Can you elaborate on the key areas of focus for the new $200 million development agreement?
USAID signed a development agreement worth over $200 million to support Bangladesh in advancing development, strengthening governance, expanding trade and creating greater opportunities for the Bangladeshi people to build a brighter and more prosperous future.
This newest tranche of funding is part of USAID’s commitment of nearly $1 billion between 2021-2026 and underscores that we are continuing and adapting our support to Bangladesh as it charts a more inclusive, equitable and democratic course for its people.
We will also redouble our focus on empowering youth by equipping them with skills that match the needs of leading employers and help them reach their goals. We will also continue our work to increase private sector investment in development initiatives. This is critical if Bangladesh is to reach its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country.
How does this agreement support the strengthening of governance and democratic processes in Bangladesh?
Good governance means ensuring that development and economic opportunities are inclusive, transparent and equitable for all. To accomplish this, you need to make sure civil society and everyday citizens – especially those from marginalized groups – have opportunities to make their voices heard and influence policy decisions that improve their quality of life.
This is why we’re increasing our focus to strengthen civil society and increase the roles of women, youth and marginalized groups in the democratic process so that their voices are heard and can work more closely with government leaders to make sure their needs are met.
This is the hallmark of democracies around the world in which you have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. For all the people.
In what ways will USAID's support enhance trade and economic opportunities for the Bangladeshi people?
USAID will help address Bangladesh’s economic challenges in multiple ways. In the short term, USAID is in discussion with the interim government to mobilize advisors to assist in areas such as transitional macroeconomic, budgeting and banking oversight issues.
In the long term, USAID is preparing to co-design a new economic governance project focused on increasing government revenues, improving budget management, supporting institutional reforms, strengthening financial sector regulations and increasing investment.
USAID will also continue to work with the National Board of Revenue to modernize the trade and customs processes to improve efficiency and make it easier to do business while complying with key trade agreements. In addition, we are training students and young professionals to improve trade logistics and help the industry reach its full potential.
This opens the door for greater export opportunities like the ones we’ve created in the agricultural sector. We’ll build upon our work together with Bangladesh to help farmers improve the quality of produce while reducing trade barriers and creating an environment that is more conducive to increasing investments in this country’s agribusinesses.
We are also focused on creating jobs and strengthening this country’s workforce – especially among youth. We’ve partnered with private sector companies to identify specific skills they need in their employees and, in turn, we train Bangladeshi youth to develop these skills and modernize the workforce. This helps set them up for success while also contributing to this country’s economic growth prospects more broadly.
How does USAID plan to promote inclusivity and equity in development initiatives?
At USAID, we strive to make sure everyone has access to the basic services, resources and support they need to succeed in life – especially women, youth and people from marginalized communities.
Our projects aim to reach at least 50% women and girls, whether it is providing educational opportunities to girls and children with disabilities; training women farmers; providing healthcare; or teaching women, youth and ethnic minorities to become better at operating a business.
Why do we do this? Bangladesh can’t reach its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income country without the contributions of each and every one of its citizens. Bangladesh can’t afford to leave anyone behind.
What role do local NGOs and civil society organizations play in the implementation of these programs?
Local NGOs and civil society organizations play a major role in implementing our programs across every sector. This is what we mean when we talk about utilizing local expertise to drive development. Who understands the needs of the Bangladeshi people better than local organizations? This is why we are increasingly investing more resources in Bangladeshi organizations to implement our work.
We are also invested in building the organizational capacity of Bangladeshi NGOs and civil society organizations to manage large grants and implement development programs more efficiently. Our $70 million Maitree Project partnership with Brac is a great example of how USAID is training local organizations to improve their operations and responsible financial supervision.
We are doing so to enable local organizations to be better positioned to receive larger grants and manage them more effectively, helping them implement programs that improve the quality of life for people across the country on a much larger scale.
What are the biggest challenges USAID anticipates in executing this agreement in the current political climate, particularly in light of the changes after August 5?
There are always challenges associated with change, whether it be how things are done, who is leading the decision-making process and implementation or when it is possible to reach our objectives. But the ultimate goal of what we are doing and why we are doing it remains largely the same, which is to improve the overall quality of life for Bangladeshis in every corner of the country.
We’ve already had fruitful discussions with the chief adviser on the direction of our collaboration and opportunities to align with emerging needs and priorities. We are now having in-depth discussions at the working level with all of our government counterparts to detail exactly how we can maximize the impact of our work together.
Regardless of how we get there, there are many reasons to be optimistic. This moment in time offers a unique opportunity to better support youth, strengthen civil society and create more effective platforms for everyday citizens to make their voices heard.
In turn, the government has the opportunity to craft policies and take actions that are more responsive to the will of the people in a way they haven’t been able to before. USAID is committed to standing with our Bangladeshi partners and working together for a more resilient and prosperous future.
Looking ahead, how do you envision the relationship between the US and Bangladesh evolving over the next few years?
We envision a positive and collaborative partnership based on our shared commitment to a secure, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh that provides equitable opportunities for its citizens. We are committed to helping the interim government and the people of Bangladesh achieve a strong pathway to becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2031.
Over the past month, we have listened carefully to the interim government’s reform agenda and considered how to better align USAID’s efforts to respond to the evolving needs of the Bangladeshi people.
We look forward to collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders, including youth, civil society organizations, the interim government and other donors to provide short and long-term economic governance support; strengthen democratic institutions and processes; reduce food insecurity through market-based solutions; strengthen the health and education systems and improve the quality and equity of service delivery; enhance capacity to prepare for and respond to extreme weather events and other climate-related shocks and stressors; leverage private sector investments to drive sustainable development outcomes; and provide humanitarian assistance.
The United States and Bangladesh share a partnership that goes back over 50 years. We are excited about this new chapter in our history of partnership and optimistic about sharing many more remarkable accomplishments.
