Local Government and Community Engagement to Promote Inclusive Education in Bangladesh

Holistic approach towards Promotion of Inclusive Education (HOPE) Project, Bangladesh (April 2016-March-2019) has worked to promote inclusive education through engagement of local government and community with the approach of Child Friendly Local Governance (CFLG).

Child Friendly Local Governance (CFLG) comprises a rights-based child programming approach and a set of social accountability initiatives that works to facilitate, promote, and institutionalize the empowerment and participation of children in the governance arrangements at the local level.

CFLG places children and at the centre of the development agenda of local government. It facilitates their inclusion in institutional mandates such as ward shovas and open budget sessions as well as building their understanding and capacity to effectively influence decision-making process and to monitor services and resources.

Through the approach the project worked closely with Local Government and community as well as children and school to make local government accountable to promote inclusive education and engage community to take responsibility to ensure the educational rights of children with disabilities. HOPE Project mobilized community to increase engagement around inclusive education through sensitize community and local government to act as responsive duty bearers.