Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and IC Net have signed a contract with the Center for Natural Resource Studies (CNRS) to implement a joint project in Cox’s Bazar.
The project “Livelihood Improvement for Enhancing Resilience in Host-Communities in Cox’s Bazar” will be implemented from January 2022 to March 2024 in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas.
The project activities will focus on livestock, agriculture, aquaculture, and skills development of 1,220 households of local residents.
Representatives from Jica and IC Net went to CNRS’s Head Office in Dhaka to attend the signing ceremony on Wednesday.
The event was attended by Takeshi Saheki, senior representative at Jica; Naoko Inada, consultant at IC Net; Saki Nakada, consultant at IC Net; Dr M Mokhlesur Rahman, executive director at CNRS; M Anisul Islam, director at CNRS; Masood Siddique, NR and Fisheries Expert at CNRS.
Takeshi Saheki said Jica operated based on two fundamental pillars in Bangladesh. The pillars are, firstly, a firm commitment to promoting and aiding economic development in the country, and, secondly, poverty reduction and resilience building among Bangladeshis.
He assured that the newly agreed upon project was going to be a pilot project.
Naoko Inada expressed concern over the wellbeing of the local population in Cox’s Bazar who have been negatively affected due to the Rohingya crisis that began in 2017.
She further stated that her organization was pursuing the goals of ensuring income security and promoting women empowerment in Bangladesh.
Dr M Mokhlesur Rahman stated that small efforts can often lead to major changes in society whereby people’s lives are positively transformed.
He was confident that the competence of Jica, IC Net, and CNRS would lead to the successful implementation of the project.
The project will empower local Bangladeshis who have suffered considerably due to the arrival of a massive number of Forcefully Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN).
Jica and IC Net represents the Japanese people’s dedication to improving the lives of marginalized Bangladeshis.