Govt signs grant agreements worth Tk 825 lakh with UNFPA

The Economic Relations Division (ERD) on Sunday signed two project agreements with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for availing a grant amount of Tk 825 lakh.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary (ERD), represented Bangladesh while UNFPA was represented by Kristine Blokhus, Country Representative in Bangladesh in the signing ceremony.

The project titled 'Promoting Rights and Advancement of Women and Girls to Prevent GBV' aims to foster positive change and cultivate an inclusive community by mitigating harmful practices and gender-based violence (GBV), reports a press release.

Its overarching goal is to develop legal and policy frameworks to expedite capacity-building, enhance coordination, and deliver livelihood-focused services across various levels, particularly at the national and sub-national level, in response to GBV.

Under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, the Department of Women Affairs will implement the project.

This initiative is set to receive a grant of Tk 825.00 lakh from UNFPA, with an additional contribution of Tk 1.14 lakh from the Bangladesh government, amounting to a total budget of Tk 826.14 lakh.

The project 'Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls (PREVAIL)' is designed to enhance the capacity of the Bangladesh Police by 2026 through training on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of Special Service Desks in priority districts.

 Additionally, it aims to improve services for women in 92 police stations within these priority districts through gender-transformative measures.

Under the purview of the Public Security Division, the project will be implemented by the Bangladesh Police. UNFPA will provide a grant of Taka 731.79 lakh for the project.

These projects, led respectively by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Bangladesh Police, aim to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and enhance women's safety. Supported by UNFPA and the Bangladesh Government, they contribute to broader development goals and promote sustainable development for all.

The Government of Bangladesh and UNFPA reaffirm their strong commitment to working closely together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve the well-being of the people of Bangladesh.