Standard Project Report 2016
In the Cox ' s Bazar district , up to 34,000 registered Rohingya refugees from Myanmar live in two official refugee camps managed by the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief . An additional estimated 35,000 unregistered persons from Myanmar live in two main makeshift settlements in the area , in impoverished conditions . They typically face higher food insecurity , malnutrition rates and protection concerns .
Progress has been uneven across different socioeconomic groups , with improvements in the food security of poorer populations much slower than wealthier groups . Gender parity continues to elude the country as women and girls face greater food insecurity and are more likely to carry the burden of negative coping strategies ( like reduced meals or less food ). Moreover the prevalence of child marriage and adolescent pregnancies contribute to the hindrances women and girls face in actively engaging in education and work and contribute to the cycle of undernutrition . The low social status of women and girls is reflected by Bangladesh ' s 107th rank in the Gender Development Index and 115th rank in the Gender Inequality Index in 2015 . Violence against women is also widespread in Bangladesh , with 73 percent reportedly subject to domestic violence during their lifetime . Moreover , the International Labour Organization reported in 2015 that 1.2 million children are trapped in the worst forms of child labour in Bangladesh .
Food security and nutrition concerns are compounded by the country ' s high population density and susceptibility to natural disasters . While there has been notable expansion in education , the quality of education in Bangladeshi schools remains a concern , as are high drop-out rates . Female secondary education enrolment increased from 47 percent to 57 percent from 2008 to 2012 , implying that more future mothers are educated than ever before . This is significant as it is likely to make them more receptive to behavioural change efforts and since maternal education is known to be associated with enhanced intergenerational nutrition outcomes .
Response of the Government and Strategic Coordination
The Government of Bangladesh is in the process of incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( SDG ) into its Sixth Five Year Plan and developing compatible sectoral targets and action plans .
WFP activities align with SDG 2 , “ End hunger , achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture ”. The Government ' s priorities related to SDG 2 include : 1 ) consolidating safety nets including those that focus on food security in line with the National Social Security Strategy ( NSSS ); 2 ) introducing a child benefit programme to improve nutritional outcomes in young children as per NSSS ; and 3 ) implementing the nutrition policy with a view to reducing the stunting prevalence amongst children 6-59 months from 36 to 25 percent and their underweight prevalence from 32 to 20 percent by 2020 .
The 2015 NSSS aims to reform the national social protection system to prioritise support to the poorest and most vulnerable people , to expand urban coverage and to establish a disaster responsive social security system . It foresees the consolidation of over 140 different safety nets into five core programmes following a life cycle approach focused on pregnancy and early childhood ; school age ; working age ; old age ; and disability . The child benefit and vulnerable women benefit programmes have significant potential as vehicles for achieving food security and nutrition outcomes .
The 2006 National Food Policy provides strategic orientation and aims to ensure food security through adequate and stable supply of safe and nutritious food , increased purchasing power and access to food , and adequate nutrition , especially for women and children . Its associated action and investment plans define targets and indicators and highlight priority investments .
The 2015 National Nutrition Policy aims to improve nutrition , especially among pregnant and lactating women , children 6-59 months , adolescent girls , and vulnerable groups as well as to promote well-being through healthier diets and improved living standards . Its National Plan of Action prioritises nutrition and agricultural interventions to promote healthier diets as well as nutrition-sensitive programming in social protection , women ' s empowerment and disaster management . It also emphasises evidence creation and multi-sectoral collaboration and foresees the strengthening of data management systems .
Though the formal REACH coordination has come to an end , United Nations agencies operating in Bangladesh , including WFP , continue coordinating their nutrition activities and jointly supporting the Government in its formulation of the National Plan of Action on Nutrition . WFP is teaming up with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition ( GAIN ) and starting the dialogue with the Government on the establishment and facilitation of the Scaling Up Nutrition ( SUN ) business network . The United Nations Children ' s Fund ( UNICEF ), the World Health Organization ( WHO ) and WFP plan to jointly advocate for improvements of the Government ' s capacity to address acute malnutrition at the village level , where there is no health services outreach mechanism except for non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ).
Bangladesh , People ' s Republic of ( BD ) 4 Country Programme - 200243