Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Four development partners will provide US$ 18.39 million assistance to strengthen the functions of Union Parishads in the country.
The development partners are the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), European Union (EU) and DANIDA.
An agreement to this effect for the ‘Union Parishad Governance Project (UPGP)’ was signed between the government and the UNDP at the NEC II in city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Thursday, officials said.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Iqbal Mahmood and Local Government Division (LGD) Secretary Abu Alam Md. Shahid Khan signed the agreement on behalf of the government while UNDP country director Stefan Priesner signed for the development partners.
The project will be implemented by the Local Government Division (LGD) during the period from October 2011 to September 2016.
Of the total assistance, UNDP will provide $2.0 million, EU $ 9.30 million, UNCDF $1.50 million and DANIDA $5.58 million. Besides, the government will provide BDT 80 million for implementing the project.
The main objective of the project is to provide technical assistance to strengthen capacities of local governments and other stakeholders to foster participatory local development service delivery for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
BBN/SSR/AD-15Dec11-2:10 pm (BST)
