Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO) in Bangladesh

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Description

In Bangladesh, women are often employed at the lower end of the productivity scale. Labor force participation of rural women in Bangladesh is only 36.4% against 83.3% of men. Creating employment and income generating opportunities for women and enhancing women’s access to social protection will help to reduce gender inequality and women’s poverty and vulnerability. The SDG Fund JP is being implemented in the regions of focus in the Kurigram district in the Northwest and Satkhira district in the coastal belt, regions strongly affected by seasonal hunger and high incidences of extreme poverty due to natural disasters and climate change.

Expected Impact

The SWAPNO JP offers a scalable, government-owned model aimed at participants’ lasting exit from poverty. The women will be employed for 18 months in maintaining or rehabilitating important community assets, public works, and community service.The programme is being implemented through the Community Based Training for Rural Economic Empowerment (CB-TREE) approach which has been piloted by ILO in Bangladesh. The model combines a community based survey of skills demand and development of training to fill the identified skills gaps. Individuals are trained with the in-demand skills for subsequent work in either established SMEs or in their own micro-enterprises.Field application of the CB-TREE model includes the following steps:1. Select a village, mobilize target group2. Apply TREE planning tools and process3. Implement approved training proposals (3 types: i. skills training alone, ii. skills with enterprise training, and iii. enterprise training alone)4. Beneficiaries access finance, establish common facilities, organize enterprise (value) chains5. Beneficiaries trade with other communities or adjacent urban centres6. When ready and willing-the individual, group or community enterprises can be linked with the formal financial and market systemsFurther, in accordance with the code of practice, an employer or instructor must:- train the apprentice or nominate a skilled tradesperson to train the apprentice to the best of their ability;- provide apprentices with the opportunity to learn all the skills of the trade as listed in the CSLB;- provide the apprentices with the opportunity & sufficient time to practice the skills listed in the CSLB in order to become skilled workers;- complete the employer/instructor section of the CSLB as required in an honest & accurate manner;- provide ongoing feedback and encouragement to the apprentice;- treat the apprentice fairly and as an important member of the workplace;- provide a safe work/learning environment.In addition to some 10,000 members of direct beneficiary households, local communities with a population of around 1.1 million living below the poverty line will be indirect beneficiaries of public works undertaken in the SWAPNO programme.

Capacity

Local government has the capacity to implement social transfer programmes in an accountable and transparent manner, following a gender sensitive and pro-poor approach.Activities include:• Development of an Operational Manual• Development of Internal Control Framework• Training needs assessment• In-country and cross-country training for 72 Union Councils and 9 Sub-district councils, engaging National Institute of Local Government• On-the-job coaching• Peer training by best practitioners / horizontal learning• Financial monitoring with parallel knowledge transfer of good practices• District workshops• Advocacy, knowledge management and visibility activities• Baseline and endline surveys• Monitoring of the development of Union Council capacitiesThe capacity of Union Councils will be developed so that they can perform the following key tasks:(a) Arrange for selection of primary beneficiary women and guide formation of crew groups;(b) Assist in selection of roads and other public works;(c) Monitor task assignment and performance of crews through a Standing Committee; solve criticalproblems; prepare reports; ensure management, supervision and payment;(d) Facilitate cooperation between the Union Council and service delivery departments for effective servicedelivery to programme beneficiaries; establish contact between women and service providers;(e) Identify priority service needs and manage service delivery block grants for essential needs;(f) Facilitate cooperation from participating banks and other payment agents and assist in account opening for primary beneficiary women;(g) Provide graduated women with follow-up and counselling for sustainable livelihoods;(h) Maintain all records, registers, accounts, etc. prescribed.Capabilities of local government institutions will be developed in terms of accountability, transparency, pro-poor planning, gender sensitiveness and participatory M&E. To enhance sustainability prospects, capacity development training will be imparted through National Institute of Local Government (NILG), with technical assistance from the programme in the development of training modules, training of trainers and so forth. This will at the same time develop NILG capacity to impart similar capacity development training in other Unions of the country. Strengthening local government capacity not only supports effective programme implementation but also strengthens a range of service delivery mechanisms. Effective capacity for pro-poor and gender sensitive service delivery requires both capability and commitment, and the programme will work on both.

Governed

The SDG Fund relies on the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) to facilitate collaboration between Participating UN Organizations to ensure that the programme is on track and that promised results are being delivered. The Resident Coordinator exercises his authority over the programme by being entrusted with leadership of the overall programme design, ongoing programmatic oversight of the Fund’s activities by co-chairing the National Steering Committee meetings. To ensure proper checks and balances of programme activities the RC is called upon to establish committees at two levels:A National Steering Committee (NSC), and Programme Management Committee(s) (PMC).The NSC consists of the Resident Coordinator, a representative of the national government in the role of Co-Chair and a representative of the AECID or in its absence from another sponsoring partner entity, according to the SDGF ToR.The responsibilities of the PMC will include:1. Ensuring operational coordination2. Appointing a Programme Manager or equivalent thereof;3. Managing programme resources to achieve the outcomes and output defined in the programme;4. Establishing adequate reporting mechanisms in the programme;5. Integrating work plans, budgets, reports and other programme related documents; and ensuring that budget overlaps or gaps are addressed;6. Providing technical and substantive leadership regarding the activities envisaged in the Annual Work Plan;7. Agreeing on re-allocations and budget revisions and making recommendations to the NSC as appropriate;8. Addressing management and implementation problems;9. Identifying emerging lessons learned; and10. Establishing communication and public information plans.

Partners

UN Lead Agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UN Participating Organizations: International Labour Organization (ILO)
Local Partners: Local Government Division, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperative, Government of Bangladesh; District Administration, Sub-District Councils, Union Parishads (lowest administrative tier of local government), Partner NGO-Eco-Social Development Organization and Local Small and Medium Enterprises

SDGS & Targets

Goal 8

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

8.1

Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries

8.1.1

Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita

8.2

Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

8.2.1

Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person

8.3

Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

8.3.1

Proportion of informal employment in total employment, by sector and sex

8.4

Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, with developed countries taking the lead

8.4.1

Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP

8.4.2

Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita, and domestic material consumption per GDP

8.5

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

8.5.1

Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age and persons with disabilities

8.5.2

Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

8.6

By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

8.6.1

Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment or training

8.7

Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms

8.7.1

Proportion and number of children aged 5‑17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age

8.8

Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment

8.8.1

Fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers, by sex and migrant status

8.8.2

Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status

8.9

By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

8.9.1

Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate

8.10

Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all

8.10.1

(a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults

8.10.2

Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider

8.a

Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries

8.a.1

Aid for Trade commitments and disbursements

8.b

By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization

8.b.1

Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment, as a distinct strategy or as part of a national employment strategy

Goal 10

Reduce inequality within and among countries

10.1

By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average

10.1.1

Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population

10.2

By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

10.2.1

Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

10.3

Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard

10.3.1

Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed within the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law

10.4

Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality

10.4.1

Labour share of GDP

10.4.2

Redistributive impact of fiscal policy

10.5

Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulations

10.5.1

Financial Soundness Indicators

10.6

Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions in order to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions

10.6.1

Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations

10.7

Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies

10.7.1

Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of montlhy income earned in country of destination

10.7.2

Number of countries with migration policies that facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people

10.7.3

Number of people who died or disappeared in the process of migration towards an international destination

10.7.4

Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of origin

10.a

Implement the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in accordance with World Trade Organization agreements

10.a.1

Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports from least developed countries and developing countries with zero-tariff

10.b

Encourage official development assistance and financial flows, including foreign direct investment, to States where the need is greatest, in particular least developed countries, African countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their national plans and programmes

10.b.1

Total resource flows for development, by recipient and donor countries and type of flow (e.g. official development assistance, foreign direct investment and other flows)

10.c

By 2030, reduce to less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5 per cent

10.c.1

Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted

Goal 5

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

5.1

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere

5.1.1

Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non‑discrimination on the basis of sex

5.2

Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation

5.2.1

Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age

5.2.2

Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by age and place of occurrence

5.3

Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

5.3.1

Proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 15 and before age 18

5.3.2

Proportion of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting, by age

5.4

Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate

5.4.1

Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age and location

5.5

Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life

5.5.1

Proportion of seats held by women in (a) national parliaments and (b) local governments

5.5.2

Proportion of women in managerial positions

5.6

Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences

5.6.1

Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care

5.6.2

Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee full and equal access to women and men aged 15 years and older to sexual and reproductive health care, information and education

5.a

Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws

5.a.1

(a) Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land, by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure

5.a.2

Proportion of countries where the legal framework (including customary law) guarantees women’s equal rights to land ownership and/or control

5.b

Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women

5.b.1

Proportion of individuals who own a mobile telephone, by sex

5.c

Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels

5.c.1

Proportion of countries with systems to track and make public allocations for gender equality and women’s empowerment

Goal 1

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

1.1

By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day

1.1.1

Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)

1.2

By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

1.2.1

Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age

1.2.2

Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

1.3

Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable

1.3.1

Proportion of population covered by social protection floors/systems, by sex, distinguishing children, unemployed persons, older persons, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, newborns, work-injury victims and the poor and the vulnerable

1.4

By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance

1.4.1

Proportion of population living in households with access to basic services

1.4.2

Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, (a) with legally recognized documentation, and (b) who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and by type of tenure

1.5

By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters

1.5.1

Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

1.5.2

Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP)

1.5.3

Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

1.5.4

Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

1.a

Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions

1.a.1

Total official development assistance grants from all donors that focus on poverty reduction as a share of the recipient country's gross national income

1.a.2

Proportion of total government spending on essential services (education, health and social protection)

1.b

Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions

1.b.1

Pro-poor public social spending

SDG 14 targets covered

Deliverables & Timeline

01 January, 1970

Beneficiary households are able to protect their post-programme food security and livelihoods. Activities include: • Selection of 2,600 extreme poor women in Kurigram district as primary beneficiaries • Employment of 2,600 extreme poor women in public works for an 18-month tenure • Skills training of 2,600 extreme poor women in Kurigram district for economic opportunities and post- programme employability (the JP vocational training model will subsequently be rolled out to 1,900 women in Satkhira district based on demonstrated effectiveness in Kurigram district) • Promotion of expanded household asset base for sustainable livelihoods development • Deposit of end-of-employment bonus • Promotion of savings habits amongst beneficiary households • Counselling of graduated women in selection and operation of a sufficiently large and diversified business portfolio that can protect future livelihoods • Job placement arrangements with local SMEs (which would also include Satkhira district, subject to demonstrated effectiveness of the model in Kurigram district) • Creation of social capital in support of graduated women and their post-programme livelihood activities

01 January, 1970

Beneficiaries and their dependents have improved their human capital in terms of nutrition, health, education and voice. Activities include: • Life skills training of 2,600 extreme poor women • Nutrition awareness campaigns • Reporting and redressing violence against and abuse of women

01 January, 1970

Beneficiary households have access to public services essential for their livelihood activities and family wellbeing. Activities include: • Participatory identification of needs for services • Establishment of linkages between service providers, in particular Upazila service providing departments, and SWAPNO beneficiary households and other poor households in participating local communities • Enhancing cooperation between the Union Councils and service delivery departments • Provision of saving deposit facilities with participating banks/bank agents or post offices • Provision of special funds to 72 Union Councils for priority basic services requested by beneficiary households and other poor households • Affiliation with local NGOs • Provision of micro-insurance through Microfinance Institutions

01 January, 1970

Public assets promoting local economic regeneration, improving social conditions, enhancing environmental conditions are maintained and developed for the benefit of the poor of participating rural communities. Activities include: • Selection of priority public assets and other public works through community consultations • Maintenance/creation/rehabilitation of public assets selected • On-the-job training to women crew groups on techniques of quality maintenance work • Payment of wages • Provision of supplies for public works (tools, work uniforms, tree saplings, cell phones, etc.) • Monitoring and supervision of work and its quality

Resources mobilized

Staff / Technical expertise

A joint UNDP-ILO programme harnesses comparative advantages of both organizations. UNDP Bangladesh has the experience of working with the Local Government Division (LGD) on implementation of a public works cash transfer project targeting extreme poor wome

Financing (in USD)

4613000

Partnership Progress

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