Canada’s International Development Minister Karina Gould has announced CAD 45 million, over the next five years, to support increasing services to Bangladesh’s most vulnerable populations, including the hard-to-reach, BRAC says.
With this contribution, the North American country joined the Strategic Partnership Agreement, a long-term tripartite partnership with BRAC and the Government of Australia, it said in a press release on Thursday.
Canada’s contributions to the partnership will expand BRAC’s integrated healthcare, education, legal services, skills development and livelihood service delivery to hard-to-reach areas and the most marginalised populations.
This partnership is closely aligned with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and is built on BRAC’s longstanding women-centred development approach which prioritises the empowerment of women and girls.
Canada’s support will fund BRAC-led multi-sector initiatives, including programming in skills and vocational training and public health outreach tailored to reach children and families that are unable to access the services they need.
It will also strengthen BRAC’s interventions related to human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, nutrition and ending gender-based violence against women and children. Programming will also focus on, and support, Bangladesh’s COVID-19 response and inclusive economic recovery.
Canada’s support announcement was made during its Minister Gould’s virtual visit to Bangladesh on Thursday. She visited Bhashantek slum in Dhaka to see first-hand the impacts of BRAC’s urban development programming, which will receive continued support through the partnership.
The Canadian international development minister also met with young women engaged in skills training, health care workers supporting soon-to-be-mothers, and witnessed the BRAC-led COVID-19 prevention and response activities in action.
“Our local, experienced partners know all too well the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on the world’s most vulnerable. Together, we must continue to push forward and seek out those hardest to reach, including marginalised women and children,” she said.
“Canada remains committed to supporting Bangladesh in addressing the impacts of the pandemic and helping vulnerable populations respond and recover as fast as possible”
BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh accompanied the Canadian minister during the visit, with both acknowledging the courageous front line workers who continue to deliver key services in the face of ongoing challenges during the pandemic.
“We are delighted to welcome Global Affairs Canada as one of our strategic partners. This partnership couldn't come at a more critical time, as the COVID-19 pandemic has further aggregated inequalities in Bangladesh,” said the BRAC executive director.
Pointing out that Bangladesh needs resources to combat the impact of this pandemic and sustain the momentum of socio-economic growth, he said, “This partnership will help us to keep the country on the growth trajectory and to continue our efforts in the pandemic response and the recovery process.”
