Transcript Country Case Study Bangladesh Dr. M.A. Quassem May 30th, 2013 The People’s Republic of Bangladesh The Water Sector in Bangladesh: Core Actors (1) Policy Setting and.

Country Case Study
Bangladesh
Dr. M.A. Quassem
May 30th, 2013
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh
The Water Sector in Bangladesh: Core Actors (1)
Policy Setting and Planning:
MoWR – Ministry of Water Resources
NWRC – National Water Resources Council
WARPO – Water Resources Planning Organisation
Water Management Infrastructure and Services:
BWDB – Bangladesh Water Development Board
LGED – Local Government Engineering Department
DPHE – Department for Public Health Engineering
*WASA – City Water and Sewerage Authorities
BIWTA – Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority
Policy Setting and Planning:
Ministry of Planning (Planing Commission)
Ministry of Agricuture, Forestry and Fisheries
Minisry of EnvironmentWater Resources
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The Water Sector in Bangladesh: Core Actors (2)
Operation and Maintenance:
BWDB , LGED, DPHE, *WASA, BIWT
Local Government
WUO – Water User Organisations
Civil Society and Private Sector:
WUO
NGO
Consulting and Engineering Companies
Large Industries and Commercial farms
Knowledge Institutes:
Public Trusts Research Institutes (IWM, CEGIS)
Government Research Institutes
Universities
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The Enabling Environment
• National Water Act
• National Water
Policy
• National Water
Management Plan
• Guidelines for
People’s
Participation
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Water Security
Food security
GDP growth
Climate Change
Strategy
Formal
rules
Informal
Rules
Crosscutting
policies
Public /
Private
Interests
• “People know they can
get away with not
complying with the
rules”
• Command control
inside the organization
• “the power to block
something”
• Industries (textile and
leather)
• Political Polarization
Complexity of Institutions
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Complex decision-making, weighing of priorities
Complex web of responsibilities
National and local government
Government and private sector relations
Government and civil society relations
Water Users Organisations, Local Government,
National Government
Integration, system analysis, trans-disciplinary
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Struggles and Problems Actors Face
• Lack of cooperation among actors
• No common long-term vision
• Ineffective formal forum to coordinate demand
and policy / strategy
• Local level responsibilities and relations unclear
• Participatory approach is restrained by fear of
loss of power
• Different expectations between development
agencies and local actors
• Financial constraints
Issues in KCD (1)
• There are few incentives to work in the water sector
• Staff recruitment policies of institutions are
determined by many factors
• Human Resource Development of organisations is
poorly developed
• Lack of proper for overview (not just technical
knowhow), monitoring and evaluation mechanisms,
and level specific management
• Organisations have little multi-disciplinary approach
Issues in KCD (2)
• Curriculum at the university is too academic (no case
studies, practical experience or local knowledge) and
do not always
• Project driven development context with little
institutionalisation of lessons learned
• Training is often not relevant to the needs of the
organization and the employee.
Lessons Learned
• Organizational autonomy is of great importance to
develop capacity because those responsible inside
the organization (should) know best what
knowledge and capacity is needed.
• The lack of structural communication between the
supply of water education and demand for it from
the water sector, reduces the effectiveness and
capacity of the water sector.
• There is still a strong reliance on the need for
development agencies to pressure reforms and
capacity development in Bangladesh.
• The need to believe in the value local knowledge
and capacity (of e.g. farmes).
Who should be taking the lead?
Enabling
Environment
• NWRC
• WARPO
Organizational
level
• The Ministry
Individual Level
• The Organisation
Propositions
• The National Water Resources Council should be
vitalized to exercise leadership in:
– Long-term planning of water management
investments, shaping the conditions for socioeconomic development of the country
– A national policy and strategy on water sector
capacity development, starting with a short-term
tailor-made programme in leadership
• The government should fully reinforce,
operationalise and build capacity of
participatory water users organisations, working
in partnership with local government.
Purpose of 5th Symposium
Thank you for your attention.
Dr. M. A. Quassem ( former D.G. of WARPO)
[email protected]