Democratic Governance inGovernance in Pakistan and … Spring2008... · Democratic Governance...

Democratic Governance inGovernance in Pakistan and Bangladesh

Seizing the Day Awaiting the Dawn

Mridul Chowdhury, Jason Wendle, Yuko Watanabe, Leila Nathoo, Sara

Qutub, Nataly Sabharwal, y

Recommendation to UNDP: Seizing the Day | Awaiting the Dawng y | g

Pakistan BangladeshCore and mobilized Governance budget should be increased to take advantage of current opportunities.

Major reforms should wait until after the next elections.

1 Continue/ Expand Support for1. Continue/ Expand Support for Electoral Process

2. Expand the Access to Information Program

1. Continue/Expand Parliamentary Development

2 Extend Electoral Reform Program

3. Maintain Status Quo with “Police Reform Project”

2. Extend Electoral Reform3. Modify Decentralization Support4. Initiate Anti-Corruption Program

4. Resume “Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy” Project after the upcoming elections

YW3

YW3 I added animation...so that the traffic lights will show up at the end....but delete them if they are too muchYuko Watanabe, 4/15/2008

Recommendation Framework: Respond to Needs and ConstraintsRespond to Needs and Constraints

Public

Country DG Priority

Current UNDP Engagement

Country Readiness

UNDP Readiness ResponseService Area:

Administration & Anti-Corruption

Electoral

What are the most significant governance needs?

Wh t i UNDPSystems

Decentralization & Local

Governance

What is UNDP doing now in this area? How is its budget prioritized?

D liti

• Add new programs?

• Change existingGovernance

Justice & Human Rights

Do realities on the ground limit or enhance successful intervention in

• Change existing programs?

• Do nothing?

Parliamentary Development

intervention in this area?

Does the appropriate intervention fall within

Media & Access to Information

UNDP’s capabilities & comparative advantage?

The Choice in Pakistan is Not What to Reform but Where to StartReform but Where to Start

•Ranked 138/179 in TI’s 2007 Corruption Perceptions IndexPublic

Country DG PriorityService Area:

Ranked 138/179 in TI s 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index •National Accountability Bureau highly politicized

• History of rigged elections and low turnout, though recent elections


Electoral judged as fair.

• Center exercises tight control, increasing ethnic tension.• Provinces get limited resources, local government lacks capacity.

Systems


Governance g , g p y

• New gov’t has released assertive judges imprisoned by Musharraf in Oct 2007, but rights abuses continue (CIRI 2006).

Governance


Parliament constrained by military and Presidency (FH: Not Free)Weak policy making and oversight capacity.


Ranked 152/169 countries in 2007 Press Freedom Index, howevernew govt has lifted Emergency restrictions on vibrant independent media.


Governance has been the Lowest UNDP Budget Priority in PakistanUNDP Budget Priority in Pakistan

Governance10%Crisis Mgt/Prevention

20%

2004-2008 Budget for UNDP Pakistan:

Poverty25%

($170 million of which $25 million is UNDP regular resources)

Gender (Non-Gov)21%

Energy/Environment24%

Active UNDP Governance Programs in Pakistan Service Area Size ($mil)

Support to Devolution Trust for Community Empowerment (DTCE) Decentralization 51.46

Essential Institutional Reforms Operationalization Programme (EIROP) Decentralization 2.39

Support to Good Governance Group (Phase III) Decentralization 3.52

Assistance to Governance Reforms and Practices in Balochistan (AGRP-B) Decentralization 3.8

Supporting Democratic Electoral Processes in Pakistan (SDEPP) Phase II Electoral Systems 3.85

Support to National Elections in Pakistan (SNEP) Electoral Systems 53.5

Strengthening Democracy Through Parliamentary Development in Pakistan Parliamentary Dev. 2.77

Source: UNDP Pakistan

Seizing the Day: New Gov’t Paves Way for Unprecedented Opportunitiesy p pp

Public

Service Area: UNDP Readiness

• No current budget but potential

Government Readiness

• New democratic government in l d lik l h i

Overall Readiness


Electoral S

• No current budget, but potential partnerships exist: ADB, WB.

• Recently completed project (SNEP)

place and likely emphasis on transparency.

• Requires government buy-in, Systems


Governance

proved useful contribution of UNDP.

• Large current local gov. projects, but limited effectiveness due to political interference

achievable at present.

• Historical lack of political support for provincial autonomy.• Decreased support for local gov’tGovernance


political interference.

• Politically sensitive; • Judicial reform already supported by ADB

Decreased support for local gov t. reform under new government

• New government has committed to I improve rule of law and judicial freedoms


by ADB

• Ongoing project & partner (IPU). • UNDP core activities may make useful difference.

• Opportunity for political buy-in given recent elections.

freedoms


• Too politically sensitive • Key to progress in media is parliamentary control & capacity.

Pakistan Recommendation: Seizing the Day

Action plans Potential Partners

• Initiate New Corruption

g y

• Government ministries;Initiate New Corruption Programs: Start with DialogNew

• Government ministries; World Bank (PIFRA); ADB (Access to Justice)

Tweak

• Expand Parliamentary Dev Projects: Committee & Legislative Capacity

• Extend Electoral System

• Parliamentary Development: USAID for experiential knowledge.

• Electoral

Increase Governance

Budget in ModifyTweak yProject to EC Professionalization

• Reorient Decentralization Program to Include Provincial

Electoral Support:International IDEA for expertise; USAID, EU, DFID for funding

• Decentralization: ADB

Budget in Light of New Opportunities

Modify

Program to Include Provincial Government

Status Quo • No Change In Human RightsNo Change In Human Rights

and Media Approach

Upcoming Election is the Highest Priority for Bangladeshy g

Public

Country DG PriorityService Area:

• Anti-corruption commission placed many political leaders in jail, Administration & Anti-Corruption

Electoral

including 2 former PMs. • Issue of national image because of no. 1 position in CPI index in 4 consecutive years from 2002 till 2005

• Promise of holding fair democratic elections dependent on completeSystems


Governance

Promise of holding fair democratic elections dependent on complete voter database.

• Effort to hold local elections before national elections despite oppositionGovernance


opposition.

• Effort to make judiciary independent from civil administration. • Corruption in police untouched.

Parliamentary Development • No parliament for past 1.5 years.


•Ministry of Information put out long-awaited draft of Right to Information Act 2008.

Election Has Been Focus of UNDP’s Governance Work in BangladeshGovernance Work in Bangladesh

UNDP Bangladesh Size of Democratic Governance ProjectsDemocratic Governance Projects (2008)

ProgramBudget (USD mil)Partners Implementer

Police Reform Program 15.8 DFID, EC Min of Home Affairs

Civil service change management program 5.5 Min of Establishment

Support to the electoral process 3.9 Election Commission Secretariat

Preparation of electoral roll with photo 84 7 Bangladesh Election CommissionPreparation of electoral roll with photo 84.7 Bangladesh Election Commission

Promoting access to justice and human rights 3.0Min of Law, Justice,Parliamentary Affairs

Source: UNDP Bangladesh

Awaiting the Dawn: Getting ready for a New Government

Public

Government ReadinessService Area: UNDP Readiness•ACC very strong and independent

•No current involvement due to Administration & Anti-Corruption

Electoral

independent•Little public admin. reform

•EC working with multiple

political sensitivity.

•75% of UNDP’s program budget.’Systems


Governance

EC working with multiple partners

•Lack of parliament barrier in decision-making.

•UNDP’s core competence.

•No specific project in this area-part of other UNDP programs.

Governance


•Military-backed government de-emphasizing human rights •Military itself engaged in rule of law and security

•Police reform project in place.•No specialization on human rights/judiciary.


law and security.

•No parliament at the moment.

g j y

•Long-standing project suspended temporarily.


•Resistance from civil administration (Right to Information not passed).

•UNDP program A2I.

Bangladesh Recommendation:Awaiting the Dawn

Action plans Potential Partners

• None for now

New

• Emphasize “Strengthening EC” project

• Election Commission Secretariat, Ministry of Law, Justice, and

Major reforms

should wait • Invest in policies for e-

governance and RTI through A2I program.

Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Information

Modifytill after the next

elections.

• Police reform project not high priority for govt.

• Defer in estment in• DFID, EC, Police,

Ministry of HomeStatus Quo • Defer investment in

parliamentary development and local governance.

Ministry of Home Affairs, Parliament Secretariat

Quo

Appendix

UNDP’s Core Competencies Inform Response

As a multilateral organization serving member states, UNDP’s unique position in the “governance space”UNDP’s unique position in the “governance space” provides both opportunities and limitations. It’s work:

• Policy Advice and Technical Support

• Capacity Development of Institutions and People

• Advocacy, Communications, and Public Information

• Promotion and Brokerage of Dialogueg g

• Knowledge Networking and Sharing of Good Practices

13Source: http://www.us.undp.org/pastbulletins/2007/10.07.pdf

Democratic Governance inGovernance in Pakistan and … Spring2008... · Democratic Governance...

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