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The second national seminar and workshop of the CSPP South
Asia Regional Consultation was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on
24th and 25th July, in collaboration with Unnayan
Onneshan - The Innovators, a centre for action and research
for development. The two-day event included a half-day seminar
followed by one and half day workshop. See the Regional
Consultation index for more information on the consultation
process.
The seminar began with a welcome speech by Jakir Hossain,
Unnayan Onneshan, then Major General Anwarul Kabir Talukder
(Retd.) M.P., Minister of State, Ministries of Finance and
Planning, Government of Bangladesh presented the inaugural
speech. John Young and Naved Chowdhury then gave a presentation
on ODI, the Context, Evidence and Links (CEL) Framework, Tools
for policy influence, and Implications for CSOs (view
seminar presentation (powerpoint presentation
791kb)). A case study from Bangladesh on Undercutting
Small Farmers: A Grassroots Insights of Rice Trade
(powerpoint presentation 220kb) was presented by Rashed
Al Mahmud Titumir (Unnayan Onneshan), describing corrosion
of small rice farmers in the context of price hikes and their
experience in policy advocacy to protect the farmers. A discussion
session followed the case study presentation.
In the following workshop, Naved Chowdhury and John Young
explained more comprehensively the RAPID Context, Evidence
and Links Framework and Tools for Policy influence, and the
Civil Society Partnership Programme (CSPP) (view
workshop presentation (powerpoint presentation
1mb). Jakir Hossain presented the second case study
from Bangladesh focusing on Poverty
and Employment in Bangladesh PRSP (powerpoint
presentation 344kb) at the workshop. This was followed
by a presentation by Naved Chowdhury showing how the CEL framework
can be used to analyse the political context, evidence and
links. John Young explained how to influence policy using
the RAPID framework and practical tools. Following this session,
participants were divided into three groups, who presented
four case studies and analysed their case studies using the
CEL framework.
The main points from the group discussions are summarised
below:
- In partnership with government, NGOs are treated in a
subcontracting manner rather than that of a partnership;
- Trust needs to be built between NGOs and government through
long term collaboration and the sharing of ideas;
- Research reports should be available for the general public,
and published in easier language and reader friendly formats;
- Evidence originating from CSOs is often challenged or
not taken seriously due to its qualitative focus. Capacity
building of CSOs in terms of research and information gathering,
methodology and communication are required;
- Policy literacy is important for CSOs; at the same time
the capacity enhancement of the government to grasp the
information provided by the CSOs in order to translate it
into policy is also required;
- CSOs need to be more transparent and accountable to people,
not to donors;
- Attitudes and approaches need to be changed to influence
the government;
- The continuous link between people-researcher and policy
makers is essential for any policy uptake.
At the end of the workshop, the participants provided some
recommendations on how ODI can further support CSOs in Bangladesh.
Suggestions included:
- Providing financial and technical support for research
initiatives by CSOs in the long term on a basis of equal
partnership;
- Organising training for building capacity of various stakeholders
involved with policy and advocacy;
- Exchange of information and knowledge through electronic
media and other forms of communication;
- Strengthen existing networks among institutions working
to influence policy;
- Staff exchange programme with CSOs in Bangladesh;
- Conducting research in collaboration with CSOs in Bangladesh.
Click on the links below if you would like further information.
Back to Regional Consultations index
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