WELCOME

1. WELCOME To Planning Commission

2. From I-PRSP to PRSP: Steps and ProcessesPresentedbyDr. Quazi Mesbahuddin AhmedMemberGeneral Economics DivisionPlanning Commission

3. The I-PRSP of Bangladesh • Bangladesh’s I-PRSP is formally called “Bangladesh : A National Strategy for Economic Growth, Poverty Reduction and Social Development.” • I-PRSP was finalised in March, 2003. • I-PRSP reviewed by The Bangladesh Development Forum in Dhaka in May, 2003.

4. The Joint Assessment of I-PRSP by the World Bank and the IMF was completed in May, 2003. • Boards of Directors of the Bank/Fund consideredthe I-PRSP on June 19, 2003.

5. Planning Commission, General Economics Division, The National Poverty Focal Point (NPFP) • The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) identified the General Economics Division of the Planning Commission as the National Poverty Focal Point (NPFP) in July, 2003.

6. Terms of References of NPFP • Monitoring the task of implementation of I-PRSP • Preparing a full PRSP • To provide secretarial support to the National Steering Committee (NSC). (NSC is referred to below) • To provide secretarial support to the National Poverty Reduction Council (NPRC) which is being constituted.

7. Institutional Arrangements and Processes for PRSP Preparation NPRC (National Poverty Reduction Council) NSC (National Steering Committee) NPFP (National Poverty Focal Point) Associate Institution/ Consultants Thematic Groups(TGs) Participatory Consultation Participatory Consultancy National level Background Studies Interface with other T.Gs. Regional Level Analytical Studies Draft PRSP by NPFP

8. Draft PRSP by NPFP Comments by different Stakeholders Consultations on draft PRSP NPFP incorporates feedbacks Warp-up Meetings by NSC Final PRSP by NPFP

9. The National Steering Committee To guide the NPFP, a National Steering Committee was formed on September 18, 2003 • It is chaired by the Principal Secretary • It has 17 members (the number is likely to increase) • Member, General Economics Division is the Member-Secretary

10. TOR of the National Steering Committee • To provide guidelines/advice in monitoring the implementation of I-PRSP • To provide guidelines /advice in formulating a work plan for preparing a full-blown PRSP • To implement the strategies/policies of I-PRSP, provide guidance/advice in forming working groups composed of different Ministries/ Departments, civil society, private sector and the development partners and suggest coordination mechanism among the working groups (Thematic Groups)

11. To devise mechanism of holding regular consultations with the stakeholders in order to receive inputs for preparation of PRSP • To suggest workable and best strategies for poverty reduction • To initiate the process of reconstituting the National Poverty Reduction Council • To discharge other relevant functions deemed to be necessary by the Steering Committee.

12. The National Steering Committee : Selected Decisions • Shall meet on 6th of every month • May convene special meetings (Already held 3 regular and one special meetings) • ‘Main task’ of PRSP preparation to be funded by GOB • Development Partners (DPs) may assist capacity building of NPFP

13. DPs may also support Thematic Groups • Steering Committee to include 5 more Secretaries (Commerce, Land, Water, RD and ICT) • Responsibilities of Ministries in the Medium-term Policy Matrix of I-PRSP to be delineated (Done) • 12 Thematic Groups to be formed with lead Ministry (ies) and Associates being identified (Done) • Members of the Parliament to be consulted to seek their opinion about preparation of PRSP

14. Six Divisional Commissioners to be informed about consultation meetings to be held in their respective Divisions (done) • A comprehensive paper to be prepared for national and regional consultations (draft paper presented before the Steering Committee). • PRSP to include, among other areas, children and women’s advancement and rights, environmental issues, population planning, water resources management, land use and SME development.

15. Road-MAP for Preparation of PRSP (November, 2003—September, 2004)

19. Thematic Groups (TGs) for PRSP • Macroeconomic Stability and Pro-poor growth • Financial Sector Reforms (including banking, trade and globalization) • Infrastructural Development and Reforms including Power, Energy and Communications (Roads, Railways and Inland Water Transports) • Domestic Resources Mobilization • Reforms in Governance including civil service reforms, judicial reforms and law and order • Health including Population Planning, Nutrition and Sanitation

20. Education including primary and mass education, female education, vocational and technical education • Women and Children Advancement and Rights • Rural Development including Food Security, Disaster Management, Safety-net Programmes, Micro credit and Rural Non-farm Activities • Agriculture (Crops, Fisheries, Livestock) and Environment including Forestry, Land Reforms, Land use, Safe Water Supply and Water Resources Management • Private Sector Development • Information and Communication Technology and Technology Policy

21. TOR of Thematic Groups • Thematic Groups (TGs) would be formed comprising of the government sector, private sector, civil society and NGOs • Each TG would prepare its own plan of action particularly in light of the description of the expected output given by the NSC • The Plan of Action would contain, among others, the scope of work, the responsibilities of the relevant Ministry/Agency, the frequency, stages and the spatial level of consultation and the time-frame for completion of the work

22. Based on the scope of work, each TG would identify the need for consultancy services and arrange for securing those services • The time-frame for completing the task of the TGs would follow the road-map adopted by the Steering Committee • Issues relating to interfacing between the TGs, between the TGs and the NSC and between the TGs and the NPFP would be addressed, as far as practicable, in accordance with the description provided by the NSC • Each TG would decide/arrange to have, in consultation with the NPFP, a pre-determined time-slot to report back to the Steering Committee.

23. Interfacing of Thematic Groups • TGs would determine the interface with each other based on their respective TORs to be drawn up by them. • The TGs will share the TORs between them to identify their interlinkages • Once the interlinkages are identified, the concerned TGs would arrange joint meetings. The structure and frequency of these meetings may be determined by the TGs themselves. • Objectives of the joint meetings would be to avoid duplication of work and to derive benefit, if possible, from each other’s work.

24. Interface between TGs and the NSC : • Monthly meetings of the NSC would include agenda items on the progress of TGs. • In carrying out their activities, the TGs would follow the time-frame of the road map formulated by the NPFP and approved by the NSC.

25. Timetable for the Thematic Groups

26. Outputs of the Thematic Groups • Provide a brief account of the current developments in the thematic area; • Provide an account of progress in implementation, wherever applicable, of the policies as provided in the Medium-Term Policy Matrix of the I-PRSP; • Provide an account of the current status of Poverty Reduction Indicators, wherever applicable, as proposed at Annex 11 of the I-PRSP; • Draw up and recommend strategies and policies in respective thematic areas for achieving the objectives of accelerated growth, poverty reduction and social development;

27. Provide an update of the Medium-Term Policy Matrix in the respective thematic area as contained in the I-PRSP or work out a Medium-Term Policy matrix for a particular thematic area with time table for implementation where such a matrix is applicable and has not been developed in the I-PRSP. • Develop Poverty Reduction Indicators in respective thematic areas, where applicable, and suggest modification in the proposed indicators (Annex 11), if there is any; and • Develop criteria for selecting projects/ programmes based on the suggested strategies in the respective thematic areas.

28. Participatory Consultations for PRSP Participatory Consultations Thematic Groups will also hold consultations, if necessary By NSC & NPFP National level Regional levels

29. Thank You