The WEEK Combined by UNDP BANGLADESH

E Another seven days of bringing positive change

Last week saw us welcoming Van Nguyen, our new Disaster Risk Reducer (DRR). Please read Deputy Resident Representative Now welcomes are not fun on an empty stomach so we brought in a cake and then realised that we would need another one to make sure no one is left behind. So we also took the scope to congratulate our very own Lionel Laurens for his appointment as the Res-Rep of Zambia. Now you know who to call when you are planning to go on a safari !!! While still on the good note, we have more good news. Our SWAPNO is getting bigger and we are now being able to share it with more extreme poor and vulnerable women - 6,192 to be exact from Kurigram, GaiBandha, Lalmonirhat and Jamalpur districts. We have just signed a deal with Sweden to see this through so next time you meet one of our Swedish colleagues, give them a pat on the back for being on our side as we work for a better Bangladesh. Kudos to the SWAPNO team for making it happen.

Since most of you are heading off for the Eid holidays, remember to do your part in fighting the Dengue crisis at hand. Those of you leaving home, remember to make sure there is no stagnant clear water body left in the vacant house. Others please remember to keep your surroundings clean during the sacrifices and be careful not to leave water puddles behind as you clean up afterwards. Remember we are counting on you to do your part in this crisis and hope that you and your family have a great holiday.

P.S.

On that note... remember the UNDP family you are leaving behind as you prepare to celebrate Eid Ul Azha... BRING BACK SOME OF THOSE GREAT

CURRIES FOR US!!

Another seven days of bringing positive change

This one goes out to all of you who have been voicing up about the amount of paper being used in our BLUE organisation. We have just gotten a little GREENER!!!

(Defn not from envy but from steps that are enviable)

Cheers to Sharif and Mohiuddin Bhai‛S and their teams for bringing about some ‘GREEN CHANGE‛ PUN intended For those of you who haven‛t been following your mail too closely, you can now electronically fill and submit your UN ID request and Travel Authorisation. So save some paper and do your part for a greener future and please do give us a shout if you have other geat ideas!!! While we are talking about changes in behaviours and practices... take a moment to watch “Bombay Mirror”. The short film starring Rajkummar Rao and Vijay Maurya, and directed by Shlok Sharma will take only three minutes of your time. The film irrespective of the religions portrayed is a telling take on the irrationality of any communal violence. So let‛s give a shout out to our colleagues in the PTIB project who are striving to protect and facilitate harmony in Bangladesh by working to prevent violent extremism. Those of you who are on the longer version of the holidays and are not back in Dhaka or your stations yet, remember to travel safe on your way back, There is a lot of pressure at the end of any holiday so here are some tips to make the return better and safer... If you are travelling by land, make sure the vehicle is in good condition and that the driver has had ample amount of sleep and is in good health.

P.S.

If you are coming by air, make sure to tag your luggages properly and spread out copies of your travel documents and emergency contact numbers in your belongings so you at least have a copy in case they or your cellphone get lost.

If you are travelling by water, make sure the vessel is not overloaded and has sufficient amount of lifejackets and buoys.

Remember the UNDP family you left behind are eagerly waiting for your return so we can get back to making positive changes for a better Bangladesh ALSO, ON A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE... REMEMBER TO BRING BACK CURRIES!!!

Another seven days of bringing positive change

This week started on a solemn note... Over the weekend, nearly 12,000 people, more than half of them women and children, at Mirpur‛s Jhilpar Slum lost their homes to a devastating fire. The incident is a stern reminder that we will not achieve SDGs without making “cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. Our LIUPC team is already on the ground assessing the situation and working with DNCC and government to improve their living conditions. A shout out to the team for keeping true to our motto of “LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND” On a lighter note... we also hit the 200K likes on our facebook page this week. So a shout out to all our colleagues who have shared our page and content allowing this achievement!!!

Not only in the capital... we are also working in other urban hubs. Illuminate and Ashek Bhai visited Chittagong, sat with the mayor and our team, visited the slums at east Bakulia on the edge of Karnaphuli river and prepared an action plan in consultation with CDC members. Our internal sources confirmed that the visit, although effective, was not all work and no play... Illuminate apparently loved the Mezbani beef!!!

VISUAL QUIZ - The “BLUE” effect

?? Before joining After IC

After SC

After FTA

In a visit to the house of a member of our top management, we were taken by surprise with the presence of these two portraits hanging on the walls in the private library... getting on the good books is one thing but this is ridiculous!!! Jokes apart... Our very own Sayma Abed and Mustafizur Rahaman (THE SILENT KILLERS) deserve a shout out for being the first two to get their supervisor to take time out from his busy schedule and complete their mid-term PMD review. CONGRATS!!!

P.S.

As you all know, the Dengue crisis is still growing and citizen action is required along with that of the city corporations to tackle the situation. It is time to act... Remember to keep your locality clean... if possible... organise regular fumigation drives... involve your communities... it is time to contribute on the personal level...

Another seven days of bringing positive change

This week starts off with great news!! The CO Senior Management visited our colleagues in Cox‛s Bazar and finally saw the end of a six-month long discussion between CO and CxB Crisis Response Office on the Internal Control Framework (ICF). The ICF, developed based on an analysis of the protracted nature of the Rohingya crisis, the emerging portfolio of projects, the expected role of UNDP in longer term recovery and development; should help with the progressive growth of CxB based office programme implementation capacities. CxB CRO now has the appropriate Delegation of Authority which will hopefully help accelerate programme delivery.

As we work to achieve SDG 16... we have to remember that the TIMES HAVE CHANGED GREATLY and that wearing the hair long, being a bohemian and demonstrations are not going to cut it... So on Wednesday, our very own Digital Khichuri Challenge initiative called in a bunch of youth leaders... the biggest utilisers of the digital space... and experts so that they can talk over how the social media can be used to promote peace and fight hatred... Check out the video link on the side to see some snapshots from the event ... PEACE OUT!!!

VISUAL QUIZ - Patient? WHAT??? The following picture popped up in beyond work with the caption: “Went to see the patient, but couldn't go beyond work, as we ended up with a to-do list :)”

Trick question: Who has the highest “patience” here and who is the patient? We have initiated a move to start ironing out kinks hampering our work and streamlinining processes...

As a start, we have sent you a 15-minute survey on the standards and quality of services provided and conducts of UNDP operations personnel. It is kind of like the chance given out during marriages... “SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE". Hehehe... Just kidding... but please do fill it up ASAP.

E September

Another seven days of bringing positive change

This week started off with a huge cake for all our birthday boys and girls from August. Tahmina Tamanna, Asma Sultana, Shaikh Munir Hossain, and Ahmed Imran Mustafa refused to celebrate their old age with a dance, but Tania Noor delivered a melodious performance of Tomar Khola Haway. The final birthday boy of August, Shah Zahidur Rahman was missed. We hope someone saved a piece of cake for him. Tania Noor‛s week might have started off on a (literally) high note, but it has been going downhill since, because she has had to go back to the classroom after many, many years. UNDP has partnered with British Council to train 20 employees on business communication. They‛re doing homework, taking notes, and complaining about all of it. After all, re-learning everything from writing emails to proposals, does take a toll on you. Let‛s step out of the highs and lows of Tania Noor‛s life for a while and concentrate on what we will really be doing when the world is shaking. Our NRP programme signed an MoU on 04 September with municipalities of Tangail, Sunamganj and Rangamati. They will be working with these extremely earthquake vulnerable municipalities to help them take into account earthquake preparedness and risk management while making development plans. LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND!!! We are stronger when we work together... and as a part of our teambuilding excercise, we spent Thursday working seriously in recluse at one of the greenest (keep this word in your mind) areas of Agargaon tucked away in the belly of this concrete city. In-Day!!! We cleaned our messes, covered areas of possible collaboration, our overarching targets, had great food courtesy of Sudipto Da, met with Leonardo Di Caprio and got introduced to the newest and youngest unit on the UNDP block - the Research Facility (TRF).

P.S.

So when we were housekeeping last Thursday, one of the things that came to our notice was the INSANE amount of paper that were thrown out. We are working for a GREENER world and we should be RESPONSIBLE... If we have so much paper to throw out... then there is something really amiss. So in line with our green office session, LET‛S REDUCE PAPER USE!!!

the TRF team 1. Think Before You Print 2. Double-sided priniting 3. Use electronic signature 4. Prefer soft copies insted of hardcopies

E September

Another seven days of bringing positive change

It is like those fairy tales, the rightful heir is kept from ascending the throne by conspiracy, subterfuge and trickery. But the light of good finally shines through after bouts of climaxes and anti climaxes, and the King takes his rightful place and peace is once again restored and the people of the land rejoice!!! Well, while we did not get to see the conspiracy, subterfuge or trickery, bureaucratic red tape played a similar role. And this time also the light did finally shine through... Sudipto finally got to present his credentials to the foreign minister and after nine long months... WE HAVE A NEW Res Rep...

THE OFFICIAL DECREE HAS ARRIVED!!! ALL HAIL THE KING!!!

And like the people of the land... we did rejoice... with Cake (for the time being) [We hope our NEW RR won‛t be that bad]

This week we had guests from KOICA Bangladesh. Together with the country director Joe, deputy country director Il-Ryoung and other colleagues from KOICA we discussed ideas of shared interest around Youth Employment and Digital Service Delivery in the CHT; Digital Service Delivery under a2i and on Women‛s Economic Empowerment. Our guests also had a chance to tour the Innovation Lab. We look forward to continuing our close partnership with KOICA in the years to come

When we talked last week about “Speak now or forever hold your peace”, WE WERE JOKING!!! Seriously... the response to the client perception survey is disappointing. While we keep hearing random complaints, there is so little response when it is the time to act. Here is the link again: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/#BJeVYcVE PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME and get the survey done so that we can get a full picture!!!

E September

Another seven days of bringing positive change

It is not always that a day afer returning to work you end up with the treat of a lifetime... and that too inside the IDB premises!!! Light Polao, Mutton Curry, Chicken Roast, Vegetable, Fish Fry, Salad, Firni... Imran Bhai came out with all his guns blazing...The food was finger-licking good (sorry to those who ate with a spoon)... and with zero commute... So...Congratulations to Imran Bhai on his new appointment!!! Meanwhile, those of you who still owe us a treat... You now have very big shoes and tummies to fill!!!

While talking about zero commute... we had guests who tried to cover the commute we saved during Imran Bhai‛s lunch. Our colleagues from Philippines -Titon Mitra and Andrew Parker came along with their government‛s representatives to share knowledge on using digital platforms to reduce urban poverty. So they went all the way to Narayanganj, one of the areas covered by LIUPC, and met the mayor and talked first-hand with the local people there. While we all know that Sudipto Dada is a charming orator, it seems that all the other agencies have also caught on... Which is why the organisers gave him the graveyard shift (the session right after lunch) at the ‘SDGs and Bangladesh‛ to talk about climate change, environment and urbanisation. And Dada kept our heads high presenting with the flair that is uniquely his... According to reports from our spies in the audience, no one slept during his session!!!

P.S.

When Ferrari launched the F10 in 2010, it was one of the fastest cars on the track and a pride for the brand... But now... it seems that the F10s have become very slow... Jokes apart... we still have 304 F10s pending that need to be addressed by tomorrow. Please act fast if you have any pending...

E September

Another seven days of bringing positive change

This week starts on a sad note... Our favourite Illuminate is near the end of her assignment here and will be leaving us soon. She will be heading to Dar es Salaam for her daughter‛s marriage after this. We do not know if any of our colleagues complained about not being able to go to the marriage but Illuminate‛s choice of food for her farewell treat has us speculating... See the picture Biryani!!! This is also proof that at least SOMEONE is reading the Week... When we joked about filling big shoes after Imran Bhai‛s treat, Illuminate seems to have take us seriously... there was an abundance of food that all our sources vouched could fill them up to their necks. Jokes aside, Illuminate, you will be missed... and our heartiest Congratulations to your daughter!!! On Monday, a new chapter of partnering for the goals was opened at the Westin, Dhaka. UNDP organised a roundtable with members of the top management of private sector leaders like Unilever and Rahimafrooz to explore how they could contribute to achieving the SDGs. Not only was the day-long discussion very positive, they also agreed to be part of a platform, formed on that very day, to strengthen private-public partnership for achieving the Goals. So, SDGs, here we come!!! This is for those of you who were overjoyed at the picture of Van‛s ‘Pahari melai hariye jawa jomoj1 bon‛ on Wednesday. Sorry to let you down but it was Van herself. Although it looked like she was having fun and enjoying herself, Van was actually there alongwith Sudipto for the launch of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) Phase -II in the Chittagong hill tracts. The project which has done tremondously in improving the access to justice for disadvantaged and marginalised groups of people in the plains, will now be working in the hills also taking us one step closer to LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND. 1

Footnote - Hariye Jawa Jomoj is a recurrent prot in Bengali cinema where twins get separated in a crowded place and one of them is tragically lost only to magically re-enter the plot when all grown up.

P.S.

Our cameras caught this duo cooking something up in the washroom on 18th floor. Their actions looked very fishy and although we checked the footage repeatedly, we could not find out what they were up to. WHAT WERE THEY DOING?

Please, we need everybody‛s help... especially after Sudipto‛s mail about keeping washrooms clean. So we are sharing the footage with you. Click on the link and if you can find anything we overlooked... PLEASE INFORM US!!!

E October

Another seven days of bringing positive change

This week ended empty... after two consecutive weeks, we failed to score a hat-trick. NO TREATS THIS WEEK... One of the key reasons could be that we had a lot of SERIOUS and heavyweight events this week. For example, the training for ERD officials on ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY organised by our K4DM colleagues at BICC. For those of you who are comparing the topic to buying gifts or covering costs for your spouses... this is a very different type of diplomacy!!! Economic diplomacy is a prime tool that effectively uses a country‛s foreign policies to serve its national interests... so basically the training was on... how to negotiate better... learn how others are negotiating... and how it should be for Bangladesh. And if you think it could not have gotten heavier than this... you are mistaken... We also had 20 lawmakers toiling half a day ‘storming‛ their brains to find out how the parliament‛s MoU with UNDP can be utilised to help them contribute towards achieving the SDGs. The brainstorming session was chaired by the Speaker herself and our sources inside said we had quite a lot to look forward to. So fingers crossed...

Things have really KICKED OFF for our very own Van after coming to Bangladesh. After securing her honorary ‘Chakma‛ title last week in the hills... Van is apparently in line to secure a place on the Barca squad this week. Just look at the picture!!! So now she has the title... the fame and the riches!!! Just hoping she does not “Leave us behind” for a soccer career Good luck Van... remember to bring autographs!

P.S.

It seems that our cameras are just catching these guys. And again its very FISHY!!! This time it was Gandhi up to no good... Check out the footage...

E October

Another seven days of bringing positive change Take a careful look at the picture on the side... These are the people you can turn to whenever you face harrasment or abuse of authority in UNDP Bangladesh. No matter what they will stand by your side and help you out. As our RR put it during their workshop at BRAC CDM at the start of the week... they are working to “Make UNDP Bangladesh a better, safer and dignified place to work” and their motto is “Prevention, Inclusive and Pro-active”. But we cannot stand by on the sidelines for this... So Gear Up Folks... All of us have a role to play.

Not only UNDP. We are also working to make workplaces around Bangladesh better. Some time in the week before, we, with our partner HSBC, organised a roundtable titled ‘Garment Sector Dialogue on Sustainability‛. Key issues discussed were women care, skill development, equal pay, employing people with disabilities, environment sustainability, product diversification and innovation. All the issues raised were unearthed through a series of consultations with both the buyers and suppliers in the industry. Now the story below is an example of being on your toes! But we will get to WHY later on... Last week, as a part of SDGs localisation initiative, our EALG and SFLP colleagues organised a meeting to discuss on a pilot with Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to map the status of SDGs at Dacope Upazila under Khulna district through a detailed household survey. This type of survey for mapping SDG status is a first in Bangladesh. And so is this story!!! This is the first story sent proactively by any project to the Week team to be shared. Kudos to the EALG team!! Oops! They did it again...

P.S.

Click on the photograph to find out what our DUO have been up to lately... BEWARE! This seemingly innocent photograph of Zilla Haider looking at his cellphone has a sordid tale to tell.

E October

Another seven days of bringing positive change

It‛s been quite a productive week at UNDP, and it started off with a brief encounter with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself!!! On Sunday, the PM visited UNDP‛s stall at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) on the occasion of International Day for Disaster Mitigation

As many esteemed guests visited, one of our own has taken a brief sabbatical to Human Rights Programme. If you‛ve been wondering why you can‛t hear Tania Noor asking everyone to go to lunch, it‛s because she‛s having lunch at a faraway office in Karwan Bazar now.

It wasn‛t just the PM who graced us with her presence, a neighbour also visited. Peter Batchelor, Resident Representative of UNDP Myanmar, met with his Bangladesh counterpart Sudipto Mukerjee. Somehow they both wore blue. It‛s not just the country office that‛s been getting things done -- the Bangkok Regional Hub has launched UNDP Urban Update‛s fourth issue. It features our Livelihoods Improvement for Urban Poor Communities project, which is active across 36 urban areas, benefitting four million people. This week, we‛ve also made strides in leaving no one behind, as we unveiled two publications on the hijra community to bring their stories forward. With support from Human Rights Programme, UNDP and Faria Lara Foundation published “Hijra Shobdokosh” and “Rupantorito Manusher Golpo” on Wednesday.

P.S.

This is getting boring... these two are up to something or the other every week and seriously it is tiring us... But this frame is giving us hope... looks like we might be finally rid of the duo... Click on the photograph to find out who WINS...

E October

Another seven days of bringing positive change

As the end of the year draws closer, so does the deadline for year-end delivery. Robert Stoelman had an epiphany regarding this earlier in the week. If you would like to be a part of Rob Stoelman‛s Delivery Stress Support Network, let us know. We have tissue papers for your tears. The country office has been busy advocating to the private sector about SDGs. UNDP and the ministry on climate change jointly organised a training session on preventing pollution and making products more eco-friendly for Walton‛s technicians and other officials at the company‛s head office Bashundhara. Van Nguyen and Khurshid Alam also visited the Walton factory with the Environment Minister Shahab Uddin, but unfortunately they didn‛t bring us any cellphones or TV sets.

Meanwhile, two agreements were signed for Waste to Energy Project under SREPGen, while K4DM organised yet another ‘hectic‛ workshop in Sylhet for non-resident Bangladeshi engagement Despite all our best intentions, there are some moments we cannot avoid... Thursday was Najmul Bhai‛s last working day as he moves to UN Women‛s greener pastures

P.S.

Talk about being serious about wearing blue for UN Day... The village court team has been working on it for years now. Even their office is wearing blue on the designated day. This sort of forward planning also brings in good news... the project has been selected for showcasing at the 2019 Paris Peace Forum!

Finally a refreshing change... It took us a dozen weeks to get here but we now have two good-looking people on screen instead of the usual ‘follically-challenged‛ duo... We also have a pool of people who have graciously volunteered to appear in our awareness campaigns So enjoy the change and “PLEASE DON‛T BE LIKE THAT”

Go Village Court!!!

E October

Another even days of bringing positive change

This week started off with very ‘hot‛ heads. A climathon was organised by UNDP and Gen Lab at the Daily Star Center. A gruop of young people were kept in a room and given 24 hours to brain stomp climate solutions. Talk about overlocking the processors!!!

Sudipto Mukherjee delivered a keynote presentation on Agenda 2030 and Divisibility, highlighting our longstanding commitment to sustainable inclusion and leaving no one behind. How many of you can marp out the goals which have direct impact on the lives of people with disabilities?

Among such serious programmes, we made time for some art and play as well. A three-day celebretion was organised for International Freshwater Dolphin Day till October 27 at the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon. There were puppet shows and an art competition for kids, because one is never to young to learn about the SDGs.

Almost every SDG was touched upon this week, including gender equality. EALG project organised a two-day training programme from Sunday to strengthen leadership qualities of 68 elected women representatives, as part of Women Development Forum (WDF).

P.S.

The ‘hind of change‛ has kept blowing... This week we have two new stars to take the qame further. Also, we are looking out for serous followers of the Weak and to serch them out, we have intentionally left a few spelling mistakes these time... the first one to mark them out and send them to md.quayyum@undp.org along with the answer to the question above by Tuesday will get a surprise givt and honourable mention in the next Week!!!

E November

Another seven days of bringing positive change

We might have beat India in cricket last weekend, but we could not beat Sudipto Dada in being a good sport! So let‛s just hope we‛ll continue defeating India in cricket!!! However, the week was not all fun and games, as we had one serious event after the other. General Economic Division (GED) and UNDP held a “Consultation on Private Sector Engagement in Attaining SDGs in Bangladesh: Bonding and Beyond Thoughts” at InterContinental Dhaka. Then DRRF organised a roundtable marking World Tsunami Awareness Day on Tuesday.

Kris Mukundan, International Team Leader for the UNDP led UN supported Cox‛s Bazar District Development Plan formulation presented the initial results of the needs assessment and prioritization exercise to all the resident Development Partners at an event hosted by the UK High Commission and DFID. Fortunately on Wednesday, THE APA treated us to grand lunch spread, keyrings and personally signed cards on the little flower bouquets... Now those are the fine touches we will miss when she heads off to BRH. Good news is that she is here until the long Delivery season is over.. To be frank, we may never run out of reasons to appreciate and miss Shaila Khan, the not-so-silent guardian of UNDP Bangladesh!!!

P.S.

We don‛t know how many of you have noticed the new UNDP aprons that Ripa Apa and Bashar 2.0 (A.K.A Shohag) are strutting. We have also done away with plastic bottles from our meetings and now serve water in cool SDG glass bottles!!!

We have sad news... None of the participants of the SERIOUS WEEK READER contest from last week could find out all the errors... But fret not... we did some intense calculations and data gleaning to find the two winners so as to not be spoilsports. (Click to find the scoresheet and pdf with all errors.)

So congrats to Tshering Pem and Rezwana Hoque Chaity!!! The gifts would reach you two soon... But NO videos for all of you this week!!!

E November

Another seven days of bringing positive change We started this week on a solemn note. Cyclone Bulbul wrecked havoc in the coastal areas leading to loss of 26 lives. But it could have been a lot worse. Volunteers trained by UNDPâ&#x20AC;&#x203A;s ICBAAR project took a proactive role in alerting the people and evacuation to cut down the losses. So thanks to the volunteers who put their neck out for the people and the ICBAAR team for preparing them so well!!!

Meanwhile, our work against one of the key attributable causes behind the frequency rise of cyclones - Global Warming - continued even during the storm itself. Sattya Dada and Tanzina Apa visited Kushtia to see our pilot, a Bangladeshi first, of generating electricity from waste and supplying it to the national grid. Around 3,000 KWh daily supply is expected to help cut down use of fossil fuel. Our solar irrigation pumps would also be linked to the grid to ensure that the 40-60% solar energy wasted during the agricultural off-season is used. And we did not stop there. To increase disaster preparedness for the future, the 2nd Meeting of Project Advisory Board of Disaster Response and Recovery Facility (DRRF) was held on Monday. Then we sat with Chinese dignitaries, who supported us for aid distribution during the floods in 2018, on Thursday aiming future cooperation. And finally the audit team is here! On Sunday, they brought with them promises of 10 very busy days, hundreds of cups of black coffee and lost hair (torn and fallen) !!! But jokes aside, the audit process is an integral part of ensuring the transparency UNDP proudly boasts to its donors and beneficiaries. So three cheers for the team. On the same note, a small reminder. UNDP has zero tolerance for Fraud and Corruption... The remaining 10 percent who have missed out doing the mandatory ethics course... click here!!! Thanks to the other 90%... You have made us proud!!! Meanwhile, good news!!! We have set up a little bit of Bangladesh in Paris for all to see... Our village court team has hit the Paris Peace Forum. The forum was opened by the Hon. President of France and General Secretary of United Nations together with more than 30 Head of State/Government of diferent countries. Yay!!! AVCB team!!!

P.S.

All work and no play makes JACK a dull boy!!! But we know that whatever it might be, a day in UNDP is never dull... For example, while the research facility spends the day with big numbers and complicated jargons, after hours seem to be fun!!! Ask the team if they have any openings if you are an avid foosball fan. Heard Shadlee is really good!!!

Meanwhile, here is a prize for you after the hectic week. Click to see the video and enjoy the weekend (Psst... the

audit team will still be here when you get back)!!!

E November

Another seven days of bringing positive change Guess who‛s back!!! With the stress levels reaching an all-time high with the year-end, the audit and THE DELIVERY PRESSURE ; the prince of UNDP Bangladesh Tasin took time off from his busy schedule and paid a visit to his subjects at the start of the week. Sudipto Da, as evident from the picture, reunited with his young friend Tasin took the scope to return the honorary title of Official Stress Reliever to the prince, a proposal he gladly accepted. Let‛s now just hope his mom agrees to bring him back!!! As urban citizen, we should ponder upon our living conditions. And right on time, the research facility took a cue from urban October and focused their first release on urbanization.

Meanwhile, we have a new Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific (RBAP). Kanni Wignaraja brings over 25 years of UN experience and UNDP‛s SDG role. WELCOME to the family!!!

ISSUE 01 NOVEMBER 2019

URBAN SPEC TRUM F R O M U N P L A N N E D U R B A N I S AT I O N T O L I V E A B L E C I T I E S

We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we did.

(Psst - look out for the interactive bits)

Our Engaging with Institutions (EI) project and Planning Commission‛s General Economics Division organised a three-day consultation workshop with custodian agencies on “SDGs Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Bangladesh” on Tuesday at BRAC CDM, Rajendrapur

It‛s been an eventful week, and meaningful discussions on financial inclusion and digital payments occurred at Bangladesh Digital Wages Summit on Wednesday. It was organised by a2i with support from Cabinet Division, UNDP, and Better Than Cash Alliance.

P.S.

Now we all know that there is a video in each issue of the week. And there are a lot of complaints about people not being able to see them. Well the reason is that it is hosted on our internal facebook group - Beyond Work. Those of you who have not joined the group, please click on the group‛s name.

Remember the power rangers and their fancy watches with super powers? Well we did not go that far, but our colleagues in North Korea sent us pictures of them boasting our wristbands thanks to Le Le Lan. She carried them all the way after her short assignment in Bangladesh. Thanks for spreading a little bit of Bangladesh in Korea!!!

Meanwhile, we are also giving you all your chance to your minute or two of fame. We are looking for concepts for our weekend videos and also actors/actresses!!! So for the spotlight, drop your concept or a line if you want to act to md.quayyum@undp.org by next Thursday. Let‛s all work for a better workplace. So with no further talk. Here is this week‛s video. Enjoy and Happy Weekend.

E November

Another seven days of bringing positive change The week started off with really good news!!! We have a new addition to our UNDP family.

Our very own Suzaur Rahman Milon from IT became the father of a beautiful girl on Friday. Our little princess is called Safiyya!!! The mother and child are both doing great, but Suza Bhai is still a little numb from this sudden ‘LOVE @ 1st SIGHT‛. We hope that he understands and finally realises that this is one thing he shall never recover from! Congrats Suza Bhai...

Sudipto, on Sunday, went all out at a workshop for the parliamentary standing committee organised by NRP. He urged their increased participation and transparency. He also called for proper monitoring and reporting to ensure effective implementation of the Sendai Framework This week‛s start seems all about transparency. Our governance colleagues held a programme to orient 19 MPs to this app called constituency tracker which help development progress of their constituencies and increase

The Government of Bangladesh and United Nations jointly commenced the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence by holding a national dialogue on Monday. Use your voice and your platform to speak up against gender-based violence and raise awareness in your community during these 16 days. Also send us pictures and stories of what you are doing at your offices. Here is HRP after a sensitizing session for their male colleagues.

“What do you think they are doing, in a small island, so far-far-far away from the office? Write your answer and send to md.quayyum@undp.org, we will forward them to the duo and the one they find to be the best will get an award!!!

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in this week‛s cabinet meeting unveiled “Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD)-2019, which was amended by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, with support from UNDP. The Cabinet also approved a proposal for ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. UNDP has been providing support to the government to ratify the Kigali Amendment- a legally binding climate agreement to phase down the Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by roughly 80-85% till 2045. While many of us have lost our peace of mind and wake up in the middle of the night seeing a nightmare about how delivery is falling short, our very own Digital Khichuri Challenge arranged for a “PIECE OF PEACE” on Thursday. Called the peace talk cafe, the second iteration concentrated on mainly cyber bullying, its victims and self-censorship as a part of 16 days of activism against gender based violence.

Harrasment has many forms and dimensions and we should all be aware of when we should speak up. Enjoy the video and we really loved the ideas you guys have sent in... So more fun videos up ahead!!!

E December

Another seven days of bringing positive change

The end of this year, and the decade, has officially begun with an eventful first week of December. SDG-16 took centre stage at In-Gov Conference, organised by UNDP to promote inclusive governance for a peaceful and just society.

It has been a particularly busy week for DRRF -- they organised the first ever meeting on Fraud Awareness and Control Mechanism with project implementing personnel.

Meanwhile, a workshop on Disaster Recovery Planning was organised by UNDP and MoDMR, to explore challenges and gaps in the recovery mechanism through discussion among stakeholders.

As part of 16 days of activism, Human Rights Training for Police was organised where participants vowed to protect human rights with special focus of maintaining utmost gender sensitivity in their job. For a smooth middle-income graduation that includes every citizen, social security is crucial. The Cabinet Division and UNDP organised Bangladesh Social Security Conference and Fair 2019 at Bangabandhu Novo Theatre engaging all partners working for this cause. Meanwhile, NCC Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy visited a2i‛s innovation lab. She was stunned by the work that is being done and has opted to set up such a lab in her city. Talk about inspiring innovation!!!

Continuing to #OrangetheWorld, EALG arranged an oath-taking event in 18 u p a z i l a s simultaneously, where nearly 3,000 people vowed to end gender-based violence.

All of these events were attended by important people talking about serious issues, but the most important (and happiest) occasion of the week was our very own Sudipto da‛s birthday. He‛s getting younger every day.

Wait! It‛s not over! Our climate and disaster resilience colleagues have taken things further. A workshop was held on developing gender tagging tool for climate finance.

E December

Another seven days of bringing positive change The highlight of this week without doubt is the release of our very own global Human Development Report. We can be proud of Bangladesh with the country moving up a tier due to development which had seen a reduction in poverty, along with gains in life expectancy, education, and access to health care. However, the report also highlighted an aspect we now need to focus on: “The next generation of inequalities is opening up, particularly around technology, education, and the climate crisis.”

Shaila apa‛s farewell was the lowest part of this week -- although everyone dressed up and took pictures with the bosslady, the celebration on Thursday was tinged with sadness. It might take some time for everyone to get accustomed to the idea of not having THE APA around the office. Digital Khichuri Challenge concluded on the same day -with four promising winners in two categories. We cannot wait to see what these young innovators of Team Edsight, Choukosh, We Workers and Probash Kotha do in the future. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Human Rights Day‛s event promised to bring to trial all violations of human rights. The event was organised by NHRC, whom UNDP supports through its HRP project.

Meanwhile, our DRRF colleagues, with the Ministry of Home Affairs, jointly organised the 1st validation Workshop on “Fire Service and Civil Defence‛s Reform Initiatives” at CIRDAP. The objective was to discuss the pros and cons of emergence of new fire risks and future reform needs of FSCD for enhancing its competency as per the international level.”

Meet Anavia Quayyum, the latest addition to Q Bhai‛s family. She came in and immediately ensured gender balance in her family!!! Now that is the spirit becoming of UNDP family‛s new princess.

And we end the week with a tribute to our dearest Shaila Apa!!! Due to immense public demand by those who were not at the farewell... Here is the video we made to bid her adieau...

E December

Another seven days of bringing positive change

HSBC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly organised a workshop on Sustainability Reporting Framework at Amari Hotel, in which government officials, garment exporters, merchandisers, sustainability experts, and factory owners participated.

National Resilience Programme organised an inception workshop at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, on a study titled Supply Chain Resilience of RMG Sector in Bangladesh. The programming division of the planning commission is carrying out the study for promoting best business practices in the country. On Tuesday, UNDP and Citi Foundation in association with the ICT Division organised “Accelerator Bangladesh 2.0: National Dialogue to Foster the Startup Ecosystem in Bangladesh”. It aimed to share the ideas of youth accelerating the implementation of SDGs through leadership, social innovation and entre¬preneurship. Top three teams were awarded in the event for their innovations as startup ecosystems from 20 social enterprises. Meanwhile, UNDP along with LGD, has hosted a workshop to field test an IELD module developed by our headquarters. Organisers say it was a ‘HIT‛ with the participants from the local government.

And the duo are back... we finally caught them on camera and right at the moment when one of them was up to no good (Even during the year closing rush). Check the video out and please don‛t be that guy!!!

The holiday season is upon us, so post your best Christmas selfie on Beyond Work, and jingle all the way to a special prize for the winner of the selfie contest!

E December

Another seven days of bringing positive change

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Last week was tumultous for most of us as we scrambled to wrap up all that has been done through the year to achieve the goals above. But we have done it... and as a team... so KUDOS to everyone for hitting and crossing our delivery target. So the first number to gloat about is $50 million. The second number to also be happy about is 400,000. This week, we have hit the 4-lakh-followers milestone on our facebook page. So the year is ending with a bang!!! ENJOY and HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS!!!

This was the last week to be released this year. We want to take this scope to thank all of you for being with us through 2019. And in appreciation of all your support, the week will be coming back in new style in 2020... So keep your eyes peeled!!!

22 JANUARY

02,2020

We know you couldn’t wait for the first edition of your favourite newsletter in the new year, so here we are, with a complete new look of THE WEEK ! Wishing you the happiest new year. May you reach the highest of highs in your life and career in this decade!

Meanwhile, we bid adieu to the previous year with a group selfie, celebrating $50m target.

...and remembered to welcome 2020 with another selfie. Let’s hope this marvelous team sticks together throughout the year to deliver some brilliant works with smiles on their faces.

Finally, Sharif bhai ushered in the new year along with a new family member, as his daughter got married! That smile in the picture is the result of some excellent wedding food.

The year may end but DRRF’s work continues strong as ever -there was an Non Food Items (NFI) distribution at Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, among 266 beneficiaries of three unions.

And we ended 2019 with Sudipto's message about his learnings through the year.

And we made an amazing discovery through that message. It garnered over 10k views in a single day and reached over 50k people... How much would it have cost if we organised a workshop for 10k people? Digital communications is now key and effective content can create change.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

23 JANUARY

09, 2020

Tucked away in the recesses of the Bhawal forest, UNDP masterminds had gathered for a grueling two-day session to map out our future activities. Here are some highlights from the workshop:

According to one of our internal informants, even the ducks on the premises got so inspired by the energy in the sessions that they felt they must join in. So looking forward to a great year.

“Let us strategize, how to solve problems together” “Keep up the spirit of working together as one UNDP”

“No back and forth emails on ToR, Just sit together and get it done”

“2020 is not about naming and shaming, it’s about solving the problems” “If same donor funds your project in any particular area find the common interest of the donor for other projects in that area”

As a part of our continuing efforts to help those affected by the July 2019 devastating floods in Jamalpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha, UNDP-CERF Emergency Shelter Support initiative distributed Non Food Item (NFI) relief items at Gaibandha’s Saghata Upazila. 700 female-headed flood affected families were handed over Tk 7,500 cash grants and emergency life-saving shelter assistance by Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah.

Bread and Beyond was overwhelmed on Monday by a flood of Village Courtiers. Apparently it was a treat to all of them by someone very high-up to inspire them to work hard in the New Year. Here is proof that in UNDP, when you take one for the team, it does not go unnoticed.

"Climb up with SDGs" As we entered into the last decade of SDGs, a little attempt from UNDP Comms to remind all of us that we only have 10 more years to achieve them for a better world. Thanks to Sharif Bhai for his efforts in persuading IDB into letting this happen.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

24 JANUARY

16, 2020

Brrr…. THE COLD! While most of us are shivering in this wave… Our Disaster Risk Reducer (DRR) and Economist-at-large predicted the change and headed off for the sunny side (Bangkok) by themselves. Just one thing to say to the duo, “Leave no one behind”

DID You Know?

We won’t mention names, but a certain ‘secret’ meeting was held by a group from the AWP planning workshop. While participants said it was a great follow up to the workshop itself, the food post looked too good. While we search for the host to demand our cut, we wanted to share just one comment… “Host Aminul Arifeen jindabad!”… Oops!

Bangladesh ushered into a new era after it’s Permanent Representative to UN, Ambassador Rabab Fatima, was elected unanimously as the President of UNICEF’s Executive Board.

As a part of our commitment to involve the private sector and others in the race to achieve SDGs by 2030, we have signed an MoU regarding SDG financing with the Centre of Zakat Management (CZM)

Speaking of recognition… let’s all put our hands together for Sohara, the lead of our research facility, for clinching a place in the prestigious Acumen Fellowship Programme.

Meanwhile, ERD secretary Monower Ahmed echoed our confidence in a K4DM event that Bangladesh can play a lead role in South-South Cooperation. In fact, an initiative by our very own a2i was featured as the ‘partner of the month’ in January on the UNOSSC’s knowledge-sharing platform for sharing the highest amount of best-practices/solutions.

Let us end this week with good news. Our UNDP family has gotten bigger. Our very own Pappu Bhai of 18th floor has been blessed with a daughter. So folks... That’s a HAT-TRICK!!!

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

25 JANUARY

23, 2020

This week started with a workshop on sustainability reporting for SDG factories. Organised by BGMEA, UNDP, and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), 40 managing directors and CEOs of the RMG sector participated in the workshop, and they were introduced to GRI’s reporting standards. UNDP is making strides as a partnership broker, as well as knowledge partner to ensure that the private sector contributes to attaining the SDGs by 2030.

Thursday was like a scene from James Bond movies at the country office with our very own Satya Dada pulling out high tech devices to pull off the environmental footprint and energy audit. Once we improve our environmental performance as a result of this activity, Satya Da might very well introduce himself as “Bond, Satya Bond!”

The Country Office SM ended the week hard at work in Cox’s Bazar guiding our suboffice in developing their AWP. This year, extra effort is being given to ensure ‘ONE UNDP’ and cross project collaborations. They also took the scope to bid farewell to Catherine, who would be leaving us after a five-year bid with us. What we could not fit on the cake... “Catherine... You will always be a part of UNDP Bangladesh!”

DID You

Know? We have officially stepped into the last decade to achieve the SDGs on January 22.

“We must step up our efforts. Now.” – UN Secretary General António Guterres

Meanwhile, 9 grantees of our diversity fund was given an introduction to UNDP’s reporting mechanism so they can further efficiently implement their ideas. UNDP has been fostering innovative actions to promote tolerance and inclusivity, especially focusing on vulnerable and marginalized groups, including women and girls, youth, and ethnic and religious minorities.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

26 JANUARY

30, 2020

The week started off with one of UNDP’s MEB (read Most Eligible Bachelor) tying the knot. And Mahmud did it in style – Even his gifts table had two of UNDP’s top heavyweights manning it!!! Just to make sure NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.

At the coast, a day-long workshop styled ‘Lessons Towards Sustainability and Planning’ was held at a Hotel in Kuakata on January 19. Organised by ICBAAR, the workshop was held to collect valuable opinions and suggestions from the stakeholders to reduce climate induced vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, on a different note, our DRRF colleagues took sessions on innovative measures to reduce disaster risks at the International Conference on Earth and Environmental Sciences & Technology for Sustainable Development.

Also this week, we bid farewell to MoFA’s Director General-UN Nahida Sobhan and Shahanara Monica, Director-UN. They are both headed for international assignments and the UNDP family wishes them the best.

DID You

Know? 50% of Bangladesh’s total population will be living in cities mostly Dhaka and CTG by 2030. It is time to act and act now to make cities more livable.

And finally, we have the BDF where Sudipto Dada pointed out something very important. Including slum dwellers, who are the lifeline of the cities, in the development planning process so that they can build their own futures.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

27 FEBRUARY

06, 2020

In a bid to ease the year end rush, our procurement team has taken it up on themselves to train others to make processes easier and faster.

Meanwhile... It was our beloved Mohiuddin Bhai's birthday this Thursday. And as silently he handles our humongous travel pressures, his birthday was celebrated without chaos on the 19th floor village well.

Access to Information (a2i), a flagship project of UNDP together with the government of Bangladesh, recently won two awards from the ‘Apolitical Global Public Service,’ a global learning platform for governments.

Hopefully, it is going to work this time and all of us can have a little less crazy November and December in 2020.

Meanwhile, we have launched our internal knowledge management system to ensure that our works do not keep getting lost. The system was inaugurated through a session on Tuesday, where Imran Bhai and Zilla Bhai trained project colleagues on storing digital copies of publications and photographs in Sharepoint.

Meanwhile, LoGIC organised an Annual Planning Meeting for 2020. LoGIC and its partner NGO staff from the districts looked back into the year 2019 and took learning from it to accommodate and design the plan 2020.

Look who’s come for a visit… Neil Buhne, Regional Director, Asia- Pacific, UN Development Coordination Office, Former United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Pakistan.

DID You KNOW? This year marks UN's 75th founding year. We are expecting a visit from Deputy Secretary General Amina J Mohammed for the celebration.

Our colleagues at LIUPC had an intense discussion this week on deploying vacuum trucks or VACU-TUGS to clean biological waste in the cities.

We will work with Unilever for next 3 years to help Naraynganj city manage plastic wastes and build circular economy.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

28 FEBRUARY

13, 2020

SPRING IS IN THE AIR (Read YEAR)!!!

Well IDB was coloured into shades of yellow and orange in the spirit of spring on Thursday. There were a number of photo sessions and our colourful nature was in its full boast.

SFLP held a meeting at Local Government Division (LGD), presided over by LDG Senior Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed. Many other representatives from other government departments, LGIs and Development Agencies attended the meeting to identify issues and problems related to water and sanitation in SFLP pilot areas and find sustainable solutions to the problems and also identify strategies to include the private sector actors in the water and sanitation field which is pivotal to achieve the SDG goals in Bangladesh.

It was our AVCB colleague Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan's birthday this week. Happy Birthday!!! Now can we proceed to getting the chai treat you gave some of your colleagues on that day?

Our bosses, also dressed in orange and yellow in the spirit of spring, went around office posting (Read Post-its) gifts for colleagues who were still stuck in the winter cold and had a tough time waking up. While the joke is good for a few laughs, it is also time for us to tighten our own springs and get going with this year of development.

On the other hand, the communications team got together for their monthly meet to plan for the year ahead. A central repository for photos and knowledge management platform is on the works.

Meanwhile, a discussion session was held at our village well this week where representative from over 30 development organisations were introduced to the SDG TV. It is a platform developed by our very own a2i where organisations, individuals can showcase their productions made on the SDGs and that works as a central repository of SDG related productions for the mass audience.

DID You KNOW?

The celebration of Pahela Falgun as we know it today was started by a group of DU Charukola students in 1991. On the eve of Pahela Falgun, some girls from the faculty bought saris and spent the night at Moitree Hall printing blocks on them. The next day they wore those saris to the faculty and were joined by Boys of the batch-89 to march in procession with flowers, butterflies and birds that they had made out of colourful papers to celebrate the victory of the movement against the autocratic HM Ershad's regime a year ago. As they walked around the campus, they chanted rhymes they had memorised in their childhood. That simple celebration has now spread out around the country.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

29 FEBRUARY

20, 2020

This week began with an unprecedented surprise - as Kazuyoshi Hirohata treated the country office to a delicious lunch on Sunday. However, credit must be given to his coworkers, who persevered for many years for this treat. We’re hoping to see a new and improved Kazuo in the coming months, this time in a blue shirt for a change.

Our Resident Representative, hosted the new Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mustafa Osman Turan, at his place and chit-chatted on a number of areas of common interest. We hope this will be the start of a wonderful partnership!

We might have left school, but some of our colleagues at UNDP still have uniforms. This week in fashion, we found three sets of people “twinning” in perfectly colour-matched sweater vest and shirt; a blue kurti, and finally, our senior management was impeccably dressed on Thursday to receive Kanni Wignaraja.

Our “Enhancing adaptive capacities of coastal communities, especially women to cope with climate change induced salinity” project organised a workshop on Learning Oriented Real-Time Impact Assessment (LORTA) for climate change adaptation projects.

On Monday, UNDP extended the partnership with Marico Limited, one of India's leading consumer goods companies providing consumer products and services in the areas of health, beauty and wellness, till 2021 for ‘Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO)’.

Sudipto made a courtesy call today to the newly appointed Principal Secretary to the PM

Our colleagues at K4DM have been busy as always - the writers’ pool of National Human Development Report sat for a discussion on Monday, while K4DM project’s achievements were showcased at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel the next day.

UNDP Bangladesh conducted a reconnaissance survey on the cross-border issues in Satkhira and Khulna. The Bangladesh and India country office teams of UNDP discussed several common cross-border issues such as trafficking, citizenship act etc, and how both countries can work together to tackle them.

DID You KNOW?

Kanni Wignaraja, joined UNDP as a UN Volunteer in 1990, and today, she is the Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific of UNDP. This highly experienced UN official is gracing us with her presence this week. We're all looking forward to meeting her, and most importantly, learning from her.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

30 FEBRUARY

27, 2020

At Cox’s Bazar Crisis Response Office’s In Day on Wednesday, participants renewed their commitment to quick and effective response. "It’s crucial to plan better, so that we not only deliver better, but report better, communicate better, and have better impact on both host community and Rohingya people in CXB,” said Sudipto Mukerjee. He added, “No matter where you’re based or what contract you hold, you all belong to the same family -- UNDP.”

This week’s highlight was the visit of Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. During her four-day visit, Kanni participated in multiple events and project visits, alongside formal and informal discussions with country office personnel.

Taking a break from celebrations, UNDP Bangladesh has organised Procurement Training-CIPS 2 across UN agencies at Dhaka this week. A total of 29 colleagues participated, by prior nominations from UNICEF, UNDP Myanmar, UNFPA, WFP and UNDP Bangladesh.

Our resident overachiever Sohara Mehroze Sachi has completed another year on Earth. We hope she continues to outdo herself in research, music, debate and the other 56840 things she does. Formerly a resident of Sohara’s neighbouring desk and everybody’s favourite Bipasha Chakma also celebrated her birthday. May her infectious positive energy continue lighting up our days!

Meanwhile Sudipto Mukerjee delivered an inspiring speech at National Youth Assembly 2020 on Wednesday, where he mentioned how the youth can change the world. “You have to act responsibly, everything starts with you,” he said. He conducted a session on SDGs.

Meanwhile, AVCB II project thanked and bid farewell to its National Project Director Roxana Quader, Additional Secretary, LGD in the project office on Monday. She served this role for ten months, and we hope she carries on the message of “leaving no one behind”, no matter where life takes her in the future!

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

31 MARCH

05, 2020

We ended the week, with a wholesome celebration of International Women’s Day. The theme of this year was “Generation Equality: Realizing women’s This week, LoGIC project hosted a rights for an equal future”. Although two days early, different groups of mission in Barguna where youth, rights organisations, students and professionals attended the representatives from the celebration organised by UNDP along with other UN agencies in Bangladesh. government, EU, Sida and UNCDF witnessed the nature based solutions to climate change, that the project has initiated.

National Resilience Programme (NRP) in collaboration with Rangamati Municipality and Fire Service and Civil Defense provided training on search-and-rescue to urban community volunteers as an integral part of earthquake response. Apart from that, NRP is supporting Programming Division to introduce Disaster Impact Assessment (DIA) in Development project submission and implementation stages for minimising disaster and climate risks.

UNDP Bangladesh organised another Procurement Training-CIPS 3 across UN agencies in Dhaka for the entirety of last week. A total of 25 colleagues participated, by prior nominations from different UN agencies namely: UNICEF, UNDP Timor-Leste , UNFPA, WFP, ILO, UNESCO and UNDP Bangladesh.

There were more training programmes in this busy week - our finance colleagues attended “Advanced Training on Programme Finance” in Sylhet.

NRP is supporting Programming Division to introduce Disaster Impact Assessment (DIA) in Development project submission and implementation stages for minimising disaster and climate risks. The DIA tools and proposed institutional framework will be placed in the next meeting of National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) to be held in April in the office of Prime Minister.

But wait, this week, we also had “Concert for Peace” performed by local and indigenous bands and “Essence of Soul” a dance show staged by Narthaki Nataraj, who received the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2019, under UNDP’s new initiative “Diversity for Peace”

Our very own Kabir bhai is now a published writer, and he brought a copy for the RR! We’re hoping it gets rave reviews from the big boss.

Finally two-day Communications Review and Planning workshop was ended on Thursday in the presence of Khurshid Bhai from Resilience and Inclusive Growth cluster and Mujin Lee from the Democratic Governance cluster.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

32 MARCH

12, 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak seems to have a toll on public gathering. Big events are getting cancelled or being streamed online without any physical guests. However, a couple of our colleagues including our DRR were lucky to attend the last major public event before the sanctions hit and headbanged to the sounds of leading Bangladeshi rock musicians @ the Joy Bangla Concert.

This week also brought in a huge win for our Expanding the protected area system to incorporate aquatic Eco System Project. Just in case of future trivia competitions… that is our Dolphin project. They have scored big on advocacy by getting the government to declare three more wildlife sanctuaries for Dolphins and buffer zones in Sundarbans. While it might not seem much at first sight… it inherently means that Bangladesh has now achieved SDG 14.5 target and Aichi Target 11. GOOD GOING!

Meanwhile… even though UN in Bangladesh celebrated International Women’s Day ahead this year, it does not mean that we can’t dress up and cut cakes on 8 March. Meanwhile, our very own Jhuma Didi from CHT project is also known for her contributions to the society. The good news is that her efforts has been showcased in the Australia Awards website. If you do not know her, you can read the article to find out more. Hyperlink:

http://bit.ly/Jhuma-Didi

On a happy note, our Saudia Apa fis going to take up new assignment as the Project Manager of National Adaptation Plan (NAP) project leaving DRRF. So we are not losing her but will be seeing her in new light. Congratulations!

Email Etiquette

With the numerous amounts of emails cluttering our work inboxes everyday, the SM has asked for the launch of a series of e-mail management tips. So keep your eyes peeled and here goes the first one:

Be selective with recipients for your messages – include only those people and/or groups for which the message is relevant. Avoid sending messages to large groups and discussion lists unless absolutely necessary and unless the topic is relevant to everyone in the group or list.

As part of UNDP's ongoing activities in Cox’s Bazar after Rohingya influx, a joint cleaning campaign was launched with Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Office, BRAC, Practical Action and Teknaf Municipality last Tuesday to clean Teknaf city and increase awareness on proper waste management among citizens of the municipality.

DID You KNOW? You can get all information related to Coronavirus outbreak at the WHO website. Please share the page with those around you so that they can have proper information about steps to take and the situation. Hyperlink https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coro navirus-2019

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

33 MARCH

19, 2020

NRP-Programming Division is working to make risk information available to planning officials for better-informed development. As part of this initiative, a study on Economic Impact of Waterlogging on Local Trade and Industrial Sector Risk Profile was launched last Thursday. Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is the knowledge partner of this initiative.

With the COVID-19 outbreak at hand, we have been exploring alternative work modalities just in case we have to shutdown the office for everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety. So on Sunday we had a BCP exercise with selected staff in office and a more advanced version with everyone working from home on Tuesday. As part of COVID-19 awareness campaign we have also printed posters, stickers and most of you have seen the handrub dispensers on the walls and the sanitizers provided on your table. Remember to keep your laptops with you and be safe and alert.

Our senior management met with Ms. Doh, Young-Ah, Country Director and Ms. Jinjoo Hyun, Deputy Country Director of KOICA Bangladesh on Sunday, discussing common interests and development work in Bangladesh.

The writersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pool of National Human Development Report has been hard at work, as always. A second meeting of the team was held on Monday at ERD, chaired by Additional Secretary of ERD and UN Wing Chief, Sultana Afroz.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

34 MARCH

26, 2020

As the UN Covid19 Outbreak Coordinator, Sudipto Mukerjee took different preventive measures against Coronavirus for the entire IsDB Building including chlorinated water for hand washing before entering into the office. This is just a small step towards preventing coronavirus. Not only that, UNDP’s videos are being displayed at different parts of Dhaka city and our posters have reached the last mile of Bangladesh.

Our a2i programme has launched a one stop information hub on Coronavirus. Here is the link: http://corona.gov.bd Be sure to avoid all inessential travel and wash your hands at regular intervals. Don’t panic, this crisis can be averted just by following simple precautions. We’re all in this together!

United Hospital invited UNDP and WHO to participate in a consultation meeting with medical professionals on Coronavirus prevention in the country. Coordinated efforts are a must during this crisis.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Scouts and Duronto TV joined hands with UNDP to aware children and their parents on the pandemic. You can watch the animations here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k giwce78gjri725/AADMH99Df6 433KxtXAAsEEEqa?dl=0

This independence day, let us stay home and flatten the curve. Soon enough, we’ll be independent and free to roam around again. Till then, we celebrate indoors, with this song.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

35 APRIL

02, 2020

UNDP and United Group has entered a collaboration to ensure food distribution up to doorsteps making it easier to stay at home. It would also provide emergency support to vulnerable communities, support government in enhancing capacities and competencies of health facilities and advocate and direct establishment of proper medical waste disposal systems. Alongside, it will also work together to provide skills training for underprivileged youth and women and look for opportunities for creating decent employment. Urban Community Volunteers (UCV) are disseminating awareness messages and disinfecting vehicles and public places to stop further spreading of coronavirus in Rangpur, Tangail, Rangamati and Sunamganj municipal areas. Under UNDP supported DDM sub-project of NRP, approximately 1000 urban volunteers have been trained in these areas as ‘first line defence’ and ‘extended force’ of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Our Disaster Risk Management project began the ‘Disability Inclusive Covid-19 Emergency Response in Cox’s Bazar District’ programme along with district administration on March 20. This initiative aims to respond to and mitigate the threats posed by the pandemic in Cox’s Bazar and strengthen district disaster management for public health preparedness.

Meanwhile SWAPNO project has also been mobilised to spread awareness on coronavirus. Last week, over 10,000 awareness posters were distributed alongside basic hygiene products at Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Satkhira, while the project is also working on community awareness through discussions with mosque committees.

In a bid to protect Bangladesh’s urban poor, the group most vulnerable to the threat posed by COVID-19 pandemic, our LIUPC project has rolled out urgent response to help nearly 2.16 million people stay safe from the deadly virus. LIUPC will use its existing network in city corporations and municipalities to implement a three-pronged approach to respond concurrently across the pre-surge, surge and recovery phases, with a focus on vulnerable populations including women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities (PWD).

Our old friend Kyoko Yokosuka checked in with Sudipto da this week, with warm words for all of us. “My thoughts are with colleagues in the country office, the UN family and people of Bangladesh,” she wrote in her message, “I just wanted to say, please take care, stay safe and healthy, sending lots of positive thoughts!” Kyoko and her daughter Hanah are doing their part and staying home at Bonn, Germany, and we hope you’re doing the same!

Our dear colleague Rezaul Karim’s last day at UNDP was on Tuesday -although an official farewell was not possible in this time of social distancing, he bid goodbye to the country office via email. He’s moving on to a post in the forest department, and we hope he has a wonderful time at the new workplace!

While at home in this dire situation it is crucial for us to ensure a healthy mental state. For that, we organised our first internal concert over Zoom so we could sing along and talk beyond work. Close to a hundred colleagues joined in and we had a blast. Those of you missed out… it can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/A.Q.Shihab/videos/10158318536724171 We have also launched a partnership with GaanBangla television under our #StayHomeChallenge to go live from our Facebook page for our audience with eminent singers. Up until now the initiative has featured our very favourite Kailash Kher and the Indian High Commissioner, making it evident that music knows no borders. The initiative will continue through out this home stay period. Tune in to our FB page @9pm.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

36 APRIL

09, 2020

Just a while ago, our very own Sudipto spoke at UNDP’s second virtual townhall discussion on COVID-19, and he was joined by the Administrator and a panel of Directors. Talking about the situation in Bangladesh and how UNDP is adapting with the change, he started with few digits “996”to “007.” If you missed that part, it means if earlier it was 9am to 9pm 6 days a week, now it’s zero-hours to zero-hours, seven days a week in fighting COVID19. Hat’s off to the team!

Meanwhile in Khulna, UNDP has joined hands with district administration and Khulna University to make hand sanitisers and distribute them among 4000 beneficiaries including government officials and employees, law enforcement officers, hijra community, local government personnel, and relief volunteers.

SWAPNO project has been hard at work as always. An awareness campaign on the prevention and spread of Covid-19 covering 172 unions of Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Jamalpur and Gaibandha started on Monday.

AVCB II project and its work with village courts has changed thousands of rural people’s lives for the better, and this time, they have been featured in a detailed report by The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), a global research and advocacy platform. Click here for the report titled “Rural institutional innovation: can village courts in Bangladesh accelerate access to justice and improve socio-economic outcomes?”

The field staff of ICBAAR project are actively helping the local government in distributing relief and spreading awareness on coronavirus. They are also creating small work opportunities for women in two climate-smart villages of Noakhali and Barguna, so that they do not lose income during this crisis.

In this time of crisis, maintaining morale is more difficult than ever. Luckily, UNDP personnel’s greatest cheerleader is the Resident Representative. “I am writing to convey my personal appreciation for the amazing efforts you have been putting in at this time, just to ensure that our clients who are the poorest of the poor are reached out to quickly and provided urgent help to weather the current crisis... You are now their lifelines – your exemplary team efforts at Syedpur has enabled UNDP/NUPRP to successfully complete the first round of emergency response. Maintaining this momentum and team work will be absolutely critical for us to win this war and save the poor families from further hardships,” Sudipto da said in an appreciation message to the field staff.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

37 APRIL

16, 2020

UNDP is stepping up to address different sections of society during this crisis. With support from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and Bangladesh government, we are rolling out $1.5 million in emergency food support for 50,000 extremely poor urban families

Last Thursday, National Human Rights Commission and UNDP’s Human Rights Programme began a relief programme for the marginalised Dalit community in Dhaka. The relief packs containing essential groceries were distributed among 1,450 households in five colonies of Dhaka South City Corporation.

Although we’re mandated to stay home now, the UNDP family still found a way to be together on Pahela Baishakh. This jubilant group gathered together on video call, dressed up for a unique celebration with colleagues. This fun-filled call not only gave everyone a respite, but also acted as a testament to our adaptability as we moved a traditional celebration online!

The field staff of ICBAAR project have stepped up to battle the ongoing crisis, as they’re making large-scale, diversified efforts to raise awareness in eight upazilas of five climate-vulnerable districts. Over 6,000 trained volunteers are working hard to This Bengali new year, let us hope for peace, spread the word on social distancing and prosperity, and strength for the coming days. good hygiene. Shubho Noboborsho! Meanwhile, Peace Talk Cafe, a major initiative of Digital Khichuri Challenge, has been going strong even without a physical space. An online discussion on fake news and information verification was organised last Sunday, where Brac’s Sakib Bin Rashid, ADC Md Nazmul Islam of counter-terrorism unit, and our very own Md Abdul Quayyum spoke to the youth about the importance of accurate news during the coronavirus outbreak.

Our social media campaign to inspire people to stay at home was a hit. Celebrity endorsements, online music programmes and a Pahela Baishakh art competition, all initiated under the #StayHomeChallenge , generated 17,855,622 reach. During the campaign, we also propagated people to visit www.corona.gov.bd for proper information about the pandemic’s situation in Bangladesh.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

38 APRIL

23, 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Enterprises & C. Ltd (UECL) have jointly taken an initiative to provide food support to almost 5000 underprivileged women in Jamalpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha districts. Under the SWAPNO project, UNDP has also distributed food among 540 women in 15 unions of Jamalpur.

Meanwhile, a TVC that encourages people to stay home and create a safe space inside their homes is now airing on BTV! It is a joint initiative of the National Human Rights Commission and UNDP’s Human Rights Programme.

As legal services become more and more difficult to avail during the government shutdown, UNDP has partnered with National Legal Aid Services Organisation under the law ministry to launch a hotline, 16430, to provide emergency legal aid services to people free of cost. Our senior management has been working on a conceptual framework for a platform that involves private sector partners and development organisations to build back better from the ongoing crisis. Attended by Salman F Rahman, Advisor to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Grandson of Father of the Nation, top-notchers from the corporate sector and also colleagues from UNDP, the virtual meeting was hosted by Sudipto Mukerjee on Tuesday to collectively strengthen the nCOVID19 response and recovery in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, ICBAAR project has been hard at work as always, raising awareness and staging handwashing demonstrations at its project areas. With help from trained CPP volunteers, the project is even creating work opportunities at a limited scale to maintain beneficiaries’ source of income.

Sudipto da made an appearance on the famous talk show, Tritiyo Matra, speaking about UNDP’s efforts to handle the coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh. He highlighted UNDP’s multifaceted efforts to reach every corner of society and ensure that no one gets left behind. Watch it here.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

39 APRIL

30, 2020

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and UNDP have joined hands to provide technological support to the Bangladesh government for extending social support through a2i programme. In addition, 20,000 poor people will receive cash or in-kind support delivered through UNDP’s existing projects in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, North Bengal and Coastal region. Four City Corporations including Dhaka South, North, Chottogram and Narayanganj will receive 5000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits for urban waste cleaning workers.

The LIUPC project has been hard at work to educate its primary beneficiaries: the urban poor. Large posters disseminating information on the outbreak have been set up, while the project also supplied people with soaps.

The K4DM project has successfully introduced interns to public offices in Bangladesh, and one of their interns, Naowar Mohiuddin, said, “The K4DM Project has been instrumental in giving me access to various tools and knowledge materials that have shaped my ambition to do further research on my preferred topic of growth dynamics.”

The ICBAAR project has created small work opportunities for climate refugees in Barguna and Bhola Charfassion at a pond-digging site. Around 65 households are benefitting from the Tk 500 daily wage being handed out. Continuing to address climate change amid the crisis, as ICBAAR project is doing, is crucial, according to the UN Secetary General Antonio Guterres, “We must not lose sight of another urgent global emergency — climate change.”

Meanwhile, our Research Unit is working on a series of sectoral analysis about the impacts of COVID-19. You can read the first one on the RMG sector and the precarious decision it is facing here.

A shout-out goes to the HR team for working around the clock to collect the voluntary contribution of one day’s salary from UNDP family members which will be donated to the prime minister’s disaster fund under the one-UN banner for battling COVID-19.

UNDP has been ahead of all other organisations in developing communication materials for awareness on the Covid-19 situation. This could not have been possible without the hard-work and dedication of all project managers and communication personnel, and we hope they continue to deliver outstanding work for the people throughout this crisis.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

I faced this question many times when I first decided to shift career from private to development sector; ”why do you want to move away and start fresh after 12 years in Private sector?” I just had a single answer for all who were asking… “I want to be called a development worker….and this is perhaps the only ticket to touch my dream.” Six years have passed since then and I am fully convinced that I took the right move. In the last six years, the system and most importantly, my colleagues around me helped me a lot to understand the real meaning of a “development worker”. I feel much more accomplished and much more content. The first two years in a Project and then recent four years in the country office core team, I have learnt every day! I enjoyed every bit of my work and I made many good friends. I had “ AHA” moments which I will cherish for the rest of my life. Those moments were seeing my team members excelling and growing stronger… we fought but at the end the win was not mine, it was ours! My “AHA” moments were also around the Piping hot cup of coffee that Ripa would make for me every morning! I had “that’s it!” moments too! It felt like I am stuck at a dead end and I won’t be able to make the next turn…. I paused, resumed and found myself behind an army who would go extra miles to bring me back to myself! I remain grateful to each one of you for being there through thick and thin. I have been blessed to have worked for a wonderful pair of management! They have nurtured me to be a stronger person, a better professional. I do not even dare to pay off the debts. Some debts are good to be in forever. However, I will never spare a chance to payback, if I ever can. Please pray for me as I embark on a new journey in my career. Whenever you feel “That’s it!”, I would say KEEP CALM and Hug an Operations Manager!

I first e-met Sonia when she was in Delhi (amidst a Dengue Outbreak) and sadly have to relive this experience when we are separated by nCOVID19 Social Distancing. Hope that the next time we gather (soon I hope) will be at pleasanter & healthier times. I wish to see her grow and grow and for that my wishes remains saved for the bestest.

YOU WILL BE MISSED

Take care, stay well and all best SM

Dearest Sonia, you were the first B a n g l a d e s h i colleague who I wrote to before I joined the team here. Since then I lost counts of how many chats we had, covering anything and everything, both laughter and tears. In my mind, you belong to a group of strongest and brightest women with beautiful heart and soul. I am sad that you are leaving us but I am happy that this is what you want to do. And we are only one zoom away! Please be healthy and be happy! - Van

From: Anas Fayyad Qarman Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 1:20 AM To: Sonia Mehzabeen <sonia.mehzabeen@undp.org>; Mohiuddin Ahamed Dear Sonia Apa, Mohiuddin and Sharif bhai, I am writing to introduce Mr. Sudipto Mukerjee, am sure by now you have received the communication of his appointment as UNDP Bangladesh Country Director. I had the honor to work with Sudipto from before, and I must say I missed a golden opportunity to work with such great leader again, however I am so delighted that you will have this opportunity, and I’m sure that Office is in safe hands now after Pauline & Nick. Colleagues, am sure you won’t save an effort to support your CD in his transition to Bangladesh, probably I didn’t ask for a farewell favor before leaving Dhaka and if I would ask you anything now, is to please take care extra care of a great mentor and true leader coming your way soon.

Building team spirit through ‘Pathshala Treat’ was an innovative idea of Dear Sonia Apa! - Shaikh Munir Hossain

Warmest regards

Dearest Sonia Apa, You are dominating all the milestones of success so effortlessly, while others are saying impossible. When it comes to patience, compassion and working hard, no one does it better than you do. As you are joining Timor-Leste team, it is our wish that you will achieve even more remarkable successes. Thank you for being a fabulous boss, colleague and friend to us. We will dearly miss you. See you again and stay blessed forever! From your dear Partnership team (Chaity, Fatema, Pervez, Kazu, Maharaj, Rafiqul and Le Lan)

wa ‡n wbie e x ` b v Li‡¯ªvZ v bv gv‡b, P‡j †Kvb eva Pjv †miƒ‡cB Rvwb ZeKj¨v‡Y| - kwid gvby‡li

It has been a great experience working with you Apu, you shall always be remembered. Thank you and good luck with your future endeavors. Love for Zunairah.

you

and

- Chaity

"Dearest Sonia, It had been amazing and rewarding 5 years of working experience with you. Keep smiling and continue to maintain a positive attitude in life. As you take the new road, I wish you the very best. Stay in touch and I will miss you. - Fakrul"

Bangladesh CO will always miss your progressive thinking for the Organization. Your hard work, dedication, intelligence and excellent communication skills, will take you to the highest pick of your career path. I sincerely acknowledge your all support and the cooperation that you have extended to my HR Team. Many Congratulations for your prestigious International Assignment and wish you all the success for the assignment! You will be truly missed! Take care and be safe always! -Sajjad

We are very happy with your new progress, we will surely miss you a lot but wish you all the way of your new journey with success. - Md.Masud Karim

Recently , persons are very rare who once addressed "Thou" (Tui) which I like very much. You are one of them. We will miss you Apa. - Anonymous

As you move into a new venture, may luck and success always be with you! All the best! -PTIB team

You were not only my colleague it was beyond that , may be its called a "good friend". Let’s keep working on our friendship. I’ll miss bumping into each other in different favorite places in Uttara and think of you. Thank you for the good times and sweet memories that we shared together. I hope that your new place is full of fun and happiness. Take care, and wishing you all the best. - Marina Shawkat Ali

Sonia Apa, I always see a reflection of my elder sister, who is now living abroad, in you, which I will miss greatly. However let’s continue the work for leaving no one behind. Wish you all the best. - Quayyum

with Apa l so wisely your a ia e n d o S u r o a y e D und you, onder how I always w of challenges aro and leadership hundreds e, grace, decency of your speech intelligenc amazed. I am fondeech spellbound makes me . I listen to your sp your choice of very much speak because ntences and you while youur articulation of se as been a great words, yo eak to the point. It heague like you. always sp working with a coll have you. Good pleasure job will be lucky to Your next - Uma Das . k c lu

It's time to say goodbye, but I would much rather say see you again and all the time with your excellent leaderships. - Md. Rafiqul Islam

40 MAY

07, 2020

“Kemon Achen” survey

As the courts have remained closed during the coronavirus outbreak, UNDP technical team comprising Justice and Human Rights Programme and a2i under the guidance of Supreme Court has been working on arranging virtual courtroom facilities for bail applications. This will make strides in upholding the judiciary during times of crisis. At the time of writing this news, government has approved ordinance to introduce court proceedings via videoconferencing. Here is the detail.

The LoGIC project conducted a “Kemon Achen” survey, which found that 70 percent of CRF beneficiaries are severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak, and for 80 percent, income has been affected. Recommendations from the survey include immediate food support and creation of income opportunities. Find out the detail of the survey here.

a2i is partnering with DGHS and IEDCR to harness the power of big data in the fight against Covid-19. Through large scale data collection on Covid-19 cases and their reporting, a2i is preparing an intelligence system that will be instrumental for policymakers dealing with the crisis.

UNDP has also established a Covid-19 Response and Recovery Private Sector Platform to support emergency initiatives and planning ahead for business recovery via test-and-trial and advocacy. It works through private sector-led task teams that touch on multiple sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, supply chain restoration, rapid identification and inclusion of the “new poor” and more.

Bangladesh Peace Observatory (BPO) of PTID project is publishing weekly Diversity For Peace of PTIB has been trends and insights in social tension making remarkable strides in and social cohesion around Covid-19 consolidating social cohesion and and its response. The analysis covers inclusion in these trying times. Last weekly trends of social stigmatisation and intolerance, paranoia, rumour and May Day, they organised an online misinformation, arrest/penalty for dialogue titled “Boichitrer Alapon” violating lockdown order and (Talk on Diversity) focusing on social mismanagement of relief works, harmony and accounts of different demonstration and labour unrest, as private sector employers who stood well as how different groups are by their workers. The diverse panel extending humanitarian response and discussed the perspectives of support initiatives. indigenous workers and Sylhet tea garden communities, whose voices are Access last week’s infographics here. missing from the mainstream discussion of May Day.

Meanwhile, as a part of our work with RCCE (Risk Communications and Community Engagement) pillar in disseminating information and fighting misinformation, we are partnering with Somoy Television to broadcast 10 episodes on health, misinformation and stigma. Apart from that, our SUPER SHOMA is combating COVID-19 with her family and inspiring thousands on Facebook to join the fight. On a regular basis we are doing Facebook LIVE with doctors, health professionals, religious leaders etc. Repurposing for COVID 19 by startups we backed through Youth Co:Lab was also highlighted. Our projects in Cox’s Bazar -- Disaster Risk Management, Solid Waste Management, Community Cohesion, and Supporting Host Communities Affected by Rohingya Influx Project have been making strides in battling the pandemic in the district. The projects have been raising awareness, supplying hygiene products and ensuring monetary support with special focus on vulnerable groups.

Last but not the least, a recent study by NRP-Programming Division suggested hotspot-based resilience interventions that include upazila-centred programmes, expansion of resilient housing, river bank protection and more. This report will be used by General Economics Division as a background document for the 8th five-year plan.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

41 MAY

14, 2020

Distant shopping is the new normal, and UNDP has launched the online marketplace Anondomela in partnership with a2i’s Ekshop. The marketplace directly connects SMEs with buyers. This Eid, let’s buy deshi goods, and help out local businesses! SFLP in collaboration with SWAPNO project has transferred Tk 1500 cash to 1209 poor people in Kurigram’s sadar upazila. This transfer has been implemented through the direct engagement of Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO) as CSO of SWAPNO Project with guidance from Kurigram District Administration.

The PTIB project organized the fourth edition of the Peace Talk Café (PTC), exploring the topic ‘Women in Pandemic: Survive React - Evolve.’ Hasin Jahan, Country Director, WaterAid; Shagufe Hossain, Founder, Leaping Boundaries; Towhida Shiropa, Founder, Moner Bondhu, and Tina F. Jabeen, Investment Adviser, Startup Bangladesh, ICT Division were panelists for this edition.

To end the week on a good note, SDC has confirmed that it would be backing our fight against the Covid crisis with $1m funding. A big shout out to the whole team who worked tirelessly to ensure that we have the resources necessary to continue our fight against the virus.

Our research facility hosted a webinar on Wednesday, in collaboration with Global Chamber. Speakers Yolanda Saito, Dr Mazhar Islam, Dr Sahadat Hossain, and Alfred Marcus explored how the pandemic and the resulting reduction in carbon emissions is presenting a legitimate opportunity for climate change mitigation and whether/how we can continue to have a lower carbon footprint.

UNDP Cox’s Bazar Crisis Response Office through its “Community Cohesion in Cox’s Bazar Project” (CCP) funded by Global Affairs Canada, has begun reaching out to vulnerable persons with emergency support in Teknaf and Ukhiya Upazilas. 2,568 families from 5 unions in 42 wards are receiving cash grants and hygiene kits.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, our Assistant Resident Representative Khurshid Alam, along with Taibur Rahman, attended an online talk show with Planning Minister M A Mannan, about what sort of things should be addressed in the upcoming budget considering the COVID19 crisis.

On a more exciting note in these tough times -- we have launched a book reading competition for children in collaboration with HerStories Foundation, on a book that features 17 young TRANSFORMERS who are working on the sustainable development goals. The book contains vibrant illustrations, paired with 17 stories that aim to teach children about SDGs and inspire them to take the cause forward. Read the e-book here

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

42 MAY

21, 2020

It has been a particularly eventful week, as UNDP personnel brought out their best to deal with the cyclone Amphan and the Covid-19 outbreak. Our COVID-19 front liners from AVCB-II, ICBAAR, LIUPCP, LoGIC projects promptly got to work with early warning messages, preparing cyclone shelters and evacuating people with the help of local government and the CPP volunteers in coastal areas.

Our HR department organized a Virtual Career Lab: Career Planning for General Service Staff Members, where Head of Finance, Munir Bhai shared his career journey, enlightening words of advice, with staff across UNDP!

PTIB’s Digital Khichuri Challenge has been supporting its winning teams in their Covid-19 awareness efforts. Probash Kotha reached 2.8 million migrant workers through video and live communications, and published 491 reports and notes on the crisis from their website and Facebook page. Meanwhile, Choukosh reached 0.17 million people through quiz, animation and static posts.

U N D P ’ s research facility o r g a n i s e d another highly e n g a g i n g webinar, this time on “Making I n f o r m e d Decisions and Awareness Through Credible Media”. Zafar Sobhan, editor of Dhaka Tribune; Dr Jagat Shah, CMD of Global Network India; Nalaka Gunawardene, journalist and science writer, and Sarah-Jane Saltmarsh, head of programme and enterprises communications at BRAC joined as speakers.

We have a great news to share amid this crisis time!! Our "Sustainable Renewable Energy Power Generation Project" of SREDA of Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in collaboration with IDCOL won a prestigious international award from Alliance for Rural Electrification based in Brussels, for two Solar mini-grids at Monpura Island.

Sudipto da joined Prothom Alo’s live session, titled “Dakche Amar Desh”, with speakers Yasir Azman of Grameenphone, Asif Saleh of BRAC, and Manzur Morshed of Bidyananda Foundation. Watch it here.

PTIB’s Diversity for Peace recently organised an online dialogue titled Dhaka for All - Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2020, in partnership with Bangladesh Society for the Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-SCAN). The dialogue shed light on how Dhaka can be made more accessible for people with disabilities and impairments. Hasin Jahan, Country Director, WaterAid Bangladesh; Iqbal Habib, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA); Salma Mahbub, General Secretary, B-SCAN, and our very own Robert stoelman joined as speakers.

The third meeting of UNDP's Private Sector Platform was held over Zoom on Tuesday, where industry leaders alongside senior officials of UNDP came up with action plans for handling the Covid-19 outbreak.

Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy of Narayanganj City Corporation personally expressed her gratitude to UNDP in a letter, saying, “UNDP is a long time development partner of Narayanganj city. The city expresses thanks and An Eid unlike any other is knocking on our doors. Amid the gratitude to UNDP for providing 500 pandemic, let us celebrate this occasion at home with sets PPE gown, gumboots, hand families, with utmost love in our hearts for all those gloves, eye glass, face mask, hand fighting in the frontlines of the crisis. Don't forget to check up on friends, colleagues and extended family for a sanitiser and carrying bag to address the outbreak.” remote Eid dawat this year! “ Eid Mubarak!”

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

Dear Colleagues

THE SHOCKING MAIL

With a very heavy heart, we are writing to inform you of the sudden demise of our dear colleague Abdus Salam, one of the members of the Country Office Transport Team. Salam, as he was popularly called, was a distinguished sportsperson and had no known underlying medical condition. On 12th May evening, he suddenly took very ill complaining of very severe muscular cramps in the belly, chest and neck. With help from the UN Physician, he was immediately transferred to the United Hospital and admitted in the Intensive Care Unit. A number of tests were carried out and a number of Senior Specialists also reviewed his condition but could not arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. Meanwhile with medication, the frequency of his seizures reduced considerably and also his pain fully subsided. As per the hospital’s protocol, a routine COVID19 test was carried out and the results were positive. The Hospital then moved him to an Isolation Unit in the same premises and continued treatment. His condition was seen to be improving and yesterday afternoon, he was reported as being able to walk and speak and also eat properly. He also did not have any pain. However, at 3 am this morning, he suffered another seizure that led to a severe cardiac arrest, causing immediate death. Salam is survived by his wife Asma and four year old son Atyef, who joined him in Dhaka just two months back. We are trying to reach out to them and see how best we can help them cope with this shock and sorrow. Colleagues in the office are already at the Hospital trying to make the best possible arrangements for his funeral. In mourning Mamun & Sudipto Dear colleagues,

THE EFFECT

I was so very sad when I heard that we had lost our dear friend and colleague, Salam, to COVID-19, on Saturday. I know how much he meant to all of you and that his absence will be keenly felt over the coming weeks and months. I was sorry I never had a chance to meet Salam but Sudipto and others have told me what a kind and generous person he was – always making time for his friends and colleagues, and ready to provide support to anyone who needed it. I know that he was very proud to work for the UN and for UNDP over the last 10 years and was incredibly professional in the work that he did.

This is a very difficult time, especially as we are not able to come together as friends and colleagues both to mourn Salam’s passing but also to celebrate his life. But I know that we will all remember him with fondness and gratitude for the service he provided and the friendship he shared. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and his family at this very sad time. Yours sincerely, Achim Steiner Dear Kanni & Valerie

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

Today is a rather sobering day for me – despite staying extra busy, I have remained distracted by fond thoughts of Salam and my what is certainly a personal loss – as Abdus Salam had been my smart, gentle and able Charioteer for the most part of my stay in Bangladesh, so far. This afternoon together with the Staff Association we gathered over ZOOM with nearly three hundred participants and we are grateful for UNRC Mia to be in our midst, as staff morale takes a serious beating. Salam had practically no close relatives in Dhaka, but many UN/UNDP colleagues jumped in to make sure that his final journey was one of dignity. I wish to recognize some of them, especially the entire Transport Fleet led by Habibur Rahman, their Manager Mohiuddin Ahamed, our Security Chief Sharif Bhuiyan, Assistant Resident Representative Khurshid Alam and our UN Physician Dr Sharif Ahmed Kaukab, for whom Abdus Salam was more friend than colleague as Salam worked for the UN Clinic in the initial years of his UN career. They traveled great distances just to ensure that Salam had a befitting funeral. Salam was buried strictly following WHO Protocols and his dear colleagues from the Transport Fleet accompanied the body (while following strict prevention measures) in the final journey and paid respect during his interment. Take care, stay safe and many thanks for reaching out – it did make a serious positive difference. SM

Dear Sudipto and our UNDP team Bangladesh, I was so deeply sorry and shocked to hear this sad news. I remember Salam well, when I visited you in February. He was valiant in his efforts to get us through the teeming throngs of crowds in Old Dhaka, and while we were getting impatient, Salam was calm and was driving with such care, and at the same time always looking for a safe way to get us moving through the narrow clogged streets with folks literally trying to hang on to our vehicle. In fact, I have some photographs taken over his left shoulder capturing the scene. He was also more worried than I was, that we would not make it our next appointment with the RC, in time. But he got us through and to Mia’s place as promised (and he never said ‘I told you so’ regarding this path through the old city, that we had him take!). Thank you to you, Mia, Van, the Transport, Security and UN Clinic colleagues and all the UNDP team who are rallying in support and in solidarity. These are indeed friendships and comraderies that go well beyond the call of work and duty. And Salam was part of a team that works that way, and it is good to see this hold so strong at this tragic time. I have let Achim also know, and he will be writing as well. Our HR colleagues are fully informed as well and stand ready to support the family and the team. Let me know if there is anything more we can do. It was the last mission I did before we shut down, and Salam was a key part of making it memorable. I will not forget his kind and welcoming spirit, and as it will be for all the UNDP team in Bangladesh, he will live on in our hearts and in our memories, each carrying a special moment shared with him. We all mourn with Salam’s dear family and with our team in Bangladesh. Our deepest condolences and in solidarity, Kanni, on behalf of RBAP.

43 MAY

28, 2020

This was definitely a different Eid-ul Fitr for everyone Staying at home, maintaining social distancing, praying alternatively and no visits to FnFs. But it was also an Eid where most people could spend in its entirety with their family. The UNDP Bangladesh family joined in for a quick zoom call to share Eid pleasantries. Eid Mubarak to all and thanks to those who joined in.

It was also also time time to to say say aagood goodbye bye to to one one of our own. Abdus Salam, or Salam Bhai as he was popularly known, passed away last week. On the day before Eid, we got together to reminiscence about him and pay our last respects as a family to our “football star”.

Meanwhile, our very own Rob was a panelist in UNDP global’s webinar on supporting migration and displacement in the new normal due to Covid-19. Over 3000 children from across Bangladesh have participated in our online book reading initiative which was organised to keep kids engaged during the coronavirus pandemic. The book, titled Transformers, was published jointly by UNDP and HerStory Foundation aiming to introduce young minds to the SDGs by featuring works and initiatives by 17 young Bangladeshi changemakers. Read more.

Under a unique partnership with Dhaka North City Corporation, we painted graffiti on the walls of Gulshan -2 DNCC market saluting the frontliners who are fighting COVID-19. The DNCC Mayor is expected to inaugurate the graffitis next week.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

44 JUNE

04, 2020

Things are slowly picking up at UNDP after an Eid break. This week, the private sector platform made further progress on finalising action plans focusing on healthcare, data analytics, new employment, and supply chain. With utmost cooperation from BIDA and private sector partners, we are making strides towards adapting to a “new normal” economy. Our EALG project has adapted to the times as efficiently as the project name suggests. Repurposing USD 7.71 million of their budget, the project will be working to reduce the likelihood of infections by creating mass awareness, providing preventive materials and PPE, and establishing handwash facilities at marketplaces and Union Parishads.

Meanwhile, as the first step towards normalization, a satellite office has been set up at Six Seasons. Till now, it has been used sparingly but the facility is great. It has projection facilities and 12 large tables along with tea and coffee, sanitization at the entry and sanitizers on the tables. Remember if you are tired of talking to Zoom, while sitting at home and looking for a place to concentrate on your work, we have your back. It does not get better than this. Book your tables here.

Even amid the pandemic, UNDP’s SIDA-funded Solid Waste Cleaning Campaign is in full swing at 27 Rohingya refugee camps. The work of this campaign is especially necessary at a time when hygiene is a top priority. Twelve camps have been cleaned of total 2,918 cubic metres of waste, benefitting 111,790 families.

Meanwhile, also in Cox’s Bazar, our C2RP colleagues has been hard at work with Cox's Bazar District Police, Community Policing Forums and Local Government bodies to raise awareness on COVID-19 pandemic and prevention in 54 Wards of 6 unions in Teknaf and Ukhiya. The 12-day program included 8-hour public miking a day to reach the residents of the selected wards. Transformers, a book that outlines 17 tales of SDG activation from 17 promising Bangladeshi youths, is a project very close to our hearts. Bringing everyone together amid a pandemic wouldn't be possible, so we took things online for a bigger, better audience.

On Wednesday, Sudipto da and HerStory Foundation’s Zareen Hosein sat down with six of our transformers, and students from four schools also attended the session! If you missed the Facebook Live, watch it here.

In an innovative gesture to recognise and thank the frontline workers for rendering essential services amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, we partnered with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), Gulshan Society, Cartoon People, and Aqua Paints to unveil two graffiti artworks at Gulshan 2, DCC market recently.

And the greatest news to announce always. Our UNDP family has gotten a tad bit bigger. Our very own Mabina Apa from finance has given birth to a baby boy on Wednesday. Both the baby and the new mother are doing well.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

45 JUNE

11, 2020

This week, we want to start with the memory of Md Fokhrul Kabir, Joint Secretary to the government of Bangladesh and also the Project Director of our National Resilience Programme (NRP) at Department of Women Affairs, who passed away from Covid-19 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital last Tuesday. He was 56 years old. UNDP and NRP expressed their deepest condolences for Mr Kabir’s family. “We are aggrieved by his demise and pray for the salvation of his soul. He was a man of integrity, with polite and amicable nature. He was always sincere to move the project forward and it is a great loss for us.”

The Academy of Law and Policy (ALAP) discussed the launch of Virtual Courts, supported by UNDP, in Bangladesh in a webinar last Wednesday, were our Deputy RR, Van Nguyen joined in to discuss UNDP’s vision of scaling up virtual courts and its prospects in Bangladesh, stressing the importance of effective collaboration to implement this mode of delivering justice. You can watch the session here.

K4DM has returned to its physical workspace at Economic Relations Division, where they have provided protective gear to 350 people including cleaners, office assistants, UN Wing officials and the Secretary’s office. The project has also installed 200 hand sanitiser dispensers in all buildings within the compound and arranged five litres of sanitiser for each dispenser, along with 500 awareness-raising posters.

EALG project has started distributing PPE that includes safety gowns, mask, hand sanitiser, gumboot, hand gloves, protective goggles, and soap, to its over 30,000 stakeholders. The project’s response initiative also includes awareness-raising activities and installation of handwash facilities in 251 unions of nine districts, benefiting around half a million people.

Asiatic EXP, Australian Non-Profit Organization LISTEN FOR INC; partnering with UNDP has come up with an initiative to help the COVID19 affected poor people through a global fund raising online concert, which will take place on 20 June at 8pm. The fund raised from the concert will be disbursed through UNDP’s COVID-19 response activities to help the helpless people. “mcœ‡i WvK - Unite in Tune” is launched today through a LIVE session where RR joined along with Mahmud Hossain Emon, Iresh Zaker, Bappa Mazumder, and Srikanta Acharya. For more information you can visit: https://swapner-daak.org/

Partnership of a Tolerant and Inclusive Bangladesh (PTIB) organised a webinar on the spread of disinformation, rumours and intolerance last Wednesday, where the project’s social media monitoring partner, SecDev and Technical Specialist Michael Page presented his findings from monitoring social media since March. The webinar was hosted by the International Community PCVE Working Group, chaired by the UNRCO.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

46 JUNE

18, 2020

Resident Representative Sudipto Mukerjee today presented the “Immediate Socio-Economic Response to COVID-19 in Bangladesh” on behalf of the United Nations in the country. It was part of the UNDAF Steering Committee meeting where high officials of 23 ministries of the government were present along with all the Head of UN Agencies. The plan aims to roll out a holistic response to this crisis that takes the needs of all communities into account to leave no one behind.

Our projects are continuing to benefit the communities they operate in, as SWAPNO has commenced life skills training at 99 unions of Jamalpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha districts simultaneously. Facilitated by union workers, this training on various topics such as nutrition, basic accounting, climate change adaptation, gender issues etc will continue till August 25 maintaining all hygiene and social distancing measures.

Our floor at IDB still remains the ghost of an office, however, two satellite offices have been set up at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in Agargaon and Six Seasons Hotel in Gulshan. Desks for one, with a bottle of hand sanitizer and masks on everyone’s faces – we are gradually adapting to the new normal of staying out.

Meanwhile, EALG project has been working hard as always, distributing PPEs to Raghunathpur Union Parishad’s personnel, staff and village police. The equipment includes gowns, goggles, and boots.

K4DM has been busy as usual, organising its ninth Executive Board Meeting last Sunday over Zoom, in presence of ERD Secretary Fatima Yasmin, UNDP RR and Deputy RR. It was decided in the meeting, that in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the K4DM Project would be extended from July to December 2020.

PTIB and partner SecDev organised a webinar training on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) analysis this Wednesday, where SecDev analysts gave a practical explanation of the monitoring and analysis of disinformation and violence extremism contents on social media. The training was followed by an exciting and interactive Q/A session where participants shared their queries and experience.

The flagship LIUPC project is standing by the urban poor at the sprawling port city, where Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin inaugurated a food distribution programme this week.

Another attempt to leave no one behind, as UNDP Bangladesh in collaboration with HEKS/EPER, a Switzerland based international NGO, organized a food distribution programme for plainland Indigenous communities and urban Dalits living in Dinajpur Sadar and Birganj Upazila. Under this initiative, almost 3000 households, that are suffering due to loss of livelihoods, are benefitted.

47 JUNE

25, 2020

Bangladesh has the largest United Nations Volunteers programme in the world, with 20 international and 213 national members! We are followed by Kenya, Columbia and South Sudan in terms of the scale of UNV programme. The UNV Bangladesh newsletter, with a focus on UNV’s response at Rohingya camps, was released recently.

Anondomela is an online marketplace, patroned by UNDP, which gives small and medium entrepreneurs a chance to take their business online. They have full freedom to set up their shop in the platform, and they attended a two-day training programme to familiarise themselves with the platform.

On a week of wholesome events, Sudipto da paid a Zoom visit to a group of children from Australian International School. The children, who are working on a project focusing on SDG-15 (Life on Land), said in thankyou note, “We are pleased to know that Mr Mukerjee appreciated our work! He made us feel comfortable like we are friends from the start and inspired us to be more responsible about the environment.”

UNYSAB organised a live online dialogue titled COVID-19 Crisis: Youth Budget and Women Empowerment on Wednesday, moderated by our very own Sharmin Islam. Sudipto da was part of this ensemble panel, which included Shaheen Anam, Zuena Aziz, Nahim Razzaq, and Shammy Wadud. Watch it here.

UNDP COVID19 Response Coverage Report 18 June 2020 Key Highlights:

The following information reflects the summary of COVID response of different projects of UNDP as of 18 June 2020. The report contains the progress of the following projects: HRP, PTIB, a2i, EALG, SFLP, DRRF, SID-CHT, NUPRP, ICBAAR, SWAPNO, LOGIC and Cox’s Sub-office.

Beneficiary Coverage:

A total of 14.09 million people already reached with different support initiatives e.g. awareness, hygiene kits and facilities. The beneficiary coverage is almost 125% of the target. The beneficiary coverage includes more than 67 thousand persons with disability and more than 59 thousands of LNOB (such as minority, ethnic).

District Coverage:

While a2i and PTIB’s covers nationwide; ten other projects have the coverage in 19 districts.

Support to Subsistence/ Livelihoods:

HRP, SWAPNO and NUPRP have provided food baskets as part of the emergency support. A total of 23,693 (i.e. around 19% of the target) food baskets have been distributed among the most vulnerable people including dalits, ethnic minorities, trans-gender, and other vulnerable and marginal communities. In-cash support has been provided to 84,089 beneficiaries by SWAPNO, SFLP, ICBAAR and COX’s Bazar Sub-office project- the coverage is only 77% of the total targeted beneficiary.

Support through disseminating Preventive Materials Many preventive materials, as given in the following table, have been distributed by a2i, EALG, Cox’s Sub-office, DRRF, SWAPNO, NUPRP and DRRF. Number of Preventive materials Provided

Number of Soap Distributed

Number of Sanitizer Distributed

Number of Masks Distributed

Number of PPE (package) Distributed

Number of Gloves Distributed

Target: 2,757,954 Achievement : 2,612,479

Target: 2,880,790 Achievement : 2,615,027

Target: 283,092 Achievement : 268,869

Target: 36,024 Achievement : 30,027

Target: 22,040 Achievement : 22,651

Target: 60,269 Achievement : 66,244

Number of Safety Gumboot Distributed

Number of Eye Protection Glass Distributed

Target: 3,151 Achievement : 3,151

Target: 7,781 Achievement : 7,781

Moreover, a total of 5,980 hand washing facility/corner has been installed/constructed by NUPRP and Cox’s Sub-office projects.

Support for Raising Awareness Development and sharing of contents by different projects (e.g. a2i, PTIB, SWAPNO, LOGIC, Cox’s Sub-office, EALG etc.) for awareness raising are given below:

Number of Awareness Content Developed: 1,292

Number of Awareness Raising Materials Distributed: 569,960

Number of Posts shared to Social Media: 3,030

Service Provided by Web portal 4,266 Doctors

20.76 million calls

4,266 volunteer Doctors mobilized in the Doctors Pool Mobile App who are responding to the calls coming from citizens on nCOVID-19

8.76 million citizens reached out for public services through www.corona.gov.bd

20.76 million calls received from citizen regarding COVID-19 related inquiries through 333 Call Center

Online Courses Around 0.34 million learners enrolled in the Online Courses on nCOVID-19 through the support of a2i and LOGIC project

Number of graduates of Coronavirus related course: 2,466,781

Number of learners covered from Pre-primary and Primary level on COVID-19 digital contents: 21,514,385

1,315 online classes (220% of the target) taken for the class VI- X engaging 44.41 million students and 1040 teachers ( more than 260% of the target) through the support of a2i project

Other Support:

DRRF and other projects are providing necessary support to Government for policy directives and planning for nCOVID19 response. DRRF is providing support in dead body management of COVID deceased.

Thanks to the efforts of Khurshid Bhai and his team, we now have access to weekly reports that detail on COVID activity updates every week. Read it here.

Swapner Daak, an online concert for fundraising, took off last Saturday in different parts of the world, including Bangladesh, Europe, Australia and North America. More than million people watched the concert LIVE from UNDP Bangladesh Facebook page. With brilliant musical performances from Arka Mukherjee, Bappa Mazumder, Partha Barua, Shafin Ahmed and more renowned artists, this concert, organised by Asiatic EXP and LISTEN FOR INC will disburse the funds through UNDP’s COVID-19 response activities on the field to help people below poverty. The platform remains open for donation: https://swapner-daak.org/.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

48 JULY

02, 2020

UNDP has been building a steady online presence during this time of staying at home, by taking our many discussions online. Moderated by Sharmin Islam, last week’s Diversity Talks tackled the issue of domestic violence during the pandemic. The LIVE video was watched by almost 10,000 people on Facebook, where Van Nguyen, Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, Palash Das, Farhana Muna and Salma Mahbub touched on the issue in detail. If you missed the show, here it is...

UNDP’s Disaster Risk Management project handed over 1500 sets of PPE to Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) volunteers, with support from the government of Japan. This initiative came right in time for monsoon and CPP volunteers in both camps and host communities will get to use them.

UNDP has partnered with multi-sectoral civic platform Healthy Bangladesh and research activist centre PPRC to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) support to nearly 3000 municipal cleaners in 16 Paurashavas and one City Corporation of Bangladesh.

Since going back to work at ERD, K4DM project has been adapting its premises to the new normal. A handwashing plant was set up last week, with four sinks, constant supply of disinfectant-mixed water, automated hand-dryer, and detailed instructions on handwashing. This plant will be accessible to all officials, staff and visitors.

Two people who have been with the UNDP family through thick and thin in the past years, always lighting up our day with a bright smile, bid us farewell last week. The pandemic did not allow the typically vibrant party with food and music, but zoom came to our rescue in saying a proper goodbye to Sonia Mehzabeen and Mariam Akther Rikta. We wish them nothing but the very best for the future!

Another edition of Peace Talk Cafe was organised last week, which tackled the issue of stigmatisation faced by frontline workers and patients of Covid-19. Moderated by Nobonita Chowdhury, the discussion touched on new perspectives from medical personnel, media personalities and police. Watch it here.

UNDP Bangladesh in collaboration with the Bangkok Regional Hub launched the Future of Work lab and an accompanying report today, with a view to facilitating south-south cooperation. This lab will help the country's economy recover through the correct allocation of human resources, bridging the supply-demand gap, and readying individuals, businesses and the government for the future of world economy, which will be marked by increased automation. Here is the video link.

Meanwhile, our deputy RR Van Nguyen brought good news to The Week, as she explains our financial performance dashboard is “as green as green can be” for the first time this month. Do check it out, even if you’re colour blind!

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org

49 JULY

09, 2020

Our COVID-19 Response and Recovery Private Sector Platform held another meeting this week, this time discussing the progress so far, and the UN Framework for the Immediate Socio-economic Response To Covid-19 (SERF).

Wednesday was a major day of our Greening the Blue initiative. The action plan for 2020, detailed on by Mamun Bhai, and the paperless policy, detailed on by Munir Bhai, were adapted and shared with colleagues through a webinar.

Sharmeela, our Chief Technical Advisor of Human Rights Programme, attended her last Project Advisory meeting, as she will be singing off from Bangladesh to join UN Women in Pakistan as the Resident Representative. And what better farewell tribute can Bangladesh give than a historic parliamentary approval of the Virtual Courts Bill for which Sharmeela has been toiling hard with the HRP and a2i Teams for the past two months. Here is a glimpse of her journey with us, courtesy of her team. Good Luck from all of us, you will be missed around the workplace.

UNDP has partnered with Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Al-Markazul Islami for burial management in a safe manner. Under this initiative, Al-Markazul Islami has been conducting a series of training sessions across the country in association with city corporations and forming zone-wise Burial Management Team (BMT), they will be given the necessary protective equipment alongside other materials to carry out burials properly.

Community Recovery and Resilience Project (C2RP) through UNDP TRAC II fund has handed over hygiene and other safety materials to Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and district police of Coxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bazar. The items include full sets of PPE, hand sanitiser, savlon, liquid soap, large sprayer for disinfection and surgical masks. C2RP team has also been active in raising awareness together with the police.

Virtual bootcamp StartKoro recently concluded, where ten top ideas emerged from 800+ registered participants. The top ideas were able to pitch in front of an expert jury board, and from there, three winners will get USD 1500 ads credits from Facebook DevC.

Good news amidst the Pandemic!! Activating Village Court (AVCB II) project now has more time to serve the marginalized people, as the project is extended up to June 22. Congratulations to AVCB Team.

If you have any queries or feedback let us know at communications.bgd@undp.org