Implementing a Programme – the problems faced by TI Bangladesh

First Stage - Strategic Plan

TIB has concentrated its attention on developing an overall programme based on its strategic plan entitled Plans & Programmes: Toward New Millennium. The strategic planning itself was a challenging exercise involving diverse stakeholders (professional groups, Members of Parliament, journalists, non-governmental and women's organisations). Workshops and focus group discussions were held all over the country to assess the nature of mis-governance in Bangladesh.

Once the strategic plan was finalised it was widely disseminated both within Bangladesh and, via TIB's website, to the rest of the world. The strategic plan can be broadly divided into short-term and long-term programmes.

Examples of short-term programmes are:

1. Investigative journalism;
2. Diagnostic studies;
3. Briefing papers;
4. Surveys and 'report cards';
5. Awareness activities, such as, workshops and seminars;
6. Development of membership base; and
7. Publications.

Examples of long-term activities are:

1. National Integrity Programme;
2. Setting up of Committee of Concerned Citizens;
3. Setting up of Advice and Information Centres; and
4. School, College and University Clubs.

Second Stage - Individual Project

The second stage was to develop a detailed proposal for each of the activities outlined in the Plans & Programmes: Toward New Millennium. TIB has formulated its first proposal entitled National Integrity Programme (NIP). NIP is a pilot project embodying some of the ideas contained in the Plans & Programmes: Toward New Millennium.

The NIP proposal was formulated through consultation with the Board of Trustees of TIB, TI Secretariat and USAID. The proposal, together with a detailed budget, has gone through a number of drafts. Before the proposal and budget could be put to the donor agency the Board of Trustees of TIB approved the final version. Finally, a contract was signed between TIB and USAID.

Third Stage - Approval of NGO Affairs' Bureau (Prime Minister's Office)

Under the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Ordinance 1978 and the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982 any foreign donation or contribution for any voluntary activity in Bangladesh by any foreign Government or organisation or a citizen of a foreign State has to apply to the NGO Affairs' Bureau ('Bureau') for the approval of the Government of Bangladesh. The Bureau's function is that of a 'clearing house'. After examination of the proposal and budget it refers the matter to relevant government departments for their opinion. It is usual for the Bureau to refer such proposals to one or two relevant ministries. In the case of TIB's NIP proposal the Bureau decided to send the papers to four ministries and to the Bureau of Anti-corruption (in the Prime Minister's Office).

Fourth Stage - File pushing in Ministries

The fourth stage was the processing of the files within four ministries. The ministries were

• the Ministry of Home (further reference to Police Department and Intelligence Agency)
• the Ministry of Law
• the Ministry of Establishment
• the Ministry of Religious Affairs
• the Bureau of Anti-Corruption (the Prime Minister's Office)

TIB had to respond to queries from the Special Branch of the Police Department and the National Security Intelligence. Papers had to be translated and summarised for officers of sub-inspector's rank. TIB had to pursue the matter with bureaucrats within various ministries. A number of well wishers of TIB have intervened at different levels to motivate and expedite the approval.

According to rules governing the process of approval a limit of 21 days has been set within which ministries have to respond. If no response is forthcoming by the 21-day time limit from the ministry then the Bureau can take it to be deemed that there is no objection to the proposal. It has been TIB's experience that application of discretion by the Bureau is very selective. This makes the whole process of project approval non-transparent.

Fifth Stage - Capacity Building

See following presentation.