Bangladesh has been identified as one of the three recipient countries of the United Nations 10th Tranche Development Account Project on “Evidence-based e-government policies for advancing governmental service delivery and accountability in support of the Sustainable Development Goals” (DA 1617B). This project will build on the momentum and outcomes of the 9th Tranche Project 1415H in Bangladesh on “Strengthening capacities of Developing Countries to Provide Access to Information for Sustainable Development through Open Government Data”, for example, through making available e-government data and indicators on the open government data (OGD) platform that has been developed.
- First National Workshop, Dhaka, 6-7 June 2017
Objective
In supporting one of the two expected accomplishments of the project, “Strengthened institutional capacity in target countries to implement evidence-based government policies and strategies, in support of selected SDGs and Targets”, the first national workshop will be jointly organised by the Prime Minister’s Office (through a2i), and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (through its Division of Public Administration and Development Management) to build institutional capacity to collect, analyse and publish e-government data and related sectoral data, with a view to develop e-government policies, directives, laws, legislations, etc., to support the SDGs. This workshop will also support the first deliverable of the project, in identifying and supporting a set of SDG targets and indicators that the Government of Bangladesh seek to strengthen in this project, with relevant data and implementation road map to guide the next phase of project implementation.
The event page can be found here. As well as Workshop report I; Workshop report II; and the Facebook Live Chat (invited and facilitated by Government of Bangladesh).
2. Second National Workshop, Dhaka, 26-27 June 2018
Structure of the Workshop
The second national workshop had two substantial components: Training and Knowledge Sharing. There were seven thematic tracks covered in two days.
The first three tracks cover training on three major themes: public policy and governance; data and statistical capacity; and digital governance and digital services. Resource persons in these sessions focused on best practices in public service delivery, data gaps analysis, and e-government.
The next three tracks covered knowledge sharing by various stakeholders involved in the process of implementing SDG targets in Bangladesh. During these knowledge-sharing sessions, SDG Focal Points from Lead Ministries and Divisions of Bangladesh Government shared their updated SDG Action Plans [implementation strategy]. Their perspectives were complemented by local and global experiences shared by senior ICT4SDG project officials and international experts.
The seventh track comprised of a group activity dedicated to designing ICT4SDG frameworks. Senior officials and SDG focal points were encouraged to explore/propose at least 2 digital strategies for implementation of relevant SDGs. They were invited to discuss which policy reforms would best support the implementation process of SDGs. Participants were divided into seven groups each covering one of the SDG indicators under the project:
- Group # 1: Social Inclusion (SDG 1.3.1)
- Group # 2: ICT Skills (SDG 4.4.1)
- Group # 3: Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8.5.1 and 8.5.2)
- Group # 4: NEET Population (SDG 8.6.1)
- Group # 5: Financial Inclusion (SDG 8.10.1 and 8.10.2)
- Group # 6: Access to Justice (SDG 16.3.1)
- Group # 7: Peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16.9.1)
In the closing session, senior officials from UNDESA, A2i, and PMO discussed lessons learned and future roadmaps for the project.
Workshop Objectives
The objectives of this workshop were:
- To acquire knowledge of ICT/e-government data and indicators in integrated implementation of SDGs in light of Lead Ministries’/Agencies’ SDG Action Plans;
- To encourage lead GoB Ministries and Divisions to improve their institutional capacity to collect, use, publish, and visualize relevant e-government data with indicators for analysis, monitoring and evaluation of selected SDGs;
- Produce road maps to collect, use, publish, and visualize relevant e-government data with indicators for analysis, monitoring and evaluation.
- To develop plans for strengthening institutional capacity of GoB Lead Ministries and Divisions to implement e-government modalities (policies/strategies, tools and techniques etc.) in support of SDGs.
The event page can be found here. As well as the Workshop Report, Workshop video clip; and Press release (prepared by Government).
The following policy notes on the prioritized SDG indicators have been produced based on research and the 2nd National Workshop in Dhaka:
3. Policy Consultation Workshop on SDG 8.6: “Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training – NEET population”, Dhaka, 22 January 2019
This workshop aimed to explore how ICT tools, techniques, processes, and policies can support evidence-based decision-making in the domain of SDGs implementation. The specific aims are:
- To identify the gaps in skills sector in the existing framework as well as explore the areas of new policy formulation to enhance the use of ICTs in achieving SDGs assess need for necessary new policy
- To introduce integrated digitized SDG skills platform to track national training institutions activities and progress towards reducing the rate of NEET population (National Youth Policy 2017, article 15.4.1)
- To track the Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training.
- To facilitate evidence-based decision making for future plans and policy decisions
The event page can be found here.