Projects and Programs of USAID in Bangladesh:
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: Combating 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.
USAID/Bangladesh Projects Business Forecast for Fiscal Year 2009
USAID-funded activities in Bangladesh are carried out through contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and inter-agency agreements. Partners include U.S.-based, Bangladeshi, and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and for-profit organizations. Resources for those seeking opportunities to work with USAID are supplied here.
The USAID/Bangladesh Mission Business Forecast for Fiscal Year 2009 is as follows:
- Solicitation Description: Evaluation of the Sesame Street Outreach Component
- Estimated Dollar Range: $ 250,000
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Anticipated Advertisement Date: 2nd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Date: 3rd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: Purchase Order/Task Order
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Full and Open Competition
- Solicitation Description: Early Learning for School Success (SUCCEED) – Project Follow On Project
- Estimated Dollar Range: $ 10,000,000
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Anticipated Advertisement Date: 2nd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Date: 3rd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Full and Open Competition
- Solicitation Description: Political Parties and Legislative Strengthening Project
- Estimated Dollar Range: $ 20,000,000
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Anticipated Advertisement Date: 3rd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Date: 4th Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Full and Open Competition
- Solicitation Description: Disability and Development Issues Project
- Estimated Dollar Range: $ 300,000
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Anticipated Advertisement Date: 1st Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Date: 3rd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: Grant
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Limited Local Competition
- Solicitation Description: Policy Analysis, Monitoring and Assessment (PAMA) Project
- Estimated Dollar Range: $ 6,000,000
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Anticipated Advertisement Date: 1st Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Date: 3rd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: Task Order under IQC
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Limited Competition
- Solicitation Description: Cyclone SIDR Livelihood Reconstruction Projects
- Estimated Dollar Range: TBD
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Advertisement Date: 4th Quarter of FY 2008
- Anticipated Award Date: 2nd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: Cooperative Agreement/Grant
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Full and Open Competition
- Solicitation Description: Cyclone SIDR Shelter Construction Project
- Estimated Dollar Range: $35,000,000
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Anticipated Advertisement Date: 2nd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Date: 4th Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: TBD
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Full and Open Competition
- Solicitation Description: Safe Mothers & Newborns Project
- Estimated Dollar Range: $15,000,000
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Anticipated Advertisement Date: 2nd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Date: 3rd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: Associate Cooperative Agreement
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Limited Competition
- Solicitation Description: HIV/AIDS Project Follow-on Project
- Estimated Dollar Range: $15,000,000
- Geographic Location: Bangladesh
- Anticipated Advertisement Date: 1st Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Date: 3rd Quarter of FY 2009
- Anticipated Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
- Planned Competitive Procurement Method: Full and Open Competition