Bangladesh is committed to a corruption-free and inclusive government. Platforms for Dialogue is working with Civil Society Organisations and Government Officials to improve democratic ownership and improve accountability mechanisms.
Mission
Platforms for Dialogue (P4D), a European Union-funded project in partnership with the Cabinet Division, is working to improve good governance and engage civil society organisations (CSOs) and citizens in government accountability mechanisms.
Vision
With our partners, Platforms for Dialogue is increasing awareness of citizen rights, promoting democratic ownership, and supporting government officials to improve accountability and responsiveness. Implemented by the British Council, the five-year, 13-million Euro project is a unique initiative that is working directly with both citizens and CSOs as well as the government to address reforms.
The project is propelled by a number of lively Civil Society Organisations operating at the grassroots level. P4D’s key intervention is capacity building for local civil society organisations and representatives of local government bodies.
At the local level, the project supports discussions on policy issues in 21 districts. At the national level, P4D supports government institutions to deliver on ambitions set out in the 7th Five Year Plan. The project focuses on social accountability tools, including the National Integrity Strategy, the Right to Information Act 2009, the Grievance Redress System, and the Citizen’s Charter.
Result areas
P4D is working across three result areas:
- Stronger Civil Society: Improve CSOs' ability to influence government policy, hold government accountable, and ensure better representation of citizens' interests
- Better Governance: Improve government accountability and responsiveness through enhanced capacity building for government officials and CSO engagement
- Partnership for Dialogue: Develop and introduce new tools and policy platforms to facilitate dialogue between the government of Bangladesh and its citizens.
Project reach
During the initial three years of implementation, P4D has focused its work at the community level. We have worked with CSOs at the grassroots level in 21 Districts, focusing on initiatives at the Upazila level. Our activities include Multi-Actor Partnerships, Social Action Projects, local government training, CSO capacity building, and sensitising the public on social accountability tools like Citizen's Charter, RTI, GRS, and NIS.
Moving forward, P4D will shift its focus to the regional level. We will work in 12 Districts with regional civil society organisations and government offices to organise District-level policy dialogues, MAPs, sensitisation campaigns, collaborative events, CSO capacity building, and government training.
The final stage of the project will reach the ministry-level of government and CSOs with national reach. The project will focus on policy dialogues between government ministries and national-level CSOs, large scale sensitisation campaigns, and further fostering democratic ownership and government accountability at the highest levels.
Key tools
P4D is working with the Cabinet Division to promote key social accountability tools:
