Local-level Planning Research Articles

Determining Factors to Develop Periodic Plan, Strategic Plan and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework in Local Governments in Nepal

This research article explores the factors influencing the development and implementation of periodic plan, strategic plans, and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in local governments of Nepal, particularly focus on Bharatpur Metropolitan City. The study adopts a qualitative research design, employing document analysis, focus group discussions, and interviews with key stakeholders, including government officials, local communities, NGOs and civil societies. The findings identify key determinants: public responsible governance; efficiency, financial integrity, and systematic implementation of programs; proper resource allocation; and risk identification and management. Major findings emphasize the importance of public responsible governance, which includes public voice, participation, and shared responsibility in decision-making processes. Additionally, the study highlights the necessity of efficiency, financial integrity, and systematic implementation of programs for effective service delivery. Proper resource allocation and risk management are also crucial, ensuring that development projects meet community needs and sustainable goals. These elements collectively contribute to the successful governance and development of local governments in Nepal. The research also highlights the need for further studies, particularly in other regions of Nepal, using diverse methodologies to strengthen the understanding of local-level planning and its implications. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 11, Issue-4: 88-94.

A quality of life index for the rural periphery of Sri Lanka using GIS multi-criteria decision analysis techniques.

Spatial evaluation of the region is associated with the assessment of the Quality of Life (QoL). Despite numerous research endeavoring to define, measure, quantify, and map the quality of life, there exists a consistent fault in Sri Lanka. Hence, the objective of this study was to construct a QoL index and determine the spatial disparities of QoL from the Polpitigma town to its periphery. The assessment was conducted by employing 20 geographical factors that quantify QoL using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The evaluation assigned weights to each criterion based on the assessments of both local residents and experts, utilizing the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The findings indicated that cultural factors made a greater contribution compared to the environment,service functions,security and socioeconomic factors. Within the study area, the region with a higher quality of life (HQoL) only covered 4.5% (17.3 km2), whilst the lower QoL zone encompassed 63.8% (252 km2). And also, the distance from the town is a crucial factor in determining the spatial variations in QoL. The derived model can serve as a road map for local-level planning, as it has been validated and shown to have an accuracy of 74% through the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Considering the lack of previous research in this field, this study offers a crucial contribution in enhancing the QoL for underprivileged communities in the study area by improving employment, income, and accessibility to physical infrastructure, public utility services, and cultural and recreational facilities. Especially the findings of this study can efficiently guide decisions for the distribution of financial resources to enhance the QoL in impoverished rural communities on the rural periphery of DS.

Analysing the Potential of Neighbourhoods in Sustainable Development: A Systematic Review of Interventions

Between 1950 and 2018, the global urban population spiralled four-fold from about 0.8 billion accounting for just 30% of the total world population to 4.2 billion in 2018 with a 55.3% share in the world population. At present, it is estimated that 57.4% of the total global population is urban and is projected to cross 60% by 2030. Given the growth and scale of urbanization, this brings forth irreversible challenges, limiting land and water resources at its disposal. This makes it difficult to meet the increasing demand for affordable housing and viable infrastructure besides other challenges. In this context, the local-level planning and development approaches that have been experimented with globally are studied to understand the potential of neighbourhoods in sustainable development. The authors conducted a systematic literature review based on the SCOPUS database to identify relevant scholarly literature. The study identified the most significant associations within various domains based on phased iterations with the VOSviewer analyser tool to gain confirmatory results. The study has explored planning interventions at the neighbourhood level that would assist in sustainable development. The article concludes that there is a lot of scope for stakeholders to channel their efforts innovatively for leveraging the potential of neighbourhoods in sustainable development.

Risk perception among residents living near industries in Godawari Municipality of Lalitpur, Nepal.

The industrial sector stands out as a significant contributor to environmental pollution. Those who reside in close proximity to industrial areas commonly harbor concerns about potential health and environmental hazards. This study aimed to find out the perception of risk and self-reported health impacts among individuals living near industries in Godawari Municipality, Lalitpur, Nepal. Conducted as a community-based cross-sectional study, it involved 270 households. Face-to-face interviews were employed, utilizing a pretested structured questionnaire. The study zone encompassed the communities of Godawari Municipality within a 3-kilometer radius of industrial sites. Specifically, stone mines, stone crushers, and brick kilns were purposefully selected, while study participants were randomly sampled using a random table. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS, incorporating both univariate and bivariate techniques. Among those residing near industrial zones, a mere 9.6 % reported experiencing wheezing or whistling in the past 12 months. A substantial 36.3% consistently felt stressed due to industrial activities in their vicinity. Approximately half (51.9 %) of the participants indicated that the contaminated air in the area had adverse effects on human health. Furthermore, a palpable perception of elevated risk was associated with the proximity of industries (p<0.001). Over half of the participants perceived a notable risk stemming from the presence of industries near their homes, largely due to pollutants. These individuals also disclosed various health repercussions and expressed significant apprehension regarding their future well-being in the area. The implications of these findings are substantial, particularly for local-level planning and the development of industrial sites. Addressing the concerns surrounding people's heightened perception of risk from nearby industries is pivotal in fostering harmonious coexistence and informed decision-making.

Impacts of land-use and topography on soil physicochemical properties in the Wamancho watershed, Southern Ethiopia

For sustainable land management, clear information that accounts for changes in land-use types and landscapes is essential. The purpose of this study was to examine how land-use patterns and topographic variation affect selected soil property indicators in the Wamancho watershed of the Damot Pulasa district in southern Ethiopia. Soil samples were obtained from the topography of three types of land use (agroforestry, cultivated land, and grazing area). At a depth of 20 cm, 27 soil samples were collected (three land use categories × three topographies × three replications). The collected soil samples were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The results showed that soil texture classes, such as sand and clay, bulk density, pH, SOC, Av. P, total N, CEC, and exchangeable bases, changed considerably (p < 0.05) with land use type, whereas total N, sand, and silt did not vary significantly with slope. Soil pH, SOC, Av. P, CEC, percentage of silt, and exchangeable cations (Na+, Mg2+, and K+) were found to be highest in agroforestry, while sand concentration was highest in cultivated land. Exchangeable Mg and K were found to be lower on cultivated ground, while Ca+ was found to be lower on agroforestry land. Finally, most soil quality indicators revealed a significant (p < 0.05) difference between agroforestry and grazing land use. Despite the fact that soil quality varies based on topography and land use type, local-level planning has not been conducted on a priority basis or in specific locations. As a result, all involved parties, including local governments, stakeholders, and planners, should develop effective site-based sustainable land management interventions, as they need to be addressed quickly, particularly on cultivated land, grazing land, and upper topography.

A formative research to explore the programmatic approach of vaccinating the Rohingya refugees and host communities against COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh

BackgroundThe vaccination of the Rohingya refugees and host communities against COVID-19 in Cox’s Bazar started in August 2021. Government authorities and Non-Government Organisation partners implemented a project around the initial period of vaccination to improve awareness and access to target beneficiaries. We conducted formative research to understand the programmatic approach of this project and identify potential challenges and community perceptions regarding immunisation against COVID-19.MethodologyThis was formative research in which we used a qualitative method of data collection. Purposively chosen 12 key-informant interviews and conveniently chosen 20 in-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview guidelines from August to September 2022 in the Rohingya camp and host communities of Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh. Ethical approval was obtained from the North South University Institutional Review Board, and written informed consent was obtained from all the participants. We used a thematic analysis approach to analyse the data.ResultsThe project neither provided any promotional or tailored messages regarding the COVID-19 vaccine nor conducted any vaccine hesitancy surveys before implementing the project. The project did not provide any storage facilities for the vaccines’ cold chain management but provided transport support to carry the vaccines from the district to the sub-district level. Community leaders were included in the decision-making process during local-level planning of the vaccination programme. The project supported the reporting of any adverse effects following immunisation from community members to the government health authorities. Vaccine hesitancy among participants was high in the early stages, but mass campaigns and vaccination of frontline health workers increased their acceptance. The major challenges reported by the informants were low budget and lower salaries of field staff, stacking of the registration process at the beginning, reluctance of participants, inadequate transportation and manpower, and inadequate baby feeding corners at vaccination centers.ConclusionThe findings from our study will help policymakers from the Government, the UN, and other humanitarian agencies to adapt and better address the issue of vaccine acceptance and strengthen the vaccination programme.

Small Area Estimation of Age-Specific and Total Fertility Rates in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has experienced a rapid national decline in fertility in recent decades, however, fertility rates vary considerably at the sub-national level (i.e., division). These variations are expected to be more pronounced at lower levels of geography (e.g., district level). However, routinely conducted demographic health surveys are designed for national estimates and do not have adequate samples to produce reliable estimate of fertility rates at lower levels of administrative units, particular when considering district level age-specific fertility rates. Data extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2014 are used to derive direct estimates of age-specific fertility rates and associated smoothed standard errors. These are used as inputs for developing a small area model, which is expressed in a hierarchical Bayesian framework and fitted by Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation. The model accounts for variation at different levels—women age-group, division, and district. The modeling results show large reductions in the estimated standards errors and provide consistent estimates of fertility at the detailed district age-specific level. There are significant differences in the fertility levels within and between districts and at the division level. Fertility rates are observed to be higher for Sylhet division and for women aged 20–24 years. We use geo-spatial maps of the fertility rates to visualize the variations over districts, and identify hot and cold-spots to have better targeted local level planning and policy decision making for further reductions in fertility rates in Bangladesh.

Operational manager’s knowledge and attitudes toward data and universal health coverage indicators in primary health clinics in Ugu, South Africa

ABSTRACT Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to ensure people have access to the health services they need. Sixteen tracer indicators were developed for implementation by countries to measure UHC in the health system. South Africa uses 15 of the proposed 16 indicators. Operational managers in the public health care sector collect data and report on these indicators at a primary health clinic level. This qualitative study explored the knowledge and attitudes of managers toward data and UHC service indicators in a sub-district in Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Operational managers saw data collection as information gathering, measuring performance and driving action. They understood UHC indicators as ‘health for all’ linking them to National Department of Health Strategic plans and saw the value of indicators for health promotion. They found the lack of training, inadequate numeracy skills, requests for data from multiple spheres of government and the indicator targets that they had to reach as challenging and untenable. While operational managers made the link between data, measuring performance and action, the limited training, skills gaps and pressures from higher levels of government may impede their ability to use data for local level planning and decision making.

Whither Demarginalization, Inclusion and Effectiveness? Challenges of Local Government Planning in Nepal

The planning system in local government follows a formal process mandated by legislation and a corpus of regulations. While these strongly advocate citizen participation in selecting, implementing and managing development projects at the local level, in practice, the mechanism is hamstrung by an inadequate social inclusion perspective. The elites continue to play a significant role in the process that marginalizes women, Dalits or minorities in decision-making, resource mobilization or project prioritization. This has demeaned community ownership of development plans and affected the delivery of public services. Because of their perceived lack of capacity, the marginalized communities are denied leadership roles in local government committees and in mobilizing resources or prioritizing their demands. However, with federalism and a robust legal framework in place, the seven-step planning mechanism has, to some extent, been able to address the problem of social exclusion, marginalization and ineffectiveness in local level planning and budgeting.

An analysis of the dynamic spatial spread of COVID-19 across South Korea

The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea was confirmed on January 20, 2020, approximately three weeks after the report of the first COVID-19 case in Wuhan, China. By September 15, 2021, the number of cases in South Korea had increased to 277,989. Thus, it is important to better understand geographical transmission and design effective local-level pandemic plans across the country over the long term. We conducted a spatiotemporal analysis of weekly COVID-19 cases in South Korea from February 1, 2020, to May 30, 2021, in each administrative region. For the spatial domain, we first covered the entire country and then focused on metropolitan areas, including Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and Incheon. Moran’s I and spatial scan statistics were used for spatial analysis. The temporal variation and dynamics of COVID-19 cases were investigated with various statistical visualization methods. We found time-varying clusters of COVID-19 in South Korea using a range of statistical methods. In the early stage, the spatial hotspots were focused in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do. Then, metropolitan areas were detected as hotspots in December 2020. In our study, we conducted a time-varying spatial analysis of COVID-19 across the entirety of South Korea over a long-term period and found a powerful approach to demonstrating the current dynamics of spatial clustering and understanding the dynamic effects of policies on COVID-19 across South Korea. Additionally, the proposed spatiotemporal methods are very useful for understanding the spatial dynamics of COVID-19 in South Korea.

Local Knowledge of Coastal Population to Sea Level Rise and Climate Change – A Case Study in Fishermen Community, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India

This research synthesises two evaluations of a local level climate change adaptation and planning process in the southernmost coastal region, Kanyakumari, India which was supported through community-based appraisals. First, understanding the public perception of climate change factors is crucial in generating support for climate change response. Second, generating enough grass-root level support from the local population to assess the long-term climate change impacts on decision-making to design the adaptation strategies for sea-level rise. These two results highlight the level of understanding and awareness of climate change’s impact by the local population in the coastal region of Kanyakumari. A well-designed questionnaire with structured interviews, to collect data on local knowledge and local perception of climate change and sea-level rise from 100 respondents was distributed each in 44 coastal villages in the study area. The finding showed that 20.7% of the local population have knowledge of climate change and its impacts and 18.4% of the population agreed that the impact of sea-level rise is experienced in the coastal region. This study is to provide insight into the communities’ knowledge of the adaptive capacity of the local population to cope with climate change towards the treaty of sea-level rise.

The transformative potential of local-level planning and climate policies. Case studies from Norwegian municipalities

We analyse whether and how current municipal climate policies can be characterised as transformative and which factors and pathways may lead to transformative change at the municipal level. Based on 13 in-depth case studies of Norwegian municipalities, we address the transformative potential of climate planning and policy measures as defined and implemented by municipal authorities. We argue that municipalities’ engagement in transforming towards a low-emission society must be seen as a continuous process. Our investigation shows that municipal transformative actions are both “broad” and “in-depth”. Our study has identified several frontrunner municipalities whose “green pathways” towards transformation have emerged through historical events. We also identify how these transformative aspects are emphasised by networks and entrepreneurial actors. However, in the majority of municipalities studied, transformative climate policies are challenged by the need for job and business development along with competition over limited resources to fulfil mandatory public service tasks.

Methods and models of estimating energy transition on the example of Zhytomyr united territorial community

The paper presents results of scenario modelling and assessment of energy transition to 2050 in the Zhytomyr territorial community (TC), which provides for a switching from fossil carbon based energy resources in the current TC energy system functioning to 100% use of renewable energy sources (RES) which meets all energy demands and supports the Sustainable Development of TC in accordance with the relevant UN goals. For this purpose, the optimizational economic and mathematical TIMES-Zhytomyr model (no analogues in Ukraine), based on the TIMES-Ukraine model, was developed. It includes 647 energy technologies that are currently available or may be presented in the coming years in Ukrainian market. For the development of the TIMES-Zhytomyr model, a low-available local energy statistics was processed. As a result, the first energy balance by the form of the International Energy Agency for the large Ukrainian city and the basic energy-technological system of Zhytomyr TC were developed. Using the TIMES-Zhytomyr model, based on foreign and Ukrainian experience, for the first time, four scenarios of Zhytomyr TC energy system development were designed and modelled, covering all economic sectors and household sector (population). The first one is the Baseline scenario, which displays the possible dynamics of the energy system development without a purposeful energy efficiency policy, the development of RES, etc. Three other scenarios are aimed at studying TC’s transition capabilities by 2050 to 100% renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies use. The results of modelling confirmed that the available renewable energy resource and technological potential allows Zhytomyr TC to perform the energy transition to 2050 in an economically feasible and socially acceptable way, significantly reducing energy and carbon intensity of the local economy, substantially eliminating GHG emissions, increasing the welfare of citizens and creating at least 10 thousand new workplaces. It will also significantly contribute to Zhytomyr TC to reach at least 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The research results presented, due to a significant novelty and large-scale relevance of the task, are essential in both the theoretical and practical significance. They can be used by scientists for their research and by authorities and experts for development of local, regional or national level strategies, plans or programs of economic, energy, transport, climate and ecology scope. It can also be considered as one of the first steps in preparation of a comprehensive strategy for the Zhytomyr TC development to achieve climate neutrality in accordance with the current objectives of the European Union.

Методи та моделі оцінки енергетичного переходу на прикладі Житомирської об’єднаної територіальної громади

The paper presents results of scenario modelling and assessment of energy transition to 2050 in the Zhytomyr territorial community (TC), which provides for a switching from fossil carbon based energy resources in the current TC energy system functioning to 100% use of renewable energy sources (RES) which meets all energy demands and supports the Sustainable Development of TC in accordance with the relevant UN goals. For this purpose, the optimizational economic and mathematical TIMES-Zhytomyr model (no analogues in Ukraine), based on the TIMES-Ukraine model, was developed. It includes 647 energy technologies that are currently available or may be presented in the coming years in Ukrainian market. For the development of the TIMES-Zhytomyr model, a low-available local energy statistics was processed. As a result, the first energy balance by the form of the International Energy Agency for the large Ukrainian city and the basic energy-technological system of Zhytomyr TC were developed. Using the TIMES-Zhytomyr model, based on foreign and Ukrainian experience, for the first time, four scenarios of Zhytomyr TC energy system development were designed and modelled, covering all economic sectors and household sector (population). The first one is the Baseline scenario, which displays the possible dynamics of the energy system development without a purposeful energy efficiency policy, the development of RES, etc. Three other scenarios are aimed at studying TC’s transition capabilities by 2050 to 100% renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies use. The results of modelling confirmed that the available renewable energy resource and technological potential allows Zhytomyr TC to perform the energy transition to 2050 in an economically feasible and socially acceptable way, significantly reducing energy and carbon intensity of the local economy, substantially eliminating GHG emissions, increasing the welfare of citizens and creating at least 10 thousand new workplaces. It will also significantly contribute to Zhytomyr TC to reach at least 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The research results presented, due to a significant novelty and large-scale relevance of the task, are essential in both the theoretical and practical significance. They can be used by scientists for their research and by authorities and experts for development of local, regional or national level strategies, plans or programs of economic, energy, transport, climate and ecology scope. It can also be considered as one of the first steps in preparation of a comprehensive strategy for the Zhytomyr TC development to achieve climate neutrality in accordance with the current objectives of the European Union.

Building an Engaged Himalayan Sustainability Science

The Himalayan region is facing a new crisis under climate change, rapid economic transformation, and escalating geopolitical tensions. A large body of Himalayan sciences has endeavored to understand this challenge but has failed to engage meaningfully with the local people and policymakers. I argue for a new engaged Himalayan sustainability science that not only understands and interprets the emerging challenges but also strengthens societal capability.

Resistances to Gender Mainstreaming: An Analysis of the Trend of Women Engagement in Participatory Gender-Responsive Budgeting in Bangladesh

Gender Responsive budgeting (GRB) is among a few approaches for gender mainstreaming that has been introduced by the governments around the world or international funding organizations to institutionalize gender equality in public reforms. The formal processes of planning and budgeting at the Union Parishad (UP) - the lowest administrative tier of Bangladesh- offer general citizens to raise their demands at the local level. Besides, there is a provision that a 30% fund will be earmarked for women. In this paper, the case of UP gender budgeting practice was analyzed from a gender perspective. On the basis of case oriented qualitative research strategy, this was an empirical study of 06 (six) UPs of three different districts of Bangladesh. The data of this study indicated that members of the Non-Government Organizations (NGO) played a catalyst role in enhancing the access of women in the UP planning and budgeting processes. Along with the existing problems of local-level planning, lack of fiscal decentralization including resource constraint, absence of women development funding, the absence of women administrative officers at the different layers of government offices and obstacles and resistances in religion and patriarchal dimensions are inhibiting women to participate in the participatory processes. For implementing the GRB reform agenda suggestions are made for creating independent women budget groups at the local government level and researching on a broader perspective on GRB issues at the central government level.

Assessment of land parcel level planning with soil and water parameters for enhancement of Biocapacity in Gudiyattam block, Vellore District, Tamilnadu, India

Landis splitin to land parcelssupportedsize and ownership. This land parcelis that thelowest unit in local level planning of villages in Indian context.During thisresearch, a study was conductedto reinforceland parcel level Biocapacity using soil and water as parameters at villages of Gudiyattam Block, Vellore District. The Gudiyattam block consists of 44 panchayat villages including Gudiyattam town spatially encompassesan outsizedarea. Planning for such a large region requires significant resources of manpower, time and technology.Additionally, the enhancement of Biocapacity requires land-parcel level information. With the given time and resources,it'simpossibleto do that. Therefore, Gudiyattam block has been divided into performance zones. From each performance zone one panchayat villageis taken into accountfor the analysis. This research used available data for a given year and validated the land parcel level planning as a reliable method for enhancement of biocapacity. This method also has the potentialto be usedwith high-resolution satellite imagery to capture crop data periodically and use that as a basis for computing biocapacity at land parcel level. Land parcel level planning enables precision farming with high yieldsto reinforcebiocapacity. This research used current crop data at land parcel levelto spotthe potential for higher yieldsto reinforceBiocapacity.

Will climate mitigation ambitions lead to carbon neutrality? An analysis of the local-level plans of 327 cities in the EU

Cities across the globe recognise their role in climate mitigation and are acting to reduce carbon emissions. Knowing whether cities set ambitious climate and energy targets is critical for determining their contribution towards the global 1.5 °C target, partly because it helps to identify areas where further action is necessary. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the mitigation targets of 327 European cities, as declared in their local climate plans. The sample encompasses over 25% of the EU population and includes cities of all sizes across all Member States, plus the UK. The study analyses whether the type of plan, city size, membership of climate networks, and its regional location are associated with different levels of mitigation ambition. Results reveal that 78% of the cities have a GHG emissions reduction target. However, with an average target of 47%, European cities are not on track to reach the Paris Agreement: they need to roughly double their ambitions and efforts. Some cities are ambitious, e.g. 25% of our sample (81) aim to reach carbon neutrality, with the earliest target date being 2020.90% of these cities are members of the Climate Alliance and 75% of the Covenant of Mayors. City size is the strongest predictor for carbon neutrality, whilst climate network(s) membership, combining adaptation and mitigation into a single strategy, and local motivation also play a role. The methods, data, results and analysis of this study can serve as a reference and baseline for tracking climate mitigation ambitions across European and global cities.

Performance of local level planning policies for reducing greenhouse gases: insight from new buildings in Scotland

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to assess performance of local level planning policies that required new buildings to avoid a specified and rising proportion of projected greenhouse gases (GHGs) from their use; it is calculated based on the approved design and plans for the specific development and through the installation and operation of low and zero-carbon generating technologies (LZCGTs).Design/methodology/approachData were extracted from a random sample of 911 new builds from 403 planning applications and related documents, across five Scottish local planning authorities (LPAs) who adopted GHG reduction policies. The data included GHG reduction, LZCGT installation and performance, use of plan designs to meet GHG reductions and exemptions from the GHG policies. Descriptive statistics using SPSS software, complimented by qualitative responses from questionnaires, helped to explain observed performance.FindingsThe policies performed poorly, at the level of delivering low-hanging fruits, with significant room for improvement. Design-led opportunities in the GHG policies were not actively pursued; most LZCGT installation was exempted from GHG policies and the policies were poor in targeting the relationship between building unit size, GHG emission and reductions.Research limitations/implicationsThe source documents, where the data came from, had varying quality and completeness and some LPAs are over-represented in the data. The study applied limited criteria to evaluate policy performance.Practical implicationsAreas for policymakers to further focus on when exploring how to enhance role and performance of LZCGT are highlighted, including practical suggestions.Originality/valueOne of the few studies assessing policy performance and distilling lessons, from early adopters of GHG policies at local level planning, offer performance benchmarks and raise points of concern for policymakers.

Decentralized Health Service Delivery System in Bangladesh: Evaluating Community Clinics in Promoting Healthcare for the Rural Poor

The Awami League government of Bangladesh has established community clinics as decentralized healthcare units at the village level to ensure smooth and equal access to family planning, preventive health services, and limited curative care for the local community. The primary aspiration of this study is to evaluate the dynamics of service delivery systems under decentralized community clinics in rural areas of Bangladesh. It also aims to explore the challenges of accessing healthcare services and the impacts of decentralization on the promotion of the service delivery system of the community clinics. A qualitative field study was conducted in Sylhet District in the northeastern part of Bangladesh to collect the necessary data regarding the study objectives. The respondents were sampled through a purposive sampling method. Data collection was done through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The study findings revealed that the aspect of services in community clinics is being questioned due to different sociocultural, political, economic, and administrative stumbling blocks. If the government ensures skilled workforce, structural and technical support, locallevel planning, adequate funding, strategic coordination, and delegation of functions to address the challenges in providing health services to community clinics, then it is believed that these community-knit clinics would be considered as the lighthouse for providing primary healthcare for the disadvantaged rural sections of Bangladesh.