Exploring People’s Participation in Local Governance: A Case Study of Two Union Parishads in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study aims to explore how people participate in Union Parishads through government initiatives in Kumedpur and Hafizabat, two rural areas in Bangladesh. It also seeks to identify the challenges and barriers that hinder effective people’s participation in Union Parishads and propose strategies to overcome them. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data from surveys, interviews, and observations. The results show that there are significant differences and similarities between the two Union Parishads in terms of beneficiary selection and prioritization, committee awareness and functionality, and participation in open budget meetings. The results also suggest that there are various factors and mechanisms that influence the effectiveness and efficiency of people’s participation in Union Parishads, such as awareness, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, inclusivity, representativeness, and empowerment. The study concludes by recommending a set of actions to enhance people’s participation in Union Parishads, such as strengthening capacity and accountability, promoting inclusive participation, enhancing civil society collaboration, training for local representatives, context-specific development initiatives, youth empowerment, equitable beneficiary listing, committee awareness campaigns, and increased budget allocation. The study contributes to the literature on participatory governance and development, and provides insights and implications for policy and practice in Bangladesh.