Transition to upper middle-income status

2019 - Today

Dutch efforts in Bangladesh focus on the transition from aid to trade, and on a relationship of equality with more emphasis on trade and investment.
Areas: water management, food security, private sector development and gender.

The Netherlands and Bangladesh*

"In line with the Multi-annual Country Strategy 2019-2022 for Bangladesh, the Netherlands supports the country in its ongoing transition to upper middle-income status. The Netherlands’ development cooperation in Bangladesh focuses on:

Integrated water management and agriculture, including support in implementing the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100;
Private sector development, including sustainable value chains, the Ready Made Garments sector, female entrepreneurship, and skills and job creation for young people and women;
The phasing out and sustainable handover of Dutch sexual and reproductive health & rights (SRHR) and food and nutrition security (FNS) programme activities.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Netherlands supported its partners in achieving sustainable results, largely according to planning and in a context of economic growth. At the same time the pandemic had negative repercussions on the status of girls and women due to repeated school closures and lockdowns. Child marriage and violence against women increased in 2021."

Source:

Bangladesh Country or Region | Results report year 2021, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.