THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006: knowledge, perceptions, reality BRAC Research and Evaluation Division and Centre for Governance Studies, BRAC University Dr Naomi Hossain BRAC Research and Evaluation Division Team Leader, State of Governance 2006 Report

Purpose, approach, method Taking stock of our knowledge Taking stock of our knowledge –Foundation for future research Governance and pro-poor development Governance and pro-poor development –Development as more than economic growth –Focus on public sector performance, services A long view: governance over 15 years A long view: governance over 15 years Multidisciplinary and exploratory Multidisciplinary and exploratory Extensive literature review + strategic primary research Extensive literature review + strategic primary research Capacity building + expert advice Capacity building + expert advice THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

Report structure 1. Overview 2. Political Governance: the politicisation of public life 3. Macroeconomic governance and the investment climate 4. Public Administration: citizen orientation, rising politicisation and declining status 5. The poverty of justice: rule of law and access to justice 6. Rural and urban local governance 7. Civil society and the media: who will watch the watchdogs? 8. Social protection and social policy 9. Conclusions and next steps THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

Primary research Local party politics Local party politics –In-depth study of 2 upazilas Civil service recruitment Civil service recruitment –Survey of retired, current and prospective recruits Incentives and constraints of the police Incentives and constraints of the police –Survey of serving police Urban politics and the poor Urban politics and the poor –Case study of two Dhaka wards The impact of the media on governance The impact of the media on governance –Stakeholder interviews THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

What is the State of Governance in Bangladesh in 2006? A series of contrasts and paradoxes Development success amidst governance failure Development success amidst governance failure Some deterioration in the quality of governance, but also some modest gains Some deterioration in the quality of governance, but also some modest gains THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

The Bangladesh ‘paradox’: development success with bad governance ‘Good enough governance’ in social sectors ‘Good enough governance’ in social sectors –Government/NGO partnerships –Governments responsive to citizen demands: education and safety nets as political priorities –Corruption levels possibly overstated Coping with bad governance Coping with bad governance –Successful entrepreneurs find means of ‘coping’ THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

What is working? Searching for success in governance Public awareness through media and civil society Public awareness through media and civil society –But not widespread demand for reform Some reform programmes are showing impact, stimulating further reforms Some reform programmes are showing impact, stimulating further reforms Pockets of positive change Pockets of positive change –Political participation of the urban poor –Efforts to tackle corruption in public sector recruitment, safety nets –But poorly documented THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

‘Bad governance with a human face’: incentives and constraints of public servants Exploring the interests and behaviour of public servants Exploring the interests and behaviour of public servants –Social divisions within the police force –Declining social status of teachers, civil servants –Pressures from (negative) public perception, the media Morale is low, pressure for partisan alignment high Morale is low, pressure for partisan alignment high THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

The politicisation of public life The bad news: Core public institutions and processes which are supposed to be neutral are now partisan Core public institutions and processes which are supposed to be neutral are now partisan Civil society tainted by partisan influence Civil society tainted by partisan influence The other side of the story: Party politics is increasingly well-organised at the local level Party politics is increasingly well-organised at the local level Politics is highly participative Politics is highly participative THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

Formal accountability systems are failing Political affiliation reduces independence Political affiliation reduces independence –The judiciary, Parliamentary Committees Institutions that are supposed to ensure accountability are absent or weak Institutions that are supposed to ensure accountability are absent or weak –Ombudsman, ACC Systems for making public servants accountable to citizens are ineffective Systems for making public servants accountable to citizens are ineffective THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

… but informal pressures work Media exposure an increasing pressure on public officials Media exposure an increasing pressure on public officials Citizens more willing to complain/scrutinise Citizens more willing to complain/scrutinise –In schools, hospitals, relief programmes Informal action is unregulated, can turn violent Informal action is unregulated, can turn violent –The result of frustration: power riots, revolt in the garments sector –Incentives to improve accountability? THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

Who wants good governance in Bangladesh? Demand for reform remains mainly external Demand for reform remains mainly external - Donor intervention has stimulated national efforts - Growing national ownership of the debate - Not (yet) wide demand for wholesale reform: can governance become an election issue? THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

The state of our knowledge Research remains driven by donors, civil society Research remains driven by donors, civil society - Independent, scholarly research limited - Some influential research is not robust - Emphasis on ‘diagnosing’ failure - There may be more progress than we think THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

Gaps, lessons and next steps Gaps in the State of Governance Report 2006 Gaps in the State of Governance Report 2006 –Donors and aid –Environment –Infrastructure and energy –Religious extremism More robust indicators of governance need to: More robust indicators of governance need to: –Move beyond perceptions –Focus on issues relevant to Bangladesh –Build on existing work THE STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADESH, 2006

Further information Background papers and the full State of Governance in Bangladesh 2006 report will shortly be available on: and