MoU signed to train civil servants

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard with Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC), Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy (BCSAA), Academy for Planning and Development (APD) and National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM) at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel in the city yesterday.

One of the main objectives of the project is to provide gender sensitive training to government officials at the policy, project and administration levels through building the capacity of the four national training institutions.

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Minister for Women and Children Affairs Khurshid Zahan Haq attended the signing ceremony as chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, Khurshid Zahan said the government has recognised and identified gender training as a key instrument for building capacity of government officials towards strengthening gender governance.

She further said that the government has realised that gender issues and concerns have to be mainstreamed in the development activities of all sectors at the policy, programmes and project levels during their design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Bangladesh has already made considerable progress in introducing a gender governance system, but it is still considered necessary to address knowledge gaps and increase technical capacity among government officials at all levels, she added.

The minister hoped that government officials at various levels would be able to enhance technical knowledge through the implementation of the project.

"I believe that this is a mammoth task because it is not you and me, individuals, groups and organisations, but the whole society and effectively the whole nation that need to be involved," said UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Larry Maramis.

Earlier, in her welcome address UNDP's gender expert Dr Shirley Randell commented that the project was lending the world with its commitment to achieve good governance through training key officials.

Women and Children Affairs Secretary Mortuza Hossain Munshi and National Project Director Jahirul Haq spoke on the occasion while senior government and UNDP officials were present.

The project was formulated in 1998, but it had to face considerable delay due to various obstacles and later it was revised and formally started this year. The project is due to complete in June 2006.