Project details

The project will Improve socio-economic development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in line with the principles of self-reliance, local participation, decentralisation and sustained peace. The project will achieve this objective by promoting an enabling environment for local development, contributing to the achievement of local MDG targets in 25 Upazila in the CHT by end 2013 by means of two strategic purposes

1. CHT Institutions have increased capacity to deliver services and support community development

2. Local organizations and communities have been empowered to manage their own development

The project contributes to these objectives through 4 result areas:

Result 1: Effective advocacy and policy dialogue on CHT issues – especially on implementation of the Peace Accord – resulting in enhanced clarity and consensus on CHT issue. Activities consist of assisting the Ministry of CHT Affairs in facilitating dialogue at national and local level. Inter-ministerial and inter-institutional meetings and workshops will be organized to inform the preparation of Road Maps, and identify steps needed to take forward crucial issues pertinent to implementation of the Accord. Advocacy will be promoted also by financing proposals submitted by the CHT Regional Council in support of regional dialogue, land tenure, transferral of subjects, issues related to Internal Displaced People, forestry etc,.

Result 2: Capacity of Local Government Institutions in the CHT strengthened, resulting in improved management system for decentralized service delivery. Activities consist in supporting the Local Government institutions especially of Hill District Councils, Upazilas Committees, Union Committees (Union Parishads) and Traditional leaders to clarify roles and responsibilities and mandatory functions according to decentralization policy envisaged in the Accord. Capacity for planning, monitoring and reporting, preparation of budget, staff recruitment, supervision and management of Government facilities will be developed by financing proposals submitted by these institutions for their own capacity building actions.

Result 3: Participatory planning, budgeting, monitoring mechanisms among CHT Institutions and stakeholders enhanced. Activities consist in creating Development Coordination Committees at District, Upazila and Union level tasked to provide support for discussing the progress of development activities and create the context for inclusive cooperation and networking in implementing activities. They will be responsible for collection of MDG data, preparation of local development plans and budgets, allocation of resources to implement development plans, and regular monitoring and review. The project will allocate Block Grants for the implementation of Local Development Plans. Funds will be channelled through the Hill District Councils in order to enhance ownership. Grants will be used for both capital and revenue expenditures. Capital expenditures include value chain development, public sector improvements and small scale infrastructures. Revenue expenditures include capacity development of local service providers, cooperatives and networks etc.

Result 4: Local Organizations and Communities are empowered to manage their own development. Under this result area communities are empowered through active engagement in planning at Union level to effectively access technical supports in project design and management. Communities will moreover be trained to assess local economic opportunities and develop detailed proposals for funding to be submitted to the Union Committees. Investments in product specific value chain upgrading particularly on banana, turmeric and pineapple, and livestock will increase economic opportunities for beneficiaries. Local Economic Development forums will be also established in each Upazila to develop economic based strategies and advising Union and Upazila Committees. Local Economic Development forums will be also eligible for Union Block Grants for projects in the category of Community enterprise and skills training, upgrading of agriculture extension services and training for farmers, demonstrations on new technologies (in production and processing), promotions on inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc), investment in rural infrastructure (irrigation schemes, market improvements, storage facilities, village feeder roads, rural electrification), product research and design, information dissemination on market prices, access to financial support for business start up and expansion.