RESA Project
Bangladesh Experience
Context

Goals 2020:


Providing access to affordable and reliable electricity
to all citizens
A long way to go


Electricity coverage – 43%
Per capita electricity consumption – 165 kWh


One of the lowest in the world.
Pace of power sector development to be
accelerated.

Reforms must

People’s participation in the reforms process important.
RESA Project in Bangladesh

Implemented by Unnayan Shamannay with
support from CUTS International
 Collaboration with the Consumers Association
of Bangladesh (CAB)


The major consumer organization of the country
having committees across the country
13 local CSOs as partners working in 13
districts.
Project Coverage
Gaibandha
Singrijani Manob
Unnayan Shangstha
Consumers
Association of
Bangladesh (CAB)
SWC
Gazipur
Chapainababganj
AREED
Beel Chalan
Unnayan Shangstha
Comilla
United People’s Trust
Rajshahi
Shepa Society
Khagrachhari
Ujjibak
Meherpur
Thikana Manob
Kalyan Shangstha
Bhola
CAB, Bhola
Jessore
Sushamaj Foundation
Khulna
Desh
Sirajganj
Barisal
People’s Dev. Org.
Cox’s Bazar
Wait & See
Year 1 Activities

Local inception workshop


With training of local CSOs
Baseline survey

Base paper

First Meeting of the National Reference Group
 Territorial training


All the CSOs participating
Grassroots interface meeting (GIM) – Phase 1

Eight places of the country covering 12 districts.
GIM 1 Locations
1
8
7
4
2
6
3
5
Strengths of the Project




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
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Advocacy experience of Unnayan Shamannay
Strong network of CAB
Strong position of the local partners in the
respective localities
Good liaison with different electricity
authorities and the regulatory commission
High profile NRG with skilled members
Reputation of the team leader
Continuous support from CUTS.
Limitations of the Project

Limited geographical coverage



Limited resources

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Financial and human resources
Short duration


Only parts of 13 out of 64 districts
Only about 700 people reached
Two years too short to have any impact
Limited scopes for exposure of the local CSOs
and NRG members to other territories.
Opportunities for the Project





New democratic government’s emphasis on
electricity
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission
(BERC) becoming more visible and proactive
to ensure greater people’s participation
BERC’s interest in reaching grassroots
Huge interest of the local CSOs to work for
people’s participation in electricity reforms
Interest of other CSOs not currently involved in
the project.
Threats for the Project

Poor and deteriorating condition of the
electricity sector



Generation shortage being the greatest drawback
People worrying about nothing else but supply.
Energy sector in general subject to lots of
political debates
 Lack of decisiveness regarding the use of gas
and coal.
Strategies for GIM II

To be held during May-July 2009
 8 locations covering 13 districts


Solutions to the problems raised in GIM I to be
addressed


Altering the districts in cases of one GIM covering
more than one district
Views of experts in NRG to be taken to devise the
solutions
Like GIM I, members of NRG and BERC to be
involved as much as possible.
Conclusion

RESA – a good start for facilitating people’s
participation in electricity reforms in
Bangladesh


Capacity building on a wider scale required


Creating scopes for longer term engagement with
the local CSOs on the issues of electricity reforms
Involving more CSOs all over the country
Greater institutional mechanism to work more
closely with BERC and the government to be
thought about.