Bangladesh is one of 33 countries with which the Netherlands has a long-term bilateral relationship. The development co-operation between the two countries began shortly after independence in 1971. By 2007, the Netherlands had contributed some 1.6 billion Euro. In 2008 the disbursement level was just below 60 million Euro.

Multi-Annual Strategic Plan 2008-11

The point of departure of our Multi-Annual Strategic Plan (MASP) 2008-11 is the joint EU-analysis that in 2007 a substantial, positive shift has been made but that the new direction is still fragile and subject to a number of threats. Our political engagement will therefore focus on supporting the structural changes that have been made by the Caretaker Government, insisting on further reforms and help safeguard the recent improvements that are still fragile. Bangladesh being classified as an MDG-country, our funds will initially continue to be spent on water management, education and health, to ensure better living conditions for the poor. Good governance as a cross-cutting theme will focus on ensuring people’s participation in governance and democratic processes, political party and electoral reforms, in order to help address the fragility issues in society. Similarly, gender will remain an important theme with a stronger focus on violence against women and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Private sector development will continue as one theme of the governance agenda, helping Bangladesh on its still fragile path to economic transition.

In support of the long term objective formulated above, the embassy will pursue the following strategic objectives for the period 2008-2011:

• Better governance and gender equality (MDG 3)

• Less extreme poverty and vulnerability to disasters and climate change (MDG 1 and 7)

• Better health for the poor (MDG 4, 5 and 6)

• Better education for the poor (MDG 2)

• Broad-based and sustainable pro-poor economic growth (MDG 1)

The strategic objectives have been chosen because they address the major bottlenecks the poor Bangladeshis face on their way to development. They are prominently reflected in Bangladesh’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and contribute to the realisation of Dutch development frameworks as well. The objectives are also in line with the expertise and knowledge which the Embassy can bring to bear. Last but not least, these objectives offer ample opportunities to work together with other development partners and to enhance the objectives of the Paris Declaration and the EU Code of Conduct for better harmonisation and division of labour in development co-operation.

At present, almost all of our activities are undertaken in partnership with other bilateral or multi-lateral donors. While doing this we pool funds, make use of each other’s analyses, combine missions and follow joint reporting procedures. Nevertheless, higher efficiency of donor support should be aimed for and is mandated under the Paris Declaration. The division of labour between DPs will be a key issue in the process towards a Joint Cooperation Strategy which we, together with Canada, Sweden and Denmark, took the initiative to start. We expect that the JCS process will continue in Bangladesh for the coming two years. The Local Consultative Group of donors has to be strengthened and streamlined. We will contribute to this during the MASP period. In the dialogue on division of labour the Embassy will aspire to assume the leading role in the water management sector, to become a delegating donor in education and silent in health.

In implementing the MASP we are working in partnership with a variety of actors: the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, ILO and WHO.

The indicative budget for the MASP period 2008-11 is € 255 million.

In the second half of 2009, the MASP will be reviewed and adjusted where necessary.