GO4IMPact supports pre-budget meetings to strengthen participatory and climate-responsive budgeting process at local level

In Bangladesh’s rural and urban governance systems, budget preparation is no longer viewed as a solely administrative or top-down process. It is increasingly being recognised as a participatory platform for engaging communities in shaping local development priorities. With this objective, the Swiss-supported GO4IMPact programme is facilitating pre-budget meetings across Municipalities and Union Parishads (UPs) in climate vulnerable districts- Naogaon and Satkhira. The initiative focuses on strengthening the participatory budgeting processes of Local Government Institutions (LGIs) by promoting greater inclusion, accountability, and responsiveness to local-level needs.

Pre-budget meetings serve as preparatory platforms where LGIs compile and review priorities raised during Ward Shava, Standing Committees and Union Development Coordination Committee (UDCC) meetings at UP level and Ward Committee, Town Level coordination Committee (TLCC) and Standing Committees at Municipality Level. These grassroots forums allow community members, particularly those often left out of formal processes, to voice local needs before the budget is finalised. The pre-budget process enables LGIs to consolidate these inputs alongside feedback from citizens, line agencies, civil society stakeholders etc. to shape a more inclusive and responsive annual financial plan.

A notable milestone under GO4IMPact’s initiative is supporting the organisation of Dhamoirhat Municipality’s first-ever pre-budget meeting. This step testifies to the growing momentum of GO4IMPact’s drive to support the institutionalisation of inclusive and accountable planning of grassroot LGIs.

GO4IMPact’s facilitation of the meetings emphasises climate-resilient Solid Waste Management (SWM) and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as key thematic areas. By ensuring that issues such as market waste, safe water access, irrigation gaps, and drainage challenges are addressed at the planning stage, the initiative is assisting LGIs to design targeted interventions aligned with community priorities and climate realities.

Participants in these meetings include elected representatives, LGI staff, government line agencies, and representatives from youth groups, market committees, and local media. Their engagement strengthens inter-agency coordination and creates space for more transparent and inclusive budget formulation. The pre-budget process is helping return the planning power to communities, allowing citizens to see their expectations reflected in development decisions. As the budgeting cycle for FY 2025–2026 progresses, GO4IMPact will continue working with LGIs to support community-driven priorities and improve climate resilience at the local level.

This initiative aligns with the Swiss Cooperation Programme for Bangladesh 2022–2025, which prioritises inclusive governance, climate resilience, and effective public service delivery in climate vulnerable regions.