Sweden and UN Women have officially launched a new partnership agreement worth $7.1 million aimed at promoting gender equality in Bangladesh. This initiative will focus on areas such as climate resilience, governance, and humanitarian efforts, with a particular emphasis on supporting Rohingya communities.

The agreement was signed at the UN Women’s office in Dhaka. It aligns with both the organization’s 2022-2026 Strategic Note and Bangladesh’s national development objectives within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation.

Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks expressed his country’s commitment, stating, “Sweden firmly believes that gender equality is essential for building a sustainable, democratic, and inclusive society. We are excited to partner with UN Women to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in Bangladesh.” He highlighted that the collaboration aims to provide women and girls with opportunities to lead and contribute to a more inclusive society.

UN Women Representative Ms. Gitanjali Singh also commented on the partnership, noting, “This collaboration enables UN Women to continue its life-saving work in disaster risk reduction and the Rohingya response while expanding efforts so women and girls can voice and influence actions that make gender equality a lived reality.”

Sweden has a history of supporting UN Women’s initiatives in Bangladesh, having previously funded projects focused on disaster resilience and the Regional EmPower program. This program aims to facilitate gender-responsive climate action by connecting 100 women-led organizations across the country with local solutions for climate challenges and sustainable livelihoods.