The UK considers Bangladesh an "increasingly important strategic partner" in the Indo-Pacific region and a "key player" in upholding the Rules-Based International System, and has set "six strategic goals".
"These goals bring together the strategic priorities and international objectives of the UK and Bangladesh to support progress on the SDGs. They also align with the UK's IR23 and the IDS," according to the policy paper of the UK–Bangladesh development partnership summary, July 2023.
The IR23 is the Integrated Review Refresh that reiterates that sustainable development is central to UK foreign policy and sets out how the UK will go further and faster on development to reduce poverty and reinvigorate progress towards the SDGs.
The IDS or the Strategy for International Development places development at the heart of the UK's foreign policy. It sets out a new approach to development, anchored inpatient, long-term partnerships tailored to the needs of the countries we work with, built on mutual accountability and transparency, according to the paper.
The Country Development Partnership Summary details how the IDS and IR23 will be put into practice with Bangladesh.
The UK and Bangladesh have a long-standing partnership built on shared economic, security, development and people-to-people ties.
The UK was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh and both countries celebrated 50 years of partnership in 2021.
Bangladesh has made significant progress on development and it will graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2026.
It was the world's second-poorest country at independence and had a Gross National Income (GNI) per person of $120 in 1973 and it is now the world's 33rd largest economy with a GNI per person of $2,570, according to the report.
Annual GDP growth has averaged about 6% since 2011, except in 2020 because of Covid-19. Growth has been fuelled by the expansion of garment exports, overseas remittances, external support, and domestic consumption.
Despite this progress, Bangladesh faces a range of development challenges as it strives to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to the impact of extreme weather events.
The UK-Bangladesh relationship is transitioning "to a deeper economic, migration and security partnership, while helping to protect Bangladesh's development gains."
"Given Bangladesh's ability to increasingly self-finance its development, we have shifted the UK's approach away from large-scale Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) programmes," read the report.
"The UK is increasingly providing expertise and knowledge to support Bangladesh's development. We will continue to prioritize areas where analysis shows this is key to systemic change, whether economic (eg, promoting trade and investment), political (e.g., supporting peaceful politics) or social (eg, women's rights)."
"A deeper and broader economic partnership will help Bangladesh access new sources of affordable finance for sustainable growth and build resilience against the impact of climate change. We will use technical and diplomatic expertise to support long-term economic reforms and boost investment."
The six strategic goals in Bangladesh are:
Goal 1: Foreign policy and security -
We will develop and maintain a strong and productive network of contacts in Bangladesh to support a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region, that upholds the Rules-Based International System. We will also support Bangladesh to remain a stable, reliable, and human rights compliant partner on UK national security interests and migration.
Goal 2: Democratic institutions and norms -
We will work with Government, civil society, youth, political parties, and international partners to deliver this goal. We will support Bangladesh institutions become more open, democratic, and inclusive, with greater transparency and accountability, respect for human rights, gender equality and ability to resolve conflict.
Goal 3: Women and girls and global health -
We will support Government's efforts to help ensure Bangladesh has the systems, policies, and practices in place that educates and empowers its people, especially women and girls, to protect their rights, fulfil their potential, and live healthy lives. We will provide targeted technical assistance, combined with diplomatic lobbying, global, regional, and centrally managed programmes (CMP) and UK expertise to support this goal.
Goal 4: Economic reform, trade and investment -
We will support Bangladesh to deliver key reforms to help it reach upper middle-income status whilst building a closer economic and investment partnership with the UK. We will deepen our bilateral trade and investment partnership through better market access for British firms and the DCTS.
Goal 5: Climate change and environment
We will ensure the UK-Bangladesh partnership delivers on climate change and environmental commitments and contributes to Government's efforts for a more climate-resilient, less-carbon-intensive, and cleaner Bangladesh. We will use targeted ODA programming, political engagement, centrally and regionally managed programs, and UK technical expertise to support people to better adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Goal 6: Rohingya and disaster preparedness
We will use our UN Security Council membership to continue to put pressure on Myanmar to resolve the crisis and call for accountability. We will also deliver large-scale life-saving humanitarian support to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and advocate for a more sustainable response to the protracted crisis. We will also support Bangladesh to prepare and respond effectively to natural disasters across the country.
The department's spending plans for the period 2022-2023 to 2024-2025 have been revisited to ensure that the British government continues to spend around 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) on ODA.
This was in the context of the significant and unexpected costs incurred to support the people of Ukraine and Afghanistan to escape oppression and conflict and find refuge in the UK, and others seeking asylum, according to the report.
The Government remains committed to returning ODA spending to 0.7% of GNI when the fiscal situation allows, in line with the approach confirmed by the House of Commons in July 2021.
Of the ODA spent in Bangladesh from 2022 to 2023 -- 88% is marked as being principally or significantly focused on promoting gender equality. 69% is marked as being principally or significantly focused on disability inclusion.
All development programs follow monitoring, evaluation, and learning guidance and best practices, as per the UK government rules.
The British High Commission Dhaka has nine evaluations planned in the coming three years, ranging from mixed methods, impact, and process type evaluations across the portfolio.
"We have a strong development partnership with the Government of Bangladesh. This is delivered through a whole of UK Government approach, using the breadth of the development, diplomatic and economic assets we have," according to the policy paper.
"We will build a closer economic partnership with Bangladesh through a wide range of new UK-supported instruments eg, British International Investment (BII), Private Infrastructure Development Group, GuarantCo and UK Export Finance. We will deepen our engagement in trade via the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme. We work with arm-length bodies like the British Council to deliver a comprehensive development offer. We collaborate with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and other UK government departments to provide expertise to deliver our global health security and One Health objectives.
"We engage with civil society organizations, local and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), collaborate with think tanks and citizens network to advance key issues like voice and accountability and protect the most vulnerable."