VOICE, Bangladesh

Engaging CSOs in the Water Sector to Promote Transparency & Accountability

Small Grant (SG9), 8,150 EUR

The project focuses on the production of a documentary: People’s Voice on Water Transparency, showing the situation of water services in Myemsingh. The documentary was considered important for advocacy purposes as efforts to enact Access to Information Rights towards the costs and decision making related to local water distribution have been numerously blocked by officials. The documentary will focus on corruption inherent in the water management system and the transparency and accountability mechanism in Bangladesh.

Working together with other CSOs in the area, the documentary aims to show a realistic picture of the state of the water system in Myemsingh through interviews with water providers, local government and consumers, bringing to light problems due to poor administration, inadequate tariff structures, poor cost recovery, intermittent services and deteriorating water quality. It also aims to promote and strengthen the voice of the consumer by providing objective facts on water and sanitation services and the characterisation of an accountability model to equip them to carry out effective reform advocacy.

Emphasizing a more participatory approach to water services, and creating increased public awareness in Bangladesh about the water situation, will contribute towards long-term transparency and accountability in the water sector.