UGDP Project: Improved Service Delivery and Governance at the Grassroots Level

Mohammad Russell Kabirঃ

The Upazila Governance and Development Project (UGDP), implemented by Local Government Division under the Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives, is actively working to improve the quality of life for marginalized communities across approximately 479 upazilas (sub-districts) in Bangladesh. The project focuses on providing essential services related to education, healthcare, agriculture, sanitation, safe drinking water and various infrastructures. It is being implemented with loan assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This project is not only implementing various development activities at the local level but also working towards improving the governance framework of upazila parishads. The Upazila Development Facilitators (UDF’s) provided critical support in ensuring good governance at the upazila level. As a result of this initiative, key activities such as monthly upazila parishad meetings, Meetings of 17 upazila committee are holding in an efficient manner with Minutes, Upazila Parishad budgets, Annual Income and Expenditure Reports, and Annual/Five-year plans are now available in the upazila Parishad web portals, significantly enhancing transparency and accountability. The Upazila Governance and Development Project (UGDP) prioritizes sectors such as education, health, agriculture, fisheries, sanitation, safe drinking water, and rural infrastructure to support upazila-level development. By providing skill-based and health-oriented training to marginalized groups, the project has improved healthcare standards. Additionally, it has contributed to the development of various markets, drainage systems, and rural infrastructure by installing solar lights, thereby uplifting the living standards of rural communities across the country.

Significant contributions to healthcare improvement under the project have been noted in various upazilas across the country. In Nilphamari Sadar Upazila, the project supported to expand the services of Community Clinics in 15 unions. It also established normal delivery rooms in community clinics funded by the UGDP, enabling safe childbirth services for rural pregnant women. Nationwide, 57 community clinics have been upgraded to facilitate normal deliveries. To address emergency medical needs, 71 new ambulances have been handed over to upazila health complexes based on local demands, ensuring quicker patient transfers to district hospitals or Dhaka. Additionally, with funding from JICA, 43 upazilas have been equipped with digital X-ray machines, reducing costs for essential diagnostic services and improving healthcare access for the community. Furthermore, advanced pathology lab equipment, including hematology analyzers, biochemistry analyzers, electrolyte analyzers, urine analyzers, hormone analyzers, and generators, has been supplied to several upazilas, including Atwari Upazila Health Complex in Panchagarh. These enhancements ensure affordable healthcare services for lower-income and middle-class populations. The remarkable work done by the project during Covid-19 pandemic. The upazila parishads established Central Oxygen System in 124 Upazila Health Complexes with support from UGDP fund which significantly facilitated to combat Covid-19 at local level.

The UGDP project has made significant contributions to improving the structural framework of the education system at the grassroots level. To enhance the learning environment, 206,320 pairs of Pro-Propylene special types of benches have been distributed to educational institutions across various upazilas, along with the provision of 31 ceiling fans to schools in Bheramara Upazila, Kushtia. As part of the third phase of the project, a digital lab equipped with computers, tables, and chairs has been established at Rarishal Korab High School and Tegharia SESDP Model High School in Lakhai Upazila, Habiganj District, at a cost of BDT 2 million. Additionally, 244 schools have been provided with hygiene corners and changing rooms for female students, and 983 wash blocks have been constructed to ensure better sanitation facilities.

In Patuakhali district’s Debirchar /Dumki Model Government Primary School, a wash block has been constructed to ensure health and hygiene. In Muradia Union, a nutrition garden and avermicompost fertilizer production farm owned by Mainul Islam have been developed. Additionally, a drainage system has been installed in Ward No. 4 of Shreerampur Union to facilitate irrigation facilities in the agricultural lands, while solar-powered lights have been installed to enhance rural infrastructure. In Angaria Union's Patabunia, a platform (Ghat) has been constructed for public use. To illuminate rural markets, roads, and public spaces, 17,645 solar lamp posts have been installed. As part of this initiative, 111 solar lights were placed at key dark points in five unions of Rangamati’s Kaptai Upazila. This has brought light to rural areas after sunset, significantly improving safety and accessibility of the people. Under the UGDP project in Moulvibazar district’s Kamalganj Upazila, a fish shed has been built in Adampur Bazaar for fish vendors, along with a drainage system to ensure the efficient removal of water. Similar sheds have been constructed in 69 markets across the country, addressing local needs and contributing to market infrastructure development.

To meet the demand for safe drinking water, power tillers have been supplied to 197 locations across the country through the UGDP project. Under the Upazila Governance and Development Project, all development projects are implemented through a procurement process at the upazila level. As a result, there is no tendency for excessive spending on development activities. Due to the implementation of necessary development programs for the public, it is not possible to impose a project from top and a bottom-up approach been practiced. The objective of this project was to ensure Governance at Upazila level which ensured through yearly Performance Assessment of Upazila Parishads. The project also aims to empower and make self-reliant the marginalized population in remote areas of the country by providing training and skill transfer including improved service delivery of education, health, sanitation, potable water supply and many other infrastructure services. The UGDP project has been a blessing for the rural population.

This project has been highly praised by students, teachers, businesspeople, farmers, and laborers in almost every district of the country, and expressed their gratitude to the Government of Japan including project director, staff members associated with the project.