Assignment Name: Child Profile on “Opening Space – Engaging Children in Local Governance and Social Change”

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: BNWLA

The “Opening Space-Engaging Children in Local Governance and Social Change” project, spearheaded by Save the Children and its partner organizations, aimed to empower children within local governance structures in the Manikganj and Shatkhira districts of Bangladesh. Launched in October 2013, this 18-month initiative sought to institutionalize children’s rights and participation, enhancing local government responsiveness and accountability to children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The project emphasized a systematic approach to integrate child-focused policies and practices within local governance, thereby improving children’s access to services, protection, and participatory mechanisms.

DM WATCH conducted this study in Satkhira and Manikganj district. Data were collected using questionnaire survey, FGD, KII and through case studies. Surveys were conducted with the households of listed and direct participants/beneficiaries of the project.

• Development of Child Profile: DM WATCH developed a comprehensive Child Profile tool that local governments can utilize for planning, budgeting, and implementing child-focused services annually and periodically.
• Policy and Service Gap Analysis: The team identified gaps in current policies, laws, structures, functions, and service provision that affect children, providing a foundation for targeted improvements.
• Budget Allocation Analysis: We ensured that local government budgets were scrutinized to confirm their reach and impact on the most marginalized children, ensuring equity and effectiveness in resource distribution.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Criteria Identification: DM WATCH established criteria for ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure the project’s interventions were effective and provided a benchmark to measure outcomes at the project’s conclusion.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Utilizing a structured and pre-coded questionnaire, DM WATCH conducted quantitative surveys across 20 unions in two districts, interviewing 4,137 children from the target group. This large-scale data collection was managed by trained youth volunteer groups and analyzed using CSPro and SPSS software, ensuring rigorous data handling and insightful analysis.
• Reporting: Comprehensive reporting on the baseline study’s findings was prepared, highlighting key insights and recommendations for enhancing child-focused governance.