Rights and Equity: Strengthening Local Governance

Since 2003, BRAC has been working with local government to strengthen governance that benefit the rural poor.

Some of the activities involve:

• Promoting pro-poor local governance
• Capacity development of local government representatives
• Encouraging transparency and accountability of the local government
• Creating a bi-directional linkage between the community and the local government
• Supporting women leadership

By forming Upazila Forums at the sub-district level, we have provided a platform for female local government representatives to network, lobby and bargain with high level government officials.

Since the 2003 local government elections, BRAC has reached 44% (5,968) of the total female members of the Union Parishads (local government).

 Upazila Forum

Upazila Forum is a sub-district level forum of women representatives from the local government (Union Parishad).

BRAC provides skills development training to female local government representatives. Through this training, they are made aware of their obligations, responsibilities, and rights, as well as the structure and activities of the local government.  After the completion of training, the female participants form the Upazila Forum.

The central aim of forming Upazila forums is to achieve transparency and accountability at the Union Parishad level. This forum allows the women representatives to the share problems of their respective constituencies, and discuss solutions with sub-district level Government officials.

The forum also helps to develop working relationships with upper-tier Government officials contributing to effective social capital formation.

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