Planned Budget (Total)
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Country Indexes
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, and Patuakhali Government College and Government Azizul Haque College). 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 females, 414 males) and 78 Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee (SHPC) members (28 females, 50 males) from 6 educational institutions can act as leaders and activists for the prevention of VAW. They have improved understanding of power relations and 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 field level and provided 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 females, 690 males) and 1,340 employees (704 females, 636 males) from local government institutions, chamber of commerce & industries, and selected factories are now more committed and have contributed to institutional change for VAW prevention. The adapted VAW prevention models for workplaces, that was 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 actions 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) that have been implemented with women and men from Bogura, Cumilla and Patuakhali districts. Now 6,296 community people (4,588 females, 1,708 males) have better understanding on the inequality in power balance within their households, families, and societies, are aware of toxic relationship 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, 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 conducting 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 in society. The Theory of Change remains valid. However, 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 CGBV 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 on response should also 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
The most disaster vulnerable women have enhanced resilience through improved and resilient crop production practices, receiving of early warning and agro-met messages on time, and having skilled women’s CSOs within their community to fend for them against disaster risks in the five most flood and cyclone-prone districts of the country.
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
The capacity within government has been sharpened to address gender equality in climate change actions through capacity building training on gender responsive CCA (102 officials and practitioners); collecting and use of sex age and disability disaggregated data for disaster, climate and environment risks (245 officials) which is a ground breaking work in the region. Officials have been engaging at regional level sharing their experience and expertise in gender-responsive CC and DRR. Also DRR/CC practitioners capacity has been enhanced to address gender aspects in the assessing thematic needs in disaster response planning and implementation through targeted training on Rapid Gender Analysis and by producing the necessary tools like gender TIPP sheet. Also, the women’s agencies, e.g. women’s CSOs have enhanced capacity to take the vulnerability women’s voices at different fora/conferences on DRR/CCA in national and regional levels and have been doing so quite well throughout the year. They also had the chance to have the big picture of the climate change impacts through exchange visits between different geographical areas which not only helped cross-fertilisation of ideas but also that they could represent women’s climatic and disaster aspects in country as a whole, not just of their own areas, at international level.
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 of young women and men to promote peace- initiated by UN Women in partnership with 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 in order to promote peace and social cohesion. By March 2021, 8,276 participants had 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; further 1.2 million people reached via social media campaign on project activities . By Dec 2021, 778,101 new individuals were reached in Bangladesh with 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 in Dhaka University and Brac University, bringing total to four WPCs in three districts. UN Women supported Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to implement the National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security. 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 20 th anniversary of UNSCR 1325. 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 capacity of women leaders at 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 on NAP WPS. Leading women in peace and security were highlighted through online campaigns including the WOMEN|PEACE|POWER campaign and 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 total 108,594 people. In terms of lessons learned, COVID-19 pandemic related challenges affected programme implementation in 2021. However, WPCs demonstrated the dynamism and adaptabilityby moving their work to virtual platform and using the opportunity to expand their network beyond university campus. Also, enhanced engagement with male allies helped WPCs reach 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. Women and girls in the Rohingya community and host community were able to access to essential gender responsive services and information, participate in humanitarian response, demonstrate leadership and access education and income generation opportunities despite the pandemic. In the reporting year, the Rohingya refugee community members were sensitized on COVID-19 prevention, gender-based violence, PSEA, and child marriage which is reflected through an enhanced awareness of 72,547 people (21,685 women, 16,626 men, 18078 girls and 16158 boys) due to 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, which supported 47,640 Rohingya women and girls (including 33,893 women and 13,747 adolescent girls) and through additional three UN Women Multi-purpose Women’s Centers located in the host community. These three MPWC’s empowered 9,416 women and girls within the host community (including 5,065 women and 4,351 girls). Leadership capacities within the Rohingya and host community has 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 which reflect in 3255 BDT per month income generation of 568 women and girls (428 Rohingya community and 140 from Host community, 183 adolescent girls and 385 women) which is attributed to the livelihoods training and grants they received. The Second Chance Education Program has increased the basic literacy and numeracy skills of for 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 LGBTI, 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 GBV cases being reported this year. This increase in reporting is 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. 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 trainings, 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 6 Gender Field Officers at the Camp in Charge (CiC) Offices, who worked closely with UN Women volunteers for community outreach despite the COVID-19 lock downs. UN Women provided interagency coordination and technical support to key sectors were increased through the Gender Hub and Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group and worked closely with key sectors for gender mainstreaming. The Government of Bangladesh, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Camp in Charges (CiCs), District Commissioner (DC) Office, Bangladeshi Police and APBn, UNDP, IOM, UNHCR, FAO, UNFPA, women’s organizations and civil society were all critical partners. The Theory of Change is still applicable. This Outcome already led to the impact level changes as demonstrated by the increase in the GBV reporting through the WCHDs. As a lesson learned, UN Women will continue to keep the good practise of supporting Bangladesh Police for increasing their gender responsive policing capacity and for deployment of women police, as well as the community outreach through the Rohingya volunteers as those approaches prove to be successful.Showing 6 - 10 of 14