Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena and USAID Bangladesh Mission Director Richard Greene on Thursday announced the commitment of US$200 million in development assistance to Bangladesh in Fiscal Year 2012 through the programs of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including USAID/Washington central programs.
This assistance, which is an increase of approximately US$ 17 million from the previous fiscal year, demonstrates the US government’s ongoing support to the people of Bangladesh to achieve long-term development objectives as reflected in the Government of Bangladesh’s 6th Five Year Plan.
Ambassador Mozena said, “This increase in development assistance emphasizes the United States’ long-term commitment to cooperate with Bangladesh to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.”
With these funds, the U.S. government will support development activities in five major areas: democracy and governance, food security, health and education, climate change and humanitarian assistance.
For democracy and governance, USAID will provide more than US$6 million to build Bangladesh’s capacity for democratic representation, strengthen its institutions of good governance, promote human rights, and support a culture of tolerance.
The USAID will also invest approximately US$74 million in health programs to promote voluntary family planning, improve maternal and child health, support better water and sanitation practices and prevent and treat tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, among other diseases.
This assistance is part of the U.S. Government’s multi-country Global Health Initiative. In addition, USAID will provide approximately US$4 million for basic education.
In support of food security, USAID will provide US$52 million to increase agricultural production, build links to markets, raise incomes, and stimulate economic growth. This initiative is part of the US Government’s multi-country food security initiative, called Feed the Future.
Under its climate change program, USAID will provide more than US$19 million to promote energy efficiency, improve the resilience of communities to the negative impacts of climate change, and promote conservation of biodiversity. In addition, USAID will help the Government of Bangladesh expand its clean energy programs and promote new, improved cookstoves.
The USAID will also provide approximately US$45 million in basic humanitarian assistance, to improve the availability of food, increase the purchasing power of poor people, promote disaster readiness and provide basic health and nutrition services to highly vulnerable populations.
The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided more than $6 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971.
BBN/SSR/AD-11Oct12-4:26 pm (BST)
