The LoCAL project in Bangladesh organized the “Annual Planning and Performance Assessment” workshop in the two piloted Upazila Parishads, Godagari and Mohonpur, respectively on 21st and 22nd July 2014. The workshops’ objective was to introduce the performance assessment of the Upazila Parishad’s core responsibility in planning and coordinating service delivery with the active participation of line agencies, Union Parishads and communities.

Under the LoCAL’s Performance Based Climate Resilience Grants system, the Upazilas are responsible to allocate the PBCR grants to eligible expenditures through a transparent process of planning and budgeting, to assign responsibilities for the implementation of the PBCR grants financed schemes to appropriate agencies, to monitor implementation of the schemes and to report to Ministry.

The workshops were chaired by the Chairmen of the two Upazilas, and attended by officials from Upazila and Union Parishads, elected representatives and civil servants, including, the Vice-Chairmen (one of which is by law always a woman), the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (a central government official assigned to the Upazila) and line ministries officials, members of the Standing Committees, the Chairmen and Secretaries from Union Parishads and a representative of the Media.

The Upazila Nirbahi Officer introduced the objectives of the performance assessment at an important time, before the preparation of the annual and 5 years plans, a strategic exercise executed at Upazila level which integrates UP planning, thus facilitating the coordination of service delivery between the two levels of local government.

Discussions during the workshops highlighted the key role played by the Standing Committees in the development planning process for the effective identification of climate resilience vulnerabilities and needs at community level. In particular, the discussion touched on local impacts of climate change and the rationale of performing an integrated planning process for the development of infrastructures/schemes resilient to extreme weather events.

In brief, the following key recommendations were made during the sessions:

• Standing Committees must be proactive and participate in local level development planning. 
• Monthly regular meetings to be held and meetings’ related documentation to be produced.
• Regular and systematical financial management and budget preparation.  
• Local level coordination in preparing yearly and 5-years plan books.
• The local level development planning process, project design and implementation must address climate change issues.
• Union Parishad should play an active and essential role in local level planning.