This paper explores the opportunities and challenges of data-driven service delivery at the local government level in a developing country context, focusing on Union Parishad, the lowest tier of local government in Bangladesh. Through systems mapping and qualitative methods, the study examines the relationships, power dynamics, and systemic barriers affecting data-driven services in four unions. It reveals a data dependency among Government Organizations (GOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that limits independent decision-making, leading to inefficiencies. The Union Parishad lacks authority in delivering data-driven services, compounded by data unavailability, manual storage practices, limited data sharing coordination, and resource constraints. The study highlights the need for a data hub to improve service delivery, while emphasizing that decentralization is crucial for the hub’s effectiveness. The key argument is that data hubs and decentralization must work together to ensure efficient data-driven public services at the local level.
Type: Journal Article
Publisher: Bangladesh Journal of Rural Development
Authors: Hassan, Hashibul; Jebin, Lubna; Shatil, Tanvir; and Ferdous, Mirza Mahmuda
Year: 2026
