Leadership Development Program Quarterly Report 4: July 1, 2014 –September 30, 2014

The program aims to increase capacity and participation of citizens in democratic processes and enhance community development in Bangladesh. The goal is framed by two integrated programmatic objectives: (1) to build the capacity of community leaders to become change agents for democratic processes and development, and (2) to build the capacity of youth to become change agents for democratic processes and development. The LDP training program consists of a three-phased approach to leadership development, which includes Community Leaders Trainings, Youth Leadership Trainings, and a cycle of trainings that cover Appreciative Community Mobilization, Participatory Community Appraisal, Community Development Issues and Initiatives, Youth Informed Citizenship, Democracy and Good Governance, and Communications and Leadership Skills. In the fourth quarter of program year (PY) 2, the core program activities included conducting the Phase III Training of Trainers (TOT) for LDP's five implementing partners, disbursing PY1 Community Development Grants, conducting Phase III field trainings, selecting PY3 working areas, and finalizing the PY3 work plan. The program also collaborated with the Department of Youth Development (DYD) at the upazila and district levels, providing assistance to LDP leaders in forming union development committees, facilitating LDP trainings, and hosting ICT trainings at district youth training centers. The program continued to promote gender equity by ensuring participation of women in all activities (40% or more female participation) and providing a gendered lens to leadership training curriculum. LDP also ensured selection of women-led and women's issues-focused CDGs and ensured women's active participation in training and non-training activities. The political context in Bangladesh during this quarter was marked by several significant events, including three full-day general strikes (hartal) protesting the verdict of an opposition leader and the introduction of the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act of 2014 (FDRA). The law aims to regulate foreign donations obtained by Bangladeshi NGOs and international organizations headquartered in the country, but NGO experts consider it restrictive to freedom due to its potential to hinder access to funding. The passage of the FDRA is projected to further constrain NGO freedoms, including the prohibition of receiving foreign donations for voluntary activities without government approval, the requirement of government consent before implementing projects funded by foreign donations, and the obligatory security checks for foreign experts and consultants involved in projects. The law also requires NGOs to register with the NGO Affairs Bureau before conducting foreign-funded voluntary activities and to communicate official visits abroad with proposed budgets. In connection with the FDRA, Parliament introduced an amendment that would give it the right to impeach and oust Supreme Court judges, which critics question would disrupt the judge's independence. The party also proposed a media law that places restrictions on content and leaves the playing field open for governmental control.