The Bangladesh government and United Nations agencies have jointly initiated a $12 million project to sustain the resilience of human and economic development in Bangladesh through inclusive and gender responsive disaster management.
The project titled “National Resilience Programme" (NRP) was launched on Thursday in Dhaka.
The project will be co-financed by the Department for International Development and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, and the Local Government Division will be responsible for the implementation.
The 3-year long programme will provide strategic support in association with the United Nations Development Programme, UN Women, and United Nations Office for Project Services, to develop Bangladesh's capacity to keep pace with the changing nature of disasters.
The entire project will be divided in four.
The Department of Disaster will focus on disability inclusive and gender-responsive capacities, the Programming Division will focus on the capacity for disaster and climate risk informed planning, the Department of Women will focus on the gender dimension of the programme, and the LGED will focus on infrastructure.
Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Charlotta Schlyte, said: “Bangladesh needs the support of women to fight and adapt to climate change. Being a feminist government, Sweden will continue its support for vulnerable women in Bangladesh.”
Adding to which, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Mia Seppo, said: “While the country is on its way to becoming a middle-income country, its exposure to natural hazards such as floods and earthquakes is likely to intensify due to climate change, its rapid urbanization, demographic pressure, and the continuous erosion of its land.”
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony as the chief guest, Disaster Management and Relief Minister, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, said: “the National Resilience Programme is a knowledge based programme which will enhance women’s leadership for a gender responsive disaster resilient nation.”
He also said the NRP will work with the business community to promote risk informed business continuity plans.
The minister hoped the new National Launched Programme would further build the capacity of relevant ministries and increase the resilience to natural disasters.
The ministers called upon all the line ministries and development partners to implement the programme effectively and efficiently which will ensure a better future for the people of Bangladesh.
