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Bangladesh
EXAMPLES OF OUR IMPACT
- USAID-supported programs serve 38 percent of all couples using modern family planning methods.
- The USAID-funded television show “Sisimpur” is the most widely viewed children’s television program in Bangladesh.
- Since 2005, a total of 70,000 people have benefited from USAID’s food assistance and cash-for-work activities.
USAID/BANGLADESH SITE
www.usaid.gov/bd/
CONTACTS
Mission Director
Denise Rollins
USAID/Bangladesh
Department of State
Washington, DC 20521-6120
Tel: 880-2-885-5500
Bangladesh Desk Officer
Carrie Mitchell
Tel: (202) 712-1537
camitchell@usaid.gov
Saiful Islam Manik, a shopkeeper in Barisal, proudly shows off his USAID-provided solar tube light. The solar light has helped him do business in a place without electricity. USAID helps small and medium businesses to increase jobs and income, particularly among rural poor, youth, and women. (Photo: Mustafizur Rahman, USAID/Bangladesh) Overview
Bangladesh, a key ally of the United States, is one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in the world, with a moderate Muslim majority population of 156 million. American assistance to Bangladesh includes support for free, fair, and credible elections and more transparent and accountable governance; support for a better educated, healthier, and more productive population; and resources to increase economic opportunities through equitable economic growth, improved food security, and disaster mitigation.
Programs
Investing In People: Health and Education
USAID supports the provision of low-cost, quality family planning services, maternal and child health care, and treatment for tuberculosis through a network of nongovernmental clinics and community health workers. USAID promotes the social marketing of contraceptives and selected maternal and child health products through private sector outlets. USAID-supported programs serve 38 percent of all couples using modern family planning methods. In 2008, USAID programs provided 1 million pregnancy-related check-ups, vaccinations for 300,000 children, and essential care for 40,000 newborns. USAID targets the most at-risk populations with messages about the treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
Although enrollment in primary school has improved in recent years, an estimated 40 percent of children still do not complete the second grade. USAID’s pioneering work in early childhood education, including its support for 1,800 preschools and learning programs for older children, improves schools’ ability to address poor attendance, low achievement, and high drop-out rates in primary school. The USAID-funded Sesame Street television program “Sisimpur” is the most widely viewed children’s television program in Bangladesh, reaching over 9 million viewers weekly.
Humanitarian Assistance: Improving Disaster Response
Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, landslides, droughts, and earthquakes. USAID’s food security, disaster readiness, and humanitarian assistance programs target 3,500 of the most at-risk villages and help to provide a safety net of short-term emergency assistance during natural disasters, as well as long-term solutions that raise incomes, improve health, and enhance food security.
Since 2005, USAID has financed various asset protection activities, such as raising the ground of rural homes for 4,400 vulnerable farming households to protect assets such as vegetable gardens and farming animals. USAID has funded the construction of earthen embankments, which protect crops and allow more time to harvest, and walls to stop erosion in low-lying areas. In 11 southern coastal districts impacted by Cyclone Sidr, USAID plans to build 100 schools that will serve as shelters in the event of a disaster.
Increasing Economic Growth
USAID’s most significant contribution in Bangladesh has been to help bring electricity to rural areas. In 1971, only 3 percent of the population had electricity. Today, 44 percent do.
To protect natural resources and empower local people who depend on them for their livelihoods, USAID works with communities to establish management systems that encourage the wise use of aquatic and tropical forest resources and restore habitats and ecosystems. USAID also expands access to global markets by assisting key sectors, such as aquaculture and horticulture, to improve the quality of their products, increase sales, create jobs, and promote investment, particularly for the benefit of women, youth, and small and medium enterprise suppliers.
Governing Justly and Democratically
Elected officials and public institutions frequently fail to effectively address citizens’ needs, and large- and small-scale corruption is pervasive. To fight these trends, USAID addresses the root causes of corruption by improving the quality of governance by elected leaders, developing fair and open election processes, improving the functioning of political parties, and increasing parliamentary and citizen oversight of the national budget. USAID also works with nongovernmental organizations, local governments, and municipal associations to improve government accountability and the delivery of social services. These efforts have led to direct budget allocations from the national government to local government associations for the first time ever. In addition, these programs have achieved a 50 percent increase in local revenues in targeted areas.
Peace and Security: Combatting Human Trafficking
Trafficking in persons is a significant transnational crime in Bangladesh. With USAID’s support, the Bangladeshi government made significant progress in dealing with human trafficking, removing the country from prospective U.S. sanctions. USAID has provided assistance to more than 500 trafficking survivors since 2006.
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