Australia Supports Good Governance in Rural Bangladesh
Deputy High Commissioner of Australia, Mr Tim Bolotnikoff, along with local level government
representatives and the Country Director of The Hunger Project – Bangladesh are taking part
in the local government planning session with the people of Amair Union, Naogaon District.
The Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Tim Bolotnikoff, inaugurated a local government planning session and an annual budget launching ceremony in the Amair and Patichora unions of Naogaon District, on 22 July 2012.
Under Australia’s Direct Aid Program (DAP) 2011-12, the Hunger Project – Bangladesh (THP-B) received funding for a project ‘Building the Capacity of Local Government Units for Bottom-up Planning and Budgeting to Achieve MDGs’. DAP funds were provided to promote good governance in 19 unions located in Joypurhat, Naogaon and Comilla districts. Under the project, elected representatives of the local government units and other government officials are receiving intensive training and villagers from each union are being educated on roles and responsibilities of local government bodies as well as on active citizenship. The project has pioneered the establishment of a five year planning book for local unions, as well as interactive participation between the local government the villagers when devising the annual budget.
During the inauguration ceremony, Mr Bolotnikoff said the Australian Government was honoured to be able to contribute towards Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to strengthen good governance in local government units. He highlighted the importance of people’s participation in the decision making process to help local government units be responsive to the needs of the community. The ceremony was also attended by the Naogaon Deputy Commissioner, Chairmen of the Amair and Patichora Unions, and the country director of the Hunger Project – Bangladesh, Professor Badiul Alam Majumder.
In 2011-2012, around BDT 1.7 crore has been provided to ten NGO’s through the Direct Aid Program to support projects on: women’s empowerment through skill development; improved education facilities for children from slum areas; providing non-surgical treatment to children under 3 years old born with clubfoot deformity; giving assistive devices to the disabled and providing brail printing equipment to the blind. Information on DAP funding for 2012-13 can be found on the Australian High Commission’s website at:
http://www.bangladesh.embassy.gov.au/daca/development_cooperat.html