Democratic Governance in Pakistan and Bangladesh Seizing the Day Awaiting the Dawn Mridul Chowdhury, Jason Wendle, Yuko Watanabe, Leila Nathoo, Sara Qutub, Nataly Sabharwal
YW3 Pakistan Recommendation to UNDP: Seizing the Day Awaiting the Dawn Bangladesh Core and mobilized Governance budget should be increased to take advantage of current opportunities. Major reforms should wait until after the next elections. 1. Continue/ Expand Support for Electoral Process 1. Continue/Expand Parliamentary Development 2. Expand the Access to Information 2. Extend Electoral Reform Program 3. Modify Decentralization Support 3. Maintain Status Quo with Police 4. Initiate Anti-Corruption Program Reform Project 4. Resume Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy Project after the upcoming elections
Slide 2 YW3 I added animation...so that the traffic lights will show up at the end...but delete them if they are too much Yuko Watanabe, 4/15/2008
Recommendation Framework: Respond to Needs and Constraints Service Area: Country DG Priority Current UNDP Engagement Country Readiness UNDP Readiness Response Public Administration & Anti-Corruption Electoral Systems Decentralization & Local Governance Justice & Human Rights Parliamentary Development Media & Access to Information What are the most significant governance needs? What is UNDP doing now in this area? How is its budget prioritized? Do realities on the ground limit or enhance successful intervention in this area? Does the appropriate intervention fall within UNDP s capabilities & comparative advantage? Add new programs? Change existing programs? Do nothing?
The Choice in Pakistan is Not What to Reform but Where to Start Service Area: Public Administration & Anti-Corruption Country DG Priority Ranked 138/179 in TI s 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index National Accountability Bureau highly politicized Electoral Systems History of rigged elections and low turnout, though recent elections judged as fair. Decentralization & Local Governance Center exercises tight control, increasing ethnic tension. Provinces get limited resources, local government lacks capacity. Justice & Human Rights New gov t has released assertive judges imprisoned by Musharraf in Oct 2007, but rights abuses continue (CIRI 2006). Parliamentary Development Parliament constrained by military and Presidency (FH: Not Free) Weak policy making and oversight capacity. Media & Access to Information Ranked 152/169 countries in 2007 Press Freedom Index, however new govt has lifted Emergency restrictions on vibrant independent media.
Governance has been the Lowest UNDP Budget Priority in Pakistan 2004-2008 Budget for UNDP Pakistan: ($170 million of which $25 million is UNDP regular resources) Crisis Mgt/Prevention 20% Governance 10% Poverty 25% Energy/Environment 24% Gender (Non-Gov) 21% Active UNDP Governance Programs in Pakistan Service Area Size ($mil) Support to Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE) Decentralization 51.46 Essential Institutional Reforms Operationalization Programme (EIROP) Decentralization 2.39 Support to Good Governance Group (Phase III) Decentralization 3.52 Assistance to Governance Reforms and Practices in Balochistan (AGRP-B) Decentralization 3.8 Supporting Democratic Electoral Processes in Pakistan (SDEPP) Phase II Electoral Systems 3.85 Support to National Elections in Pakistan (SNEP) Electoral Systems 53.5 Strengthening Democracy Through Parliamentary Development in Pakistan Parliamentary Dev. 2.77 Source: UNDP Pakistan
Service Area: Seizing the Day: New Gov t Paves Way for Unprecedented Opportunities UNDP Readiness Government Readiness Overall Readiness Public Administration & Anti-Corruption No current budget, but potential partnerships exist: ADB, WB. New democratic government in place and likely l emphasis on transparency. Electoral Systems Recently completed project (SNEP) proved useful contribution of UNDP. Requires government buy-in, achievable at present. Decentralization & Local Governance Justice & Human Rights Parliamentary Development Large current local gov. projects, but limited effectiveness due to political interference. Politically sensitive; Judicial reform already supported by ADB Ongoing project & partner (IPU). UNDP core activities may make useful difference. Historical lack of political support for provincial autonomy. Decreased support for local gov t t. reform under new government New government has committed to I improve rule of law and judicial freedoms Opportunity for political buy-in given recent elections. Media & Access to Information Too politically sensitive Key to progress in media is parliamentary control & capacity.
Pakistan Recommendation: Seizing the Day Action plans Potential Partners New Initiate New Corruption Programs: Start with Dialog Government ministries; World Bank (PIFRA); ADB (Access to Justice) Increase Governance Budget in Light of New Opportunities Tweak Modify Expand Parliamentary Dev Projects: Committee & Legislative Capacity Extend Electoral System Project to EC Professionalization Reorient Decentralization Program to Include Provincial Government Parliamentary Development: USAID for experiential knowledge. Electoral Support:International IDEA for expertise; USAID, EU, DFID for funding Decentralization: ADB Status Quo No Change In Human Rights No Change In Human Rights and Media Approach
Upcoming Election is the Highest Priority for Bangladesh Service Area: Public Administration & Anti-Corruption Electoral Systems Country DG Priority Anti-corruption commission placed many political leaders in jail, including 2 former PMs. Issue of national image because of no. 1 position in CPI index in 4 consecutive years from 2002 till 2005 Promise of holding fair democratic elections dependent on complete voter database. Decentralization & Local Governance Effort to hold local elections before national elections despite opposition. Justice & Human Rights Effort to make judiciary independent from civil administration. Corruption in police untouched. Parliamentary Development No parliament for past 1.5 years. Media & Access to Information Ministry of Information put out long-awaited draft of Right to Information Act 2008.
Election Has Been Focus of UNDP s Governance Work in Bangladesh UNDP Bangladesh Size of Democratic Governance Projects (2008) Program Budget (USD mil)partners Implementer Police Reform Program 15.8 DFID, EC Min of Home Affairs Civil service change management program 5.5 Min of Establishment Support to the electoral process 3.9 Election Commission Secretariat Preparation of electoral roll with photo 84.7 Bangladesh Election Commission Min of Law, Justice, Promoting access to justice and human rights 3.0 Parliamentary Affairs Source: UNDP Bangladesh
Awaiting the Dawn: Getting ready for a New Government Service Area: Public Administration & Anti-Corruption Government Readiness ACC very strong and independent Little public admin. reform UNDP Readiness No current involvement due to political sensitivity. Electoral Systems EC working with multiple partners 75% of UNDP s program budget. UNDP s core competence. Decentralization & Local Governance Justice & Human Rights Parliamentary Development Lack of parliament barrier in decision-making. Military-backed government deemphasizing human rights Military itself engaged in rule of law and security. No parliament at the moment. No specific project in this areapart of other UNDP programs. Police reform project in place. No specialization on human rights/judiciary. Long-standing project suspended temporarily. Media & Access to Information Resistance from civil administration (Right to Information not passed). UNDP program A2I.
Bangladesh Recommendation: Awaiting the Dawn Action plans Potential Partners None for now New Major reforms should wait till after the next elections. Modify Emphasize Strengthening EC project Invest in policies for e- governance and RTI through A2I program. Election Commission Secretariat, Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Information Status Quo Police reform project not high priority for govt. Defer investment in parliamentary development and local governance. DFID, EC, Police, Ministry of Home Affairs, Parliament Secretariat
Appendix
UNDP s Core Competencies Inform Response As a multilateral organization serving member states, UNDP s unique position in the governance space provides both opportunities and limitations. It s work: Policy Advice and Technical Support Capacity Development of Institutions and People Advocacy, Communications, and Public Information Promotion and Brokerage of Dialogue Knowledge Networking and Sharing of Good Practices 13 Source: http://www.us.undp.org/pastbulletins/2007/10.07.pdf