UN Women Transparency Portal

Region:Asia Pacific Current UN Women Plan Period Afghanisthan:2018-2022

World Bank Income Classification:Low Income

Least Developed Country:Yes

Gender Inequality Index:0.575

Gender Development Index:0.723

Population:209,497,025 Male:19,976,265 (9.5%) Female:189,520,760 (90.5%)

Disclaimer

outcome XM-DAC-41146-BGD_D_3.5

National and local laws and policies to prevent VAW are strengthened, if needed, and implemented; favorable social norms, attitudes and behaviours are promoted; and policy and programming is increasingly informed by an expanded knowledge base on effective approaches to prevention of VAW

There has been significant progress on this outcome in 2021. Four Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment policies were launched, endorsed, and disseminated in four educational institutions (Comilla University, Victoria College Cumilla, Patuakhali Government College, and Government Azizul Haque College) out of six project institutions. The policies were adopted to promote a violence-free campus and engage institutions’ higher management to prevent and respond to sexual harassment. Now, 980 students (566 women, 414 men) and 78 Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee (SHPC) members (28 women, 50 men) from all six (6) project institutions can act as leaders and activists for the prevention of VAW. They have improved their understanding of power relations and their ability to identify and address toxic behaviours within their campus and workplace. UN Women has contributed to this result by working with its partners at the field level and providing technical support in developing and implementing the Whole of School (WoS) Approach for violence prevention interventions at these educational institutions. Additionally, 1,132 duty bearers (442 women, 690 men) and 1,340 employees (704 women, 636 men) from local government institutions, chamber of commerce and industries, and selected factories are now more committed and have contributed to institutional change for VAW prevention. The adapted VAW prevention models for workplaces, which were introduced by UN Women, enable them to engage with their peer groups and fellow employees to identify different types of workplace-based sexual harassment and take action to respond to sexual harassment. UN Women provided technical support to the local implementing partners to adapt the globally evaluated models on community and family-based VAW prevention interventions – SASA! Together and Shomman O Shomotar Jeebon (adapted from Steppingstone) have been implemented with women and men from Bogura, Cumilla, and Patuakhali districts. Now 6,296 community people (4,588 women, 1,708 men) have a better understanding of the inequality in the power balance within their households, families, and societies, are aware of toxic relationships among couples, and are fully engaged in promoting healthy relationships for gender equal families and communities. UN Women, in partnership with WE CAN Alliance, UNFPA, UNHCR, and BRAC, led the adaptation and rolling out of SASA! Together, through a national cohort. UN Women also documented and disseminated knowledge on effective practices in preventing VAW to support other GBV practitioners in developing EVAW interventions and continued evidence-based advocacy. In 2021, its knowledge management work was expanded through the piloting of a COVID-safe Integrated Model Shelter that combines GBV services with women’s economic empowerment opportunities. This was proven to be highly beneficial for survivors of GBV who have been given the opportunities, skills, and resources to break the cycle of violence and be reintegrated into society. Since 2021, UN Women has expanded its focus on response to violence to strengthen the commitment of duty bearers to end gender-based violence. With this, the Prevention Strategy has been amended to include a stronger component on response. The approaches were also refined based on new partnerships. UN Women learned that to overcome the challenge of generating strong commitment from duty bearers, a strong engagement strategy should be part of the project design right from the very beginning. A robust component of response should be incorporated to address the exigent needs of victims and survivors.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-BGD_D_4.1

Climate and disaster vulnerable women have enhanced capacity to withstand the effects of disaster and climate change

There has been significant progress in this outcome in 2021. The capacity and knowledge of 200 women farmers in the two most flood and cyclone-prone districts: Kurigram and Satkhira in Bangladesh have been enhanced through training and agro-meteorological information on climate resilient agriculture and livelihood. A total of 14 women-led CSOs and 1,474 women farmers received 22,000 text messages, and 19,500 outbound dialing messages (a form of voice message for those who cannot read) on agro-meteorology and early warning information for disaster preparedness. These messages sharpened their knowledge and capacity to engage in gender-responsive small-scale agricultural technology, which is reasonable, user-friendly, and sustainable.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-BGD_D_4.2

Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation mechanisms (public, private and NGO sectors) are strengthened to address gender equality

There has been significant progress in this outcome during the reporting period. A pioneering “Gender Marker for Infrastructure” was produced by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) with support from UN Women, which was the first of its kind to be produced by a government in the region. The capacity of government representatives (245 officials) from fifty ministries and departments has been sharpened in collecting and using sex, age, and disability disaggregated data (SADDD) for disaster, climate, and environmental risks, following the SADDD protocol and guidelines developed by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics with support from UN Women. This groundbreaking initiative on disaggregated data for DRR and climate change was the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region. The capacity of thematic humanitarian cluster members both at the national and local level has been enhanced to address gender aspects in assessing thematic needs in disaster response planning and implementation, through targeted training on Rapid Gender Analysis to 79 (47 women, 32 men) practitioners and by producing the necessary tools such as the Gender TIPP Sheet for food security cluster. Local level women’s organizations from disaster-prone districts demonstrated their leadership and capacity to participate in different fora on DRR/CCA at national and regional levels while voicing vulnerable women’s needs, priorities and experiences. Their knowledge and capacity have been expanded on disaster risk reduction, climate change impacts through peer learning visits, continuous engagement in the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Working Group co-chaired by the Department of Women’s Affairs and UN Women, and capacity-building support. This has enabled a greater exchange of knowledge and cross-fertilisation of ideas, as well as an increased understanding of the gendered aspects of climate change and disaster-related issues from a country-wide perspective, which they shared at regional and international levels.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-BGD_D_4.3

Women are empowered to build resilient, cohesive and peaceful communities to prevent radicalization and violent extremism

This outcome was achieved in 2021 through the regional programme “Empowered Women, Peaceful Communities”. In Bangladesh, the Women Peace Café (WPC) – a university-based platform for young women and men to promote peace- initiated by UN Women in partnership with the Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ), Brac University, in four universities - demonstrated its sustainability in 2021 as the WPC and its members were empowered to successfully organize initiatives to support women at communities, virtual events and awareness raising via social media to promote peace and social cohesion. By March 2021, 8,276 participants had an improved understanding of the role women play in preventing violent extremism and the gender dynamics of this threat, through activities of the WPC organized events; a further 1.2 million people reached via social media campaign on project activities. By December 2021, 778,101 new individuals were reached in Bangladesh with an improved understanding of women's role in PVE and the gender dynamics of the threat of terrorism and hate speech, including 601 individuals participating in training and events, and 14,500 new social media followers. (World Peace Conference Dhaka 2021) Two new WPCs were launched at Dhaka University and Brac University, bringing the total to four WPCs in three districts. UN Women supported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to implement the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP WPS). Bangladesh’s commitment to the WPS agenda was highlighted at a high-level event held in February 2021 by MoFA and UN Women, commemorating the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000). The first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Coordination Group responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of the NAP was held in November 2021 with support from UN Women. In addition, UN Women partnered with Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha (BNPS) to build the capacity of women leaders at the grassroots level to contribute to localization of NAP WPS. A total of 60 participants from women-led CSOs in 15 districts across the country improved their knowledge and understanding of WPS issues and the NAP WPS of Bangladesh in particular; in addition, four dialogue sessions were held on NAP WPS and advancing the WPS agenda, which reached 195 participants, including government officials, CSOs, and women leaders. Another 600,000 people were reached through social media to raise awareness of NAP WPS. Leading women in peace and security were highlighted through online campaigns including the WOMEN|PEACE|POWER campaign and the commemoration of International Day of UN Peacekeepers (Amena Begam Story;*Amena Begam video). A robust social media campaign for 16 Days of Activism was held in partnership with CPJ and Bonhishikha to highlight Women Peace Café members; the campaign posts reached a total of 108,594 people. In terms of lessons learned, COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges affected programme implementation in 2021. However, WPC members demonstrated their dynamism and adaptability by moving their work to a virtual platform and using the opportunity to expand their network beyond the university campus. Also, enhanced engagement with male allies helped WPCs reach a wider audience to combat entrenched misogyny and patriarchy and promote social cohesion.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-BGD_D_4.4

Protection and resilience of women and girls in crisis response and recovery efforts including 'Covid19' are enhanced

The outcome was achieved in 2021. Women and girls in the Rohingya community and host community were able to access essential gender-responsive services and information, participate in humanitarian response, demonstrate leadership, and access education and income generation opportunities despite the pandemic. During the reporting year, the Rohingya refugee community members were sensitized to COVID-19 prevention, gender-based violence, prevention of sexual exploitation and assault (PSEA), and child marriage. 72,547 people (21,685 women, 16,626 men, 18,078 girls, and 16,158 boys) were reached through community engagement and mobilization sessions (door-to-door visits and focus group discussions) conducted by 46 Rohingya refugee women and men who are working as UN Women volunteers. Access to life-saving information and services were enhanced ensuring first aid and psychosocial support, GBV case management and referral, life skills, leadership training, and livelihood opportunities, provided through the five UN Women Multi-purpose Women’s Centers (MPWCs) in camps. The camps supported 47,640 Rohingya women and girls (including 33,893 women and 13,747 adolescent girls). Through an additional three UN Women Multi-purpose Women’s Centers located in the host community, 9,416 women and girls within the host community (including 5,065 women and 4,351 girls) were empowered. Leadership capacities within the Rohingya and host community have increased for 7,981 women and girls (including 7,921 host community women and girls and 60 Rohingya community women) through the leadership learning opportunities at the MPWCs and community engagement activities. Women and girls are economically stronger, as reflected by the monthly income generation totaling BDT 3,255 per month for 568 women and girls (428 Rohingya community and 140 from host community, 183 adolescent girls, and 385 women). This was attributed to the livelihoods training and grants they received through UN Women interventions. The Second Chance Education Program increased the basic literacy and numeracy skills of 302 women and girls (211 women and 91 girls) from the Rohingya community and 855 women and girls (664 women and 191 girls) from the host community. Additionally, 30,479 Rohingya women and girls (including 35 who identify as LGBTI and 440 female sex workers) benefitted from sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) knowledge and services provided in 10 Rohingya refugee camps. Critical gender-responsive policing services to women and girls have been strengthened in the camp which resulted in 335 gender-based violence (GBV) cases being reported in 2021. This increase in reporting was a direct response to the deployment of 60 trained female police in 5 camps (Camp 5,9,20, 20Ext, 21, and 27), including at the newly established Women and Children Help Desks (WCHD). UN Women directly contributed to these results through its Multi-Purpose Women Centers in the Camps, and in the host community, in cooperation with its responsible parties BRAC, Action Aid Bangladesh, Dan Church Aid (DCA), and Oxfam, who ensure the provision of livelihood and leadership training, along with the Second Chance Education programmes. In addition, UN Women provided technical assistance to the Bangladesh Police and Bangladesh Police Women Network to support their capacity development. UN Women also deployed six Gender Field Officers at the Camp in Charge (CiC) Offices, who worked closely with UN Women volunteers for community outreach despite the COVID-19 lockdowns. UN Women provided increased interagency coordination and technical support to key sectors through the Gender Hub and Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group (GiHA WG) and worked closely with key sectors and some sub-sectors for capacity building of gender mainstreaming within the Rohingya response. The Government of Bangladesh, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Camp in Charges CiCs, District Commissioner Office, Bangladeshi Police, and the Armed Police Batallion, UNDP, IOM, UNHCR, FAO, UNFPA, Women-Led Organizations, and Women Focus Organizations and civil society were all critical partners. To improve connections and strengthen women's leadership, a Women Empowerment and Leadership Technical Working Group (WELTWG) was also formed with WLOs and WFOs. The Group's co-chairs oversee the running of the WELTWG with Gender Hub having provided coordination and advisory functions. This outcome already led to impact level changes as demonstrated by the increase in the GBV reporting through the WCHDs.

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The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

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