‘Local people’s involvement essential to make project transparent’
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Thursday urged the government to ensure the optimum disclosure of information at all stages in allocation of climate fund, and selection and implementation of climate projects to make the entire process transparent.
The graft watchdog came up with the call while unveiling a research report on ‘Climate Financing in Bangladesh: Challenges of Good Governance and Way Forward’ at a press conference at Cirdap auditorium in the city.
TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, its deputy executive director Dr Sumaiya Khair, CFGP coordinator Zakir Hossain and research associate Mahfuzur Rahman were present at the press conference.
TIB assistant project coordinator of the Climate Finance and Governance Project (CFGP) Mahowa Rouf made a presentation on the report.
After assessing two climate projects funded by Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) and conducting case studies on three climate projects implemented by non-government organisations (NGOs) with funds from the BCCTF, the anti-graft body prepared the report.
During the TIB assessment, it was found that the climate projects had been selected with political consideration as most directors or heads of the NGOs that got the climate projects were involved in politics.
Although Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat (three coastal districts) are the most vulnerable to climate change as per the risk map of the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) 2009, only 6.5 percent and 1.2 percent of total disbursement of the BCCTF allocated for Khulna and Satkhira respectively. However, no allocation has gone to Bagerhat so far from the fund, the report says.
The government has undertaken a total of 139 climate projects involving US$ 340 million from the BCCTF to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.
The report says a significant part of the fund (about 32 percent) is allocated for the Local Government, Rural development and Cooperatives Ministry while about 11.55 percent for the Ministry of Environment and Forests to implement climate projects.
Speaking at the press conference, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said local people’s involvement is not visible in implementing the climate projects. “People’s involvement in implementing climate projects is essential to make those transparent and check graft,” he added.
Source: UNB Connect
