International Assistance and Local Government Decentralization: a Study on the Approaches and Impact of International Assistance to Union Parishads in Bangladesh

At present, strengthening local government or decentralization has become the focal point of good governance in developing countries. Many developing countries pursue their activities to strengthen local government. Due to lack of financial and institutional support, developing countries welcome donors to participate in strengthening local governments. In Bangladesh, as in many other developing countries, donor organizations also work to strengthen local governments. This book examines the impact of international assistance to strengthen Union Parishads (lowest tier of rural local government) in Bangladesh. By using two case studies this book explores the impact international assistance has had on strengthening Union Parishads in Bangladesh. The book finds that international assistance has segmented success to strengthen Union Parishads. The success of international assistance depends on the approach: project which directly financed the Union Parishads demonstrated a better performance compared to the project which did not directly finance the Union Parishads.