Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), an international non-government organisation (NGO) working as a catalyst of social movement against corruption, has found that 10 NGOs do not exist. These were part of 63 NGOs selected for projects under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF). Besides, nine NGOs were allocated projects on political considerations, executive members of 13 NGOs are involved in politics and one NGO was given a project even after its registration was cancelled by the Micro-credit Regularity Authority.
This was revealed in a TIB study on “Climate Financing in Bangladesh: Challenges for Good Governance and Way Forward”. The study, conducted by a group of researchers led by Mahfuzul Haque, was disclosed at a press conference at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Thursday.
TIB’s assistant project coordinator of the Climate Finance and Governance Project (CFGP), Mohwa Rouf, made a presentation at the press conference on the study. TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, deputy executive director Dr Sumaiya Khair, CFGP coordinator Zakir Hossain and research associate Mahfuzur Rahman were present on the occasion. According to the study, allocation of projects was lesser in climate vulnerable areas, including coastal districts Satkhira and Khulna, and no project was allocated in Satkhira. It shows only 1.2 per cent project allocation was given in Satkhira, while 6.5 per cent in Khulna, whereas four projects were allocated in Tangail and one each in Rajshahi and Dhaka.
“As per the risk map of the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) 2009, only 6.5 per cent and 1.2 per cent of the total disbursement of the BCCTF were allocated for Khulna and Satkhira, respectively. However, no allocation has gone to Bagerhat so far from the fund,” said the study.
The report said the government has undertaken 139 climate projects involving USD 340 million from the BCCTF to cope with the adverse impact of climate change.
The report shows that a significant part of the fund, about 32 per cent, was allocated for the Local Government, Rural development and Cooperatives Ministry, while about 11.55 per cent for the Ministry of Environment and Forests to implement climate projects and the Women and Child Affairs Ministry was given the lowest fund of only .05 per cent.
The highest amount of BCCTF money of 38.48 per cent was spent on projects for food security and social safety and health and the lowest amount of 1.25 per cent was spent for infrastructure, said the report.
The TIB report was prepared after assessing two climate projects funded by the BCCTF and conducting case studies on three climate projects implemented by NGOs with funds from the BCCTF between September 12, 2012 and September 12, 2013.
Addressing the press conference, TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman urged the government to ensure the optimum disclosure of information at all stages in allocation of climate fund and selection and implementation of climate projects to make the entire process transparent.
He said local people’s involvement is not visible. “People’s involvement in implementing climate projects is essential to make those transparent and check graft,” he added.
Iftekharuzzaman expressed concern over shortcomings of good governance and identification of corruption in the management of climate fund. He suggested to the World Bank, that works as a coordinator, not to mix up loan money with resilience funds.
On construction of the coal-based power plant in Rampal, it has sent out a wrong signal about Bangladesh that faces climate vulnerability.
-With The Independent input
