The Learning and Innovation Component (LIC) of the Local Governance Support Project (LGSP) aims at promoting poverty reduction and MDG achievement through building the basic service delivery capacities of Union Parishads (UPs) the lowest tier of local government in rural Bangladesh. The LGSP-LIC is an integral part of the wider LGSP - a national project to promote better local governance and local service delivery -supported by a World Bank/IDA loan. The LGSP provides substantive support in five main areas:

1. UP performance-linked financing arrangements;

2. Local public expenditure management procedures;

3. Local accountability mechanisms;

4. Institutional framework for UP human resource development & training; and

5. National policy development and coordination.

LGSP-LIC field tests in more realistic conditions the successful innovations already pioneered under the UNCDF/UNDP Sirajganj Project (SLGDFP) and feed these "second generation" innovations into the national LGSP. The Local Government Division of the MLGRD&C will execute the LIC as part of the LGSP.

• The LGSP is a government-owned programme, supported by the World Bank and SDC (the national up scaling component) and by UNCDF/ UNDP with the EC and Danida, supporting learning & innovation field-testing in 6 districts. Both components are under the same government management arrangements.

• The LIC allows UNCDF to play a key role in influencing policy, building on achievements of the SLGDFP. The WB and UNCDF/UNDP undertake a joint supervision role. Recent political/policy moves to push decentralisation and the newly elected Upazila councils offer major potential opportunities to expand the scope of LIC.

• Local Government Division (LGD), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives

• National Institute of Local Government

• Union Parishads

• 6 Districts (of 64 total) with 388UPs

• 12 million persons

• N/A

• UP operational manuals and capacity building/training materials to be used in the national LGSP, have been prepared under UNCDF technical direction.

• Study on UP own revenue mobilisation enhancement.

• Ensuring continuous policy value-added complementarity to WB activities and following tight timelines in synch with audit, capacity building and fund release processes.

• Releasing FY 2009-2010 block grants to 264 UPs.

• Launching UP own revenue mobilisation enhancement pilot activities.

• Conducting study on women role in local development and seasonal employment generated through LGSP-LIC activities.

• Rolling out project Information, Education and Communication strategy.