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Proactive Disclosure

Proactive Disclosure

Bangladesh

CIDA Disbursements in Bangladesh: Breakdown by Aid Channels (in $ millions), 2007-2008

Source: CIDA Statistical Report on International Assistance, 2007-2008

Spotlight

A mother poses with her child in Khoerpara Village in Bangladesh. © ACDI-CIDA/Nancy Durrell McKenna

Overview

Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries. With more than 159 million individuals (2007) in a country about twice the size of New Brunswick, the resulting population pressures are huge. If you are living in Bangladesh, you are likely to be poor and very vulnerable to natural disasters. You may also be part of the rapidly expanding youth segment of the population-some 45 percent of the population is under the age of 15. Bangladesh ranks 146 out of 182 countries on the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report 2009

Natural disasters such as cyclones and severe flooding occur with regular frequency, causing damage, disease, and loss of food crops.

Yet during the last 12 years, Bangladesh has made important development gains. Both population growth and the incidence of poverty have steadily declined, and gross domestic product growth rate has averaged 6 percent per year. The proportion of the population living below the national poverty line has fallen to 40 percent in 2005 from 59 percent in 1991. Considerable progress has been made toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, notably in health and education. Successful and peaceful elections were held in December 2008.

Bangladesh's many development challenges include:

Poor quality health and education services, with unequal access to those services by the poor, especially by women
Weak public sector institutions inhibiting economic advancement prosperity
Environmental difficulties due to the impact of global climate change and increasing population density

Thematic Focus

In 2009, as part of Canada's new aid effectiveness agenda, Bangladesh was selected as one of 20 countries of focus.

Bangladesh was chosen based on its level of need and its ability to use aid dollars wisely and on Canada's capacity to make a difference. Bangladesh has been one of Canada's largest aid recipients for the last three decades.

The objective of CIDA's program for Bangladesh is to create opportunities for children and youth and to stimulate sustainable economic growth. Equality between women and men, environmental sustainability, and good governance will be integrated into all programming. Continuous dialogue and consultation among development partners (government, non-government, and donors) will guide investment choices.

CIDA's program for Bangladesh is directly aligned with the Government of Bangladesh's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. Programming in Bangladesh will strengthen the capacity of both national and local governments to plan, manage, and monitor health and education delivery systems and to promote sustainable economic growth in keeping with the above thematic focuses.

Children and youth

In education, CIDA will focus on:

Improving the quality and delivery of education
Increasing access and retention rates in primary schools
Reducing gaps between girls and boys

Selected examples of expected results

One million poor children not in the formal school system will receive a basic education
Some 20,000 youths will receive employment training
Some 500,000 children will improve their capacity to learn as a result of better nutrition through school meals initiatives

In health, CIDA will focus on:

Ensuring that healthcare and medicines are delivered efficiently
Improving maternal and child health delivery systems
Providing essential drugs and medicines

Selected examples of expected results

Some than 2,000 public health employees will be trained annually at national and local levels to manage systems for procuring medical supplies
Each year, some 2,500 nurses will be trained to provide maternal and child health care
Essential drugs, vaccines, micronutrients, and contraceptives will be procured and distributed efficiently, transparently, and equitably to 5,000 public health facilities in 64 districts

Economic growth

CIDA will focus on strengthening the enabling environment for the growth of employment-intensive industries and for the promotion of international trade. This includes:

Increasing access to skills for employment, particularly for youth
Streamlining legal, fiscal, and regulatory frameworks for business development
Improving public financial management

Selected examples of expected results

New jobs and businesses will be created through increased access to skills, trained people, new technologies, resources, and information
Entrepreneurship will be increased and improved through support to public and private efforts and mechanisms, including business development and financial services, technical/vocational institutions, and credit services

Progress on Aid Effectiveness

A joint donor cooperation strategy is being developed to further coordinate efforts, harmonize approaches, and work toward a more strategic division of labour between donors and the Government of Bangladesh.

CIDA's bilateral program has shifted toward fewer, larger projects responding to Bangladesh's needs. Canada is an active participant in both of Bangladesh's sector-wide approaches for primary education and health, which are making tangible progress.

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PDF Format

Bangladesh: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (1.49 MB, 370 pages)

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