The government can achieve better outcome from money it spends on different development projects if those include thoughts from different quarters in the decision-making process, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.
Addressing a session on political economy and climate change of the 2nd Gobeshona Conference at the Independent University, Bangladesh, they said those who are not employed in the public sector but are working on different issues can also play a crucial role in providing the government better information to be considered in development projects on climate change.
“Researchers, academicians, NGO officials and members of the civil society can enhance their engagement with the government by providing better information to make the decision-making process more effective,” said Dr Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development.
But the government often does not like to hear the voice of the civil society members, said Md Shamsuddoha of the Centre for Participatory Research and Development while slamming the government for its unwillingness to include the civil society in the decision-making process.
Citing the example of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund, he said only two out of its 13 board members are from the civil society. “This indicates that the government does not prioritise listening to others and acts on political will.”
According to the 5th assessment report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, Bangladesh is at specific risk of being affected by climate change because of its exposure to the rise in the sea level and extreme events such as salinity intrusion, drought, erratic rainfall and tidal surge, which will hamper the country’s food and livelihood security.
The government formulated Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in 2009 as a guideline to tackle the negative impacts of global warming.
In accordance with the guideline, the government set up Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund using its own resources in 2010 to take adaptation measures. As of the current fiscal year, the trust fund has received Tk2,900 crore in funds from the government’s revenue budget.
The government has already allocated funds for more than 200 projects, including building infrastructures such as embankments and dams, food security, social protection and health.
Echoing Shamsuddoha’s remarks, Saleemul said the government should take into account concerns expressed by the civil society, especially the research community, for the sake of better planning as well as greater outcome of the money spent on projects.
“Researchers should reveal both the positive and negative sides of any subject. Doing research does not mean that you only have to highlight the negative part. Research should also show how to get out of a bad situation and the government can consider this while making plans,” he explained.
Saleemul hailed the government for the National Adaptation Planning in climate change, saying that Bangladesh is the first country in the world to make this plan.
“This means the government is willing to implement development projects in the backdrop of concerns about the global warming.
“What is needed for the government is better guidance and coordination among different stakeholders, including researchers, civil society members and others,” he added.
The discussion was organised by Independent University, Bangladesh and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development.
Gobeshona is a knowledge network for research on climate change which aims to make such research more effective and ready to be followed by practitioners.
A good number of experts and researchers from the country and abroad joined the four-day conference that will end today.