Driving Change: Piloting a Human Rights- Based WASH project in Bangladesh 7th Rural Water Supply Network Forum 2016 Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire Present sented d by: Shahru hrukh kh Mirza za, , Strat trateg egic ic Sup uppor ort t Specialist cialist Bangla ngladesh desh Co Co-auth thors: s: Ranja jan n Kuma mar r Ghose, e, Programme ogramme Officer er-Advoca ocacy cy Mahfuj uj-ur ur Rahman, man, Equi uity ty and nd Rights ghts Speciali ialist st
Context » 2 Union Parishads (lowest tier of local government) in northern Bangladesh » Riverine char islands isolated from mainland » Poverty and food insecurity » Floods and river erosion » Lack of access to public services: health, education, social services www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Background » Part of global WaterAid Action “Community people heard the Learning initiative (HRBA-ALI) project was about ‘WASH rights’. They knew that meant implemented in 8 countries they had to talk about WASH, » Initiated in 2013 with local so they did.” – SKSF frontline partner SKS Foundation staff » Challen engin ging g to transla late e theo eory y to pr practice ice » Initial implementation showed signs of reverting to service delivery approach www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Project design » Working from the community’s priorities to entry points DIGI GITAL AL SCHOO OOLS CENTR TRES EQUAL L PAY COMMUN UNITY EDUCA UCATI TION SOCI CIAL AL SAFETY NET ALLOWANCES ANCES UNION ON COMMUN UNITY PARISHAD SHAD CLINICS CS TRANSPOR SPORT T & COMMUNICATI TION ON HEALTH WATER ER SUPPLY AND SANITATION TION www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Project design (cont’d) Aspects/Outcomes of HRBA (Human Rights Based Approach) CHANGE AMONG EXCLUDED CHANGE AMONG DUTY BEARERS (Mindset + Behaviour + Capacity) (Mindset + Behaviour + Capacity) SYSTEMIC CHANGE LIMITED CHANGE LIMITED CHANGE Service delivery of rights / Claiming of rights / entitlements by duty entitlements by bearer based on marginalized based on SUSTAINABLE CHANGE NATIONAL LEGAL INTERNATIONAL HR (change of power STRUCTURE equations + system) STAGES /KINDS OF CHANGE STAGES /KINDS OF CHANGE STAGES /KINDS OF CHANGE • Awareness - Information • Effective Implementation • Accessibility Knowledge • New /Modified laws/schemes • Transparency Ability to Analyse • Adequate Resources • Responsiveness • Voice • Change in the “helping” • Willingness to Sanction non- • Influence agency performance • Limited Enjoyment of Right/ • Sustainable Enjoyment of Right/ • Limited Enjoyment of Right/ www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh Entitlement Entitlement Entitlement
Initial results: Union Parishad » A more accountable Union Parishad › Selecting social service beneficiaries with the community › Regular ward meetings, budget meetings www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Initial results: Digital centres, school and clinic facilities » Improved governance systems, improved services » Beneficiaries from isolated areas gaining access to services and information www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Initial results: Community empowerment » Orientation right to water and sanitation, local governance processes, advocacy, negotiation, etc. » Interacting and claiming services from UP, within own community “Before, I would not dare to go into the Union Parishad. Now when I go, they say, give madam a chair .” – Community group member, Gazaria Union Parishad www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Analysis: Project design and management » Iterative project design, with the option to go back to the drawing board » Multi-team engagement: cross-fertilization of ideas » Multi-level buy in: championing from senior management to implementation » From small victories to community-wide change » Multiple points of intervention, linked together for systemic change www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Analysis: Implementation and monitoring » Selecting and developing partnership » Supporting frontliners through the process » Finding ways to track intangible outcomes: milestone tracking www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Conclusion: Emerging issues and questions » Sustainability and scaling up › Contextualising HRBA › Challenges of conventional financing and reporting › Engaging with the government » Deeper structural issues › Connecting upwards to sub-district and district level administration “You need some time to go from zero to hero!” – UP memb me mber, Fazlu lupur www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
Thank You! Shahrukh Mirza, Strategic Support Specialist ShahrukhMirza@wateraid.org www.watera raid.o d.org/b rg/bang ngla ladesh desh
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