Bangladesh

VSO Bangladesh is working in the areas of participation and governance, indigenous community rights and HIV and AIDS.

Participation and governance

In Bangladesh, VSO volunteers are primarily working to strengthen local agencies that are concerned with the rights and participation in society of rural, marginalised and vulnerable groups of people; in particular women, indigenous peoples and people living with HIV and AIDS. These volunteers are working with local colleagues to improve management systems and processes in areas such as strategic planning, staff management and training, consultation processes, finance, communication, networking, and monitoring and evaluation.

While there have been significant achievements in recent years in terms of economic growth, improvements in access to and relevance of education, reduction in child mortality rates and self sufficiency in food production, over half of Bangladesh’s population remain below the poverty line, and over one-third live in extreme poverty. Challenges facing poor people include:

• gender inequality

• insufficient access to their basic rights

• inability to participate in decision-making

• lack of government transparency and accountability.

Through work on participation and governance, VSO volunteers are working with community agencies that act on behalf of poor rural communities and, in particular, women, who are rarely consulted in decision-making processes that directly affect their lives. These agencies are helping to ensure that all community members are able to access their rights through local government structures and are active partners in the decision-making that affects their lives.

Indigenous community rights

Closely linked to this, VSO Bangladesh works specifically to improve the rights of indigenous communities. There are over 45 indigenous groups in Bangladesh, yet there is no formal recognition of their rights or policy about their inclusion in society from the government. Many are wage labourers, and a significant number have had their land taken from them: it is estimated that some 85 per cent are landless.

The agencies that VSO volunteers are working with are raising awareness of the land, education, healthcare and legal rights of indigenous communities and working with communities to help them to access their rights.

HIV and AIDS

Bangladesh is currently considered to be a country that is at very high risk from HIV and AIDS, and yet currently there is a low prevalence. In addressing issues around HIV and AIDS in Bangladesh, volunteers are working with agencies that are improving awareness on prevention, treatment and care, and supporting advocacy for groups vulnerable to HIV and AIDS. These include female sex workers, males who have sex with males, injecting drugs users, women and mobile populations, such as migrant workers and truck drivers.