The Economic Relations Division (ERD) of Bangladesh signed two significant project agreements with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Sunday, securing a grant amount of Tk 825 lakh. The signing ceremony saw ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky representing Bangladesh, while Kristine Blokhus, Country Representative for UNFPA in Bangladesh, represented the UN agency.

One of the projects, titled “Promoting Rights and Advancement of Women and Girls to Prevent GBV,” aims to foster positive societal changes by addressing harmful practices and reducing gender-based violence (GBV). This initiative will focus on developing legal and policy frameworks to enhance capacity-building, coordination, and delivery of livelihood-focused services at both national and sub-national levels in response to GBV.

The Department of Women Affairs, under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, will implement this project. It will receive a grant of Tk 825 lakh from UNFPA, complemented by an additional Tk 1.14 lakh from the Bangladesh government, bringing the total budget to Tk 826.14 lakh.

The second project, “Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls (PREVAIL),” aims to strengthen the capacity of the Bangladesh Police by 2026. This will be achieved through training on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of Special Service Desks in 92 police stations across priority districts, incorporating gender-transformative measures to improve services for women.

Implemented under the Public Security Division, the PREVAIL project will be led by the Bangladesh Police with a grant of Tk 731.79 lakh from UNFPA.

These projects, spearheaded by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Bangladesh Police, are crucial steps towards combating gender-based violence and enhancing the safety and well-being of women. Supported by UNFPA and the Bangladesh government, they align with broader development goals and the pursuit of sustainable development for all.

Both the Government of Bangladesh and UNFPA reaffirmed their commitment to working closely together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve the quality of life for the people of Bangladesh.