Background: Aiming to introduce a better model for sustainable rural development, the Ministry of Agriculture conducted and implemented a research project named Joint Study on Agriculture and Rural Development (JSARD) through Bangladesh Agricultural University with technical assistance from JICA from 1986 to 1990.Later, JSARD project was implemented by Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) from 1992 to 1995 with technical assistances from JICA to find out an alternative approach to rural development in Bangladesh. Based upon the successes and experiences of the two research projects, a new conceptual “Participatory Rural Development Project (PRDP)” was stared as a pilot project in four unions of Kalihati upazila of Tangail district in 2000 by Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) with assistance from JICA and finally a new model for sustainable rural development named “Link Model” was introduced. Following the concept of Link Model, Participatory Rural Development Project Phase-II was implemented in 2005-2010 with JICA and GOB fund and revised Phase-II in 2010-2015 with JDCF fund. Based upon the positive results and recommendations of ministry’s Mid Term Evaluation Report, PCR of Planning Commission and Ex-post Evaluation Report of JICA, Bangladesh Government approved its 3rd phase titled “Participatory Rural Development Project-3 (PRDP-3)” with GOB fund to accelerate socio-economic development in rural areas of Bangladesh.
At a glance of PRDP-3 Name of Project : Participatory Rural Development Project-3 (PRDP-3) Sponsoring Division : Rural Development & Cooperative Division (RDCD Executing Agency : Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) Total Cost : 23167.15 (GOB=19927.15, UP & Beneficiary= 3240.00) Period : July, 2015 to 30 June, 2020 Area : 600 Unions of 200 Upazilas
Goal: Accelerate Socio-economic Development in Rural Areas of Bangladesh
Objectives of the project: – Providing all available supports and services of NBDs and NGOs to the rural people on the basis of their common demands assessed by Village Development Committees (VDCs); – Supporting villagers in planning and implementation of village development activities by their collective efforts through VDCs and UCCs/UDCCs; – Enhancing the capacity of UPs to establish a mechanism for regular holding of Ward Sava and Open Budget Meeting with the help of VDCs;
Target: Village Development Committee : 5400
Village Development Committee Meeting : 324000
UCC/UDCC : 600
UCCM/UDCCM : 36000
Field Proposal Type Training : 648000
Small Development Scheme : 10800
Ward Meeting Holding : 54000
Open Budget Meeting : 3000
Features of Link Model Concept: * Village Development Committee (VDC) comprising community people will sit together once in a month and discuss about their needs, problems and development issues; * VDC representatives will attend the Union Coordination Committee (UCC) meeting to raise their demands and problems. Union level extension workers of NBDs will also attend the UCC meeting and place their supports and services; * UP elected members will also attend the UCC meeting to be presided over by UP Chairman where service delivery plans of UP & NBDs will be made based upon the needs & problems of the community people. * Union Parishad will be used as a center of all development activities; * Development activities will be implemented with joint financing by government (70%), Local Government Institutions (LGIs) (10%) and community people (20%); * Household taxes will be collected from the community people as precondition of implementing any dev. scheme. The tax money will be deposited in the UP bank account;
Village Development Committee (VDC): Village Development Committee (VDC) is formed in an open general meeting at village level. Representatives from almost every household attend the meeting, make open discussion and form a 20-30 member committee for three years through proposal and support system. Voting system is also followed if necessary.
Union Coordination Committee (UCC)/Union Development Coordination Committee (UDCC): UCC/UDCC has been considered as a Mini-parliament at union level where service providers (Government & NGO extension workers and elected representatives) and service receivers (community people) sit face-to-face and make debates on development issues to properly implement development activities.UCC/UDCC structure: Chairman, Union Parishad Chairman
Members of Union Parishad (All) Member
Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer, DAE ”
Veterinary Field Assistant, Dept. of Livestock ”
Concerned Field Assistant, Dept. of Fisheries ”
FPI/FWA/FWV, Health & Family Planning ”
Assistant Health Inspector/Medical Assistant ”
Concerned USW, Dept. of Social Welfare ”
Union Leader, dept. of Ansar-VDP ”
Concerned Mechanic, DPHE ”
Concerned ATEO, Dept. of Education ”
Concerned Community Organizer, LGED ”
Concerned Field Organizer, BRDB ”
Representatives of Youth Dev. Department ”
Representatives of Dept. of Women Affairs ”
Union Marriage Registrar ”
Representatives of VDCs ”
Secretary, Union Parishad ”
Concerned representatives of all NGOs ”
Union Development Officer, PRDP-3,BRDB Mem. Secretary
Union Development Officer (UDO): UDO sits at union office and acts as key facilitator for holding the UCC/UDCC meeting meaningfully by creating horizontal and vertical linkages;