The European Union strengthens its cooperation with Bangladesh on key development areas

Dhaka, 6 February 2017

The EU Development Cooperation Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2014-2020, with an overall financial envelope of around EUR 700 million, aims at supporting Bangladesh in promoting an equitable and sustainable growth, socio-economic development and improved democratic governance. The EU MIP is fully aligned with the SDGs and with the Bangladesh's 7^th Five Year Plan.

In December 2016, the EU and the Government of Bangladesh have concluded agreements for the implementation of four EU-funded programmes under two major focal areas: Investing in people, Investing in sustainable environment. This represents an overall contribution in grants of EUR 126 million.

Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon, Head of EU Delegation, stated that 'The EU development assistance to Bangladesh puts People first. This is clearly reflected by the contracts signed in December last year. They will provide our partnership with a fresh impetus. We expect they will deliver concrete improvements in the livelihoods of the citizens of Bangladesh'.

1- Investing in people – Three key interventions in Nutrition, TVET and Civil Society.

1.1 Food and Nutrition Security programme (EUR 85 million).

• The EU, in cooperation with all relevant government actors, will contribute to the development of a comprehensive national nutrition-sensitive policy framework, with the goal to mainstreaming nutrition in all concerned socio-economic sectors.

• An innovative multi-sector pilot project will be conducted in two districts of the Sylhet Division (Moulvibazar and Sylhet), covering all nutrition sensitive areas: mothers and child health care, nutrition education, food production, food consumption, family diet diversification, income generation activities, community mobilisation and local governance.  

• Sylhet will be the pioneer in demonstrating how to implement at grass root level nutrition sensitive activities. This model will be tested and validated, so that it can be adopted and scaled-up nationwide, including in the CHTs.

1.2 Skills 21 programme - Empowering citizens for inclusive and sustainable growth (EUR 20 million).

• Many donors are involved in sectoral actions in the TVET field, mainly on training delivery, but it is essential to look at the overall TVET system.

• This specific EU programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, will contribute to the definition and adoption of a comprehensive and coherent TVET system. This policy work characterises the EU contribution.

• This is the EU added value for a sustainable TVET policy capable of offering qualified young Bangladeshis a better access to more diversified job opportunities.

1.3 Platforms for Dialogue Project - Strengthening Inclusion and Participation in Decision Making and Accountability Mechanisms (EUR 13 million).

• An empowered civil society is a key objective of EU development cooperation.

• With this innovative programme, the EU will contribute to strengthening a structured partnership between the Government of Bangladesh and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), with a three-fold key objective:

i) to create the conditions for increased leverage of NGOs on policy issues at local and national level;

ii) to enhance Government and CSOs accountability towards the citizens;

iii) to encourage dialogue and synergies between public administrations and CSOs.

2- Investing in sustainable environment.

Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) (EUR 8 million).

• This programme will address the impact of climate change with specific mitigation measures.

• The EU will support Bangladesh:
  • local government institutions to plan in advance appropriate mechanisms for adaptation to climate change, and to reduce the risks of damages caused by natural disasters and climate change,
  • vulnerable households and local communities to be better prepared and resilient to the impact of climate change.

For more information please contact:

Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh

Phone: +880 2 5566 8057 Fax: +880 2 984 3118

E-mail: DELEGATION-BANGLADESH@eeas.europa.eu

www.delbgd.ec.europa.eu