Bangladesh

UNDP Bangladesh

has achieved the Gold Gender Equality Seal Certification!

UNDP is recognized as a reputable partner in driving meaningful change towards women’s empowerment and gender quality in Bangladesh. Through its country programme, UNDP has contributed to national gender equality goals by ensuring the gender responsive National Climate Adaptation Plans and disaster risk reduction. On the ground, this has translated to dramatically increasing women’s resilience to climate resilience and enhancing their livelihood options throughout Bangladesh.

"As we celebrate the collective achievement of the GOLD Gender Equality Seal, I am immensely proud of our team. The journey towards the certification has served as a valuable learning experience for all of us, and it has equipped us with tools and new innovative ideas of how to cement our commitment and strive towards greater gender equality in Bangladesh."

- Stefan Liller, Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh

Some key achievements include:

Expanding focus and promoting structural reforms to tackle poverty and inequality:

In Bangladesh, UNDP’s poverty graduation model supported 3,564 extremely poor women gain access to decent employment, skills training, and financial management. This allowed service users to conduct digital financial transactions and access financial institutions, leading to an increase of 115% in monthly income.

Putting Bangladeshi women at the center of ecosystem resilience and climate adaptation:

UNDP provided training to 34,953 women on climate-adaptive livelihood options. UNDP also supported women’s participation in regional and local governmental departments, promoting women's leadership in resilience building in climate-vulnerable communities.

Boosting women’s meaningful participation in decision-making spaces:

As a result of UNDP's initiatives in Bangladesh, women's participation in economic activities – such as in agriculture production – and within decision-making processes at household and societal levels have been improved.

Leveraging the power of technology to expand choices and provide equal opportunities:

UNDP supported the government in Bangladesh to provide 2,845 women entrepreneurs with the technical know-how needed to navigate online marketplaces. As a result, women are now operating their businesses through online market platforms such as Anondomela, enabling them to get higher returns.

UNDP Bangladesh team on stage holding cards

UNDP Bangladesh sitting in audience with man on stage

UNDP Bangladesh in conference room with happy expressions

UNDP Bangladesh sitting in audience with woman on stage

Select good practices and innovations in advancing foundational elements of gender equality:

UNDP has a solid financial structure in place to support gender equality implementation across all programs in Bangladesh, as reflected in its overall high expenditures for projects directly contributing to women’s empowerment.

UNDP Bangladesh has demonstrated good practice and innovative approaches vis-à-vis its gender sensitive procurement, with extra effort put into hands-on guidance for women vendor registration through an online business platform.

The Country Office produces publications on gender that are diverse and wide in scope, with a focus on non-traditional areas such as women in e-commerce, climate risk and climate financing.

UNDP is a key partner of choice for development in Bangladesh. The Country Office has strong and stable collaborations with a diverse array of partners across key line ministries, the private sector, media, academic thinktanks, and with women’s rights organizations.