GAP

Improving Womens Participation in Urban Service Delivery: Quota set for female staff employment in Municipalities; Ensure women friendly work environment with appropriate office space for female staff at all levels with relevant facilities Involve women in planning, implementation of basic services for urban poor under UGIAP such as: health, digester management, tax collection, and solid waste management; Consider womens needs and participation in urban service delivery mechanisms; Conduct awareness raising programs to target women and promote womens participation as agents and managers; Womens participation in infrastructure maintenance;

Main Features of the GAP

Improving Accountability for Gender-Responsive Urban Governance
Monthly Gender Committee meetings at Municipality; Municipality GAPs prepared & included in Pourashava (Municipality) Development Plan Poverty Reduction Action Plan (PRAP) prepared highlighting female participation & included in PDP. Separate budget allocation for GAP implementation and expenditure from own resource of municipality; Separate budget allocation for PRAP implementation and expenditure from own resource highlighting need of poor women. Strong monitoring system developed and a new monitoring format introduced to receive monthly and quarterly gender related data in qualitative and quantitative format; Gender segregated database developed. Gender sensitization and training manuals, modules and materials developed; regular training program for Gender Committee Members, female and male councilors, and municipality staff provided. Guidelines developed on how to implement GAP, and gender-inclusive PRAP and UGIAP

Achievements to Date
33% women participation in Pourashava Development plan (PDP) formation through focused group discussions, Ward visioning & Pouravissioning Formation of CBOs (7,140 women out of 21,000 members-34% ) Formation of TLCCs (591 women out of 1,750 members- 33%) Formationof WLCCs (1,524 women out of 3,690 members-41%) Formation of 35 GCs headed by Female Ward Councilor (FWC) & all FWCs as members Preperation of GAP (35) at Pourashavas & included in PDP Formation of Municipal standing committees with 40% women members Sitting arrangement, toilet and drinking water facilities for Female Ward Councilors & female staff of Municipality is ensured 1,377 monthly meeting of GC held & minutes prepared 2,026 Courtyeard meeting held 738 Ward based rallies organized

Achievements to Date (Cont.)

115 Municipality based rallies observed 1,187 Primary Groups have been formed with only poor women in slums 153 Slum Improvement Committees have been formed including 67% women members & chaired by a woman Orientation conducted for 35 project Municipal bodies on GAP at Municipal level Organized daylong training/workshop for member secretary of GC 3 times & a 2-day workshop (by ADB) at HQ level Provided 5 days ToT for member secretary GC at regional level Organized daylong training/workshop for Facilitator (CM) & Regional Coordinator (CM) 3 times & a 2day workshop (by ADB) at HQ level Daylong Orientation/Training workshop provided for GC chairperson at HQ level & regional level Organized training workshop for the whole Gender Committee at regional level Completed 1484 SIC female members training

Achievements to Date (Cont.)

Budget has been allocated from Municipal revenue budget for GAP implementation (at least 2%-3%); Qualitatives reports collection through strong monitoring format with specific record of women members participation in TLCC, WLCC, CBOs; GAP is being implemented in all Municipalities; Monitoring format on GAP implementation has been prepared in a participatory method (opinion from member secretary GC, Facilitator (CM) & RC (CM)) with the help of ADB.

Beside these all the Municipalities are practicing the following:

Provide time for women members to express opinions in TLCC meeting; Ensure at least 20% women labour in construction; Eliminate wage discrimination between women and mens labour; Ensure personal & occupational safety; Ensure separate toilet & drinking water for women labour; Include gender related clause in bid document; Provide orientation to contractors regarding gender issues.

Innovative activities and Initiatives of Pourashavas

Several GCs of Project Municipalities have taken additional initiatives in GAP implementation such as: Adult literacy school operation School for street children Preventing child marriage Helping oppressed women Identifying separate toilet for women in Rail station & bus terminal Separate sitting arrangement for women in parks Arrangement of female patrol police in bus stations. Campaign and resistance against dowry, eve teasing, etc. Arranged training for girls and women for IGA and distribute sewing machines to them. Introducing exclusive one stop service centre for women at municipality.

Challenges Encountered
Budget allocation from yearly revenue budget of Municipalities; Difficulties in fund release from approved budget for GAP implementation; Difficulties in motivating Municipalities in GAP implementation; Difficulties in motivating councilors for regular effective monthly meeting; Difficulties of local people in understanding the Project GAP; Difficulties in creating scope for women members to raise opinions in TLCC; Difficulties in preparation of proper quarterly qualitative report on GAP and filling out monitoring reports properly; Difficulties in ensuring equal wage for female laborers.

Lessons Learned in facilitating gender-responsive urban governance

More specific detailed conditions and performance criteria regarding GAP implementation is essential; Intensive gender sensitization/training needed for the Municipalities; Strong monitoring format and timely reporting from field is required; Participatory approach can ensure gender-responsive governance improvement and capacity development of municipalities that lead towards sustainability; Legal framework from government can ensure adequate participation of women in various decision-making committees; Regular motivational and training activities can help resolve social barriers to womens participation and involvement in project activities; Strong leadership at the Municipal level (Mayor, GAP Chairperson) can promote and demonstrate innovative practices; Incorporating GAP within the UGIAP framework reflects government commitment and facilitates institutionalizing gender-inclusive urban governance.

Thank you