USAID OFFICE OF FOOD FOR PEACE FOOD SECURITY COUNTRY FRAMEWORK FOR BANGLADESH FY 2015–2019

According to the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, fertility rates have fallen to 2.3 births per woman, maternal and under-5 mortality have been dramatically reduced to 194 per 100,000 live births and 53 per 1,000 live births respectively, national immunization coverage has reached near universal levels (86%), treatment of diarrhea is at 81%, and more women have access to education than ever before as 63% of women 15–49 years of age are literate. However, the country continues to be among the poorest in the world. It is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and risks from climate change. Gender inequalities disempower and exclude women from fully accessing their rights and negatively affect their health and food security, food production falls short of total consumption needs, and inadequate livelihood opportunities have encouraged a rural to urban migration for low paying jobs that has led to a large expansion of urban slums in major cities and secondary municipalities. The overall goal of the FFP program in Bangladesh is to reduce chronic and acute malnutrition and food insecurity, and improve resilience to disasters among vulnerable populations. Addressing undernutrition in the first 1,000 days, from pregnancy to 2 years of age, can protect the cognitive and growth potential of children and maximize the positive benefits for communities and the nation through increased future productivity. FFP projects are well placed to address the multisectoral causes of undernutrition through supporting proven maternal and child health and nutrition (MCHN) approaches, built on a sound understanding of the local context and well integrated with livelihoods, agriculture, and other programming. Implementation details for the FFP program in Bangladesh include a focus on depth over reach, with an intensive multisectoral approach to maximize nutritional outcomes. This approach is recommended over extensive geographic and beneficiary project coverage. The program will prioritize support for proven MCHN approaches, built on a sound understanding of the local context and well integrated with livelihoods, agriculture, and other programming.