Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The U.S. government is funding a one-day Food Security Workshop for senior officials from the Bangladesh government, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), development partners and civil society on Thursday.

This workshop is part of a series of research workshops organized under the “National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Program (NFPCSP)”, a US$7.4 million initiative, funded jointly by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union, a U.S. embassy press statement said in the capital, Dhaka on Wednesday.

The project works with the Bangladesh government to enhance the government’s capacity to oversee a comprehensive, equitable, gender-sensitive, and poverty-targeted National Food Policy.

A core objective of the NFPCSP is to expand and deepen the capacity of civil society policy makers and researchers to conduct high quality research to enrich the implementation of the National Food Policy.

Participants will discuss and share results of the completed research studies under the NFPCSP and will propose recommendations to the government to better implement the National Food Policy, according to the statement.

This NFPCSP workshop marks another step forward in collaboration between the government, development partners, and civil society to ensure food security for all in Bangladesh.

The NFPCSP promotes dialogue within civil society on issues facing those most vulnerable to food insecurity. NFPCSP also supports stronger links between policy analysts and researchers in academia and civil society.

The United States government has provided more than $5 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971, more than one half of which was in the form of food aid.

The U.S. government’s assistance to Bangladesh includes support for more transparent and accountable governance, assistance for a better educated, healthier and more productive population, funding to increase economic opportunities through equitable economic growth, food assistance, and support for disaster mitigation.

BBN/SS/SI/AD-09July09-1:54 am (BST)