Electronic Newsletter, Issue #10                                                                                                   April 2007
Message from the Country Director
Dear Friends,
The commitment made by the leaders of the South Asian countries at the recently concluded South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in New Delhi has renewed hopes that eliminating poverty in the region is no longer a dream. In fact, everyone stands to gain from regional cooperation. This regional cooperation is strongly linked to the process of globalization, particularly the global movement of goods, people, services, capital and ideas. Bangladesh needs to adjust to globalization and seize the opportunities it presents. Managed wisely, integration with the global and regional economy could lift millions of people in Bangladesh out of poverty.
In this edition of the newsletter you can read about how youths are taking keen interest to become pioneers of good governance, the continuing procurement reforms and their efforts on improved public sector governance in Bangladesh, and an article about speedy reforms by the Government resulting in job creation through private sector enterprise growth.
Please email me at the usual address, World Bank Dhaka News with your views on the World Bank in Bangladesh or any other feedback you may have.
Best wishes,
Xian Zhu Country Director
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More on Regional cooperation: More on the14th SAARC Summit: Highlights: Involving Youth in Promoting Good Governance
Strengthening Procurement Reform in Bangladesh
Building capacity of Union Parishads
Enterprise Growth equates More Jobs
DSC IV to be released in June More from the World Bank: World Bank Country Assistance Strategy
World Bank Supported Projects
Report and Analyses from the World Bank
Global World Bank Reading
Involving Youth in Promoting Good Governance
Although Bangladesh has been often criticized for lack of good governance, it is not the only country in the world affected by poor public service and corruption. Corruption affects all stakeholders. Therefore, all members of the society need to adopt an active role in order to curb corruption. In an attempt to involve youth in various development issues, News Network (a media NGO) recently organized an essay competition. The competition was organized under funding from the World Bank’s Small Grant Funds. The World Bank and News Network hopes that such initiatives can promote the voices of youth in development as well as encourage them to become the ‘torchbearers’ of good governance. More on the event: Country Director’s speech: More about the Small Grants Program: Strengthening Procurement Reform in Bangladesh The parliament approved Procurement Act paved the way for a uniform procurement policy in Bangladesh. This policy now governs all government and public purchases. Encouraged by this success, the World Bank is now assisting the government to take procurement reform to the next stage. The new procurement reform package will strengthen the Central Procurement Technical Unit (the government’s procurement hub) and introduce e-procurement and social accountability. A communication plan and greater engagement of the civil society is also envisaged in this new package. More on Strengthening Procurement Reform in Bangladesh:
More on Government’s Central Procurement Technical Unit:
Building Capacity of Union Parishads
The World Bank is supporting the Government’s Local Governance Support Project (LGSP) with a commitment of US$111.5 million credit which will allow Union Parishads (UPs) respond better to community needs and deliver services in a transparent manner.
Under this project, the Government will provide increased block grants to the UPs. The UPs must provide annual audits and take steps in improving transparency of budgeting and expenditure and they will receive this grant directly. The project will be implemented in phases. Starting July 2007, 25% or around 1000 UPs will be covered and eventually all UPs will be included in the next four years.
More Building Capacity of Union Parishads:
More about the Project:
Enterprise Growth equates More Jobs
Through the Enterprise Growth and Bank Modernization Project, the World Bank is providing US$256.53 million to the government to create more jobs. Jobs have been created through private sector enterprise growth and reforms in State Owned Enterprises.
Under this project, Adamjee Jute Mills and Chittagong Steel Mills have been converted into EPZs creating almost 120,000 jobs in total. In addition, retrenched workers of other State Owned
Enterprises have been retrained, counseled and their children have received educational stipends to ease their transition.
The initiative also supports small enterprise growth – disbursing more than Taka one billion and creating more than 2500 jobs and entrepreneurs.
More Enterprise Growth equates More Jobs:
More about the Project:Â
 More from the World Bank
6. World Bank Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy The World Bank’s Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) will guide our operations in Bangladesh during the period 2006-2009. It is strongly focused on governance and is aligned with Bangladesh's Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The CAS has two pillars, improving the investment climate and empowering the poor, reflecting the focus of the World Bank’s programs across sectors. These programs will address sector governance issues in both pillars, as well as ‘core’ governance, such as public procurement, public financial management, and judiciary reform. This mainstreaming of governance implies that all Bank Group interventions are as much about improving governance as they are about improving sector performance.  Summary of the CAS  English | Bangla   Download the full CAS
================================================================ 7. World Bank supported Projects and Programs in Bangladesh The World Bank supports 27 ongoing government projects in Bangladesh and is active in a wide range of sectors including health, education, transport, water and sanitation, agriculture, local government and financial sector reform, as well as public procurement and financial management reform.
Brief description of active projects | Detailed descriptions of active projects
 ================================================================ 8. Reports and Analyses from the World Bank The aim of the Bangladesh Development Series (BDS) is to share the World Bank's country analytical work on Bangladesh. BDS is a valuable source of information for strengthening policy dialogue and developing and implementing country strategies.
Please click on the following titles to download these Bangladesh Development Series reports: To the MDGs and Beyond: Accountability and Institutional Innovation in Bangladesh Summary - English | Bangla India-Bangladesh Bilateral Trade and Potential Free Trade Agreement; Summary - English | Bangla Economics and Governance of NGOs in Bangladesh; Summary - English | Bangla Bangladesh Country Assistance Strategy 2006-2009; Summary - English | Bangla Social Safety Nets in Bangladesh: An Assessment Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project, Effectiveness and Lessons Learned Revitalizing the Agricultural Technology System in Bangladesh; Summary - English | Bangla Targeting Resources for the Poor in Bangladesh; Summary - English | Bangla Comparative Advantages of Health Care Provision; Summary - English | Bangla Bangladesh Water Country Assistance Strategy; Summary - English | Bangla End of MFA Quotas: Key Issues and Strategic Options for Bangladesh Ready Made Garment Industry; Summary - English Bangladesh PRSP Forum Economic Update - Recent Developments and Future Perspectives Forthcoming Publications The Bangladesh Vocational Education and Training System: An Assessment
Strengthening Management and Governance in the HNP Sector of Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Strategy for Growth and Employment
Bangladesh: Piloting Reform through the Development and Management of Economic Zones
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9. Global reading from the World Bank
The World Bank is also a "Knowledge Bank", each year producing a steady flow of publications and research. Over 15,000 documents and publications are available free of cost on our website. Search and download global World Bank publications Recent highlights World Developemnt Indicators (WDI) 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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