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Information flows

Information flows. at. Local Government Level in Bangladesh. Findings of a Scoping Study. commissioned by. The World Bank Institute. – Venkatesh Nayak. Terms of reference. Scope systems creating information flows to people at Local Government level.

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Information flows

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  1. Information flows at Local Government Level in Bangladesh Findings of a Scoping Study commissioned by The World Bank Institute – Venkatesh Nayak

  2. Terms of reference • Scope systems creating information flows to people at Local Government level • Scope private sector / development sector initiatives to provide for people’s information needs • Recommend measures to increase transparency in Union Parishads (UPs). Area of emphasis = LGSP Unions • Recommend measures to build capacity at community level to meaningfully access information from UPs

  3. Basics Period of study visit : 29 January – 14 February 2008 Public bodies covered : • Union Parishads • Union Parishads • Union Parishads • Pourashavas • Land Office (Union & Upazila) • Sub-Registrar’s Office Private bodies covered : • GrameenPhone CICs • Pallitathya Kendras Others consulted : • BARD, Comilla & RDA, Bogura • LGD, NILG • CSOs – CARE, MJF, D-Net, GHAT

  4. Findings : theory versus practice • All documents & records of UPs – public documents • Only public registers like birth, death, VGD registers accessible to people without Chairman’s authorisation : • Budget documents & reports to be available in conspicuous place in UP office • Few UPs have publicly displayed budget docs. LGSP Unions perform better* * : • Studies indicate poor access even for elected members let alone people at community level • UP docs to be easily accessible to elected UP members : • LGD to prescribe reports & documents of UPs that will be made available to people • Little work has been done to identify records & documents that can be made public :

  5. Findings : theory versus practice • Information to be displayed on notice boards to inform the public • Poor quality notice boards make the notices almost illegible : • Transparency exists due to individual initiative of Chairmen or because of strict requirements of LGSP* • Transparency should be automatic : • Parties should have reliable access to records of village court cases • There is no uniform system of access : • Many obstacles in practice – access to one’s records only, lack of information about IPTT rates, corruption flourishes due to lack of awareness about rules & procedures * : • Right of inspection of land records for any person

  6. Examples of proactive disclosure Proactive disclosure in Shahpara Union (LGSP), Gaibandha VGD families, development works, grants received, sanitation, fertilizer allocation data*

  7. Examples of proactive disclosure Proactive disclosure of budget & schemes - Shahpara Union (LGSP), Gaibandha

  8. Examples of proactive disclosure Proactive disclosure in Tongi Pourashava Citizens’ charter of services provided by the Pourashava with costs and timelines

  9. Examples of proactive disclosure Proactive disclosure in AC Land Office, Bahubal Upazila, Habiganj Services provided, fees payable & contact numbers of officials to complain about corruption

  10. A typical notice board in a UP

  11. IT based initiatives to manage information flows • Government initiatives have harnessed IT to create information flows • Initiatives of the Dept. of Agriculture for farmers, CPTU’s initiative on e-procurement etc. : • Community information centres (CICs) serve people’s information needs • Palli tathya kendras, GrameenPhone CICs, GHAT, BRACNet, AMADER GRAM etc. : • CICs used for visa, exam results, admission to edu. institutions, pest problem,* livelihood options, computer training for unemployed youth, soil testing, health advisory services etc.* • IT initiatives open up pent up demand for information and related services : • CIC’s can be run on a self-sustaining & profitable business model • GPCICs, PKs and BRACNet have proven profitability even in semi-urban & semi-rural areas :

  12. People’s sources of information Major sources of information about government • TV is topmost source in both rural & urban areas • Radio is popular in remote rural areas • Newspapers & books are least popular in rural areas • Chit chat in bazaars or neighbourhood – esp. women • Trusted sources – village teacher, imam, local politicians, NGO workers, neighbours experienced in govt. dealings, dalals • Community / rural information centres & Pallitathya kendras run by CSOs and GrameenPhone • Government offices rarely approached unless there is a dire need

  13. Why improve information flows? • Connected to primary concerns of Government: • Eradicating corruption • Preventing wastage of resources • Ensuring economical and efficient public spending • Improving efficiency of service delivery • Increasing accountability of decision-makers • Information in a democracy: Citizens: real owners public authorities: merely custodians • Citizens have the right to know: Based on the principle of equality – the fundamental basis of democracy • Transparency, accountability & participation in ADP & LGSP Workable scheme needed for entrenching openness

  14. Recommendations for transparency in UPs Low cost multi-modal approach required with sanction of LGD • Proactive / voluntary / suomotu disclosure • Information painted on prominent wall surfaces of UP office – eg. broad figures of grants received, projects approved, cost of each project etc. • Information displayed on UP notice boards– eg. notices of UP meetings, shortlist of schemes, VGD beneficiaries after fresh selection, other urgent information needed by people • Information displayed on Ward notice boards– eg. notices of Ward meetings, identified schemes, VGD beneficiaries after fresh selection, other urgent information needed by people • Information displayed on billboards – (LGSP requirement) eg. summary of funds received, projects approved and implements membership of SIC, SSC

  15. Recommendations for transparency in UPs (contd.) Low cost multi-modal approach required with sanction of LGD • Proactive / voluntary / suomotu disclosure • Information painted on display boards at work sites – eg. Description of project, summary of financials, wage rates, timelines etc. • Announcement with accompaniment of drumbeat eg. notices of meetings & other important public announcements • Reading of documents in public meetings – eg. Resolutions of ward meetings and annual meetings of the entire UP, quotations evaluations sheet, award of contract etc.

  16. Recommendations for transparency in UPs (contd.) Low cost multi-modal approach required with sanction of LGD • Disclosure of information on demand • Information/ records accessible with Chairman’s approval – eg. Receipts, vouchers relating to schemes (LGSP), communication between UP & TEC relating to recommendation of award, documents relating to complaints about procurement processes etc. • Information records accessible without Chairman’s approval– eg. All types of registers, budget documents, audit reports, communications received from UNO & other offices, all documents where matter is complete • UP Secretary could maintain record of citizens’ requests for information • UP Secretary must be trained to comply with disclosure scheme

  17. Recommendations for transparency in UPs (contd.) Low cost multi-modal approach required with sanction of LGD • Combination of proactive disclosure & access on demand • Free inspection of records on predetermined day & date every month (at least 2 days) – eg. Almost all records belong to this category • Information uploaded on websites accessible through CICs– eg. Annual budgets, audit reports, list of approved schemes, list of VGD beneficiaries, list of vendors/bidders identified for RFQ method, muster rolls, contracts for medium & large scale schemes, membership of SIC/SSC/TEC • Government could issue orders to all UPs for implementing records disclosure scheme recommended by the Study • UNO’s office could monitor implementation of disclosure scheme • The expanding CICs network (40,000 projected) can provide IT-enabled services to UPs in the long run

  18. Role of civil society Real transparency possible when people can use the information • to participate in the development planning process • to take the lead in prioritising developmental activities • to take active part in the decision-making processes • to monitor the implementation of development projects • to audit the outcomes & impact of developmental activities Civil society can build this capacity at the community level in UPs

  19. Role of civil society • Understand the ADP & EBG system thoroughly • Develop training programmes for community level participation in & monitoring of developmental decision-making in UPs • Identify pilot areas to implement records mgmt. and disclosure scheme • Conduct training of selected community members / CSO workers to seek, obtain and verify information about schemes and spending in UPs • Conduct training of selected community members / CSO workers to monitor ongoing project works • Monitor compliance with project guidelines and report wrongdoing • Make use of grievance redress mechanisms in case of corruption and mismanagement of public funds • Simultaneously educate other community members to take active role in decision-making on development • Popularise the use of Right to Information Ordinance when enacted

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