Bangladesh, UNOPS ink deal to boost female peacekeeper training

The Government of Bangladesh and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have signed a project document aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) to train female peacekeepers.

The agreement was signed by Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and Sudhir Muralidharan, Country Manager of UNOPS Bangladesh, at the ERD office in the capital.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Army Headquarters, Armed Forces Division (AFD), BIPSOT, ERD, the Ministry of Finance, the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations, and UNOPS.

ERD Secretary Siddiky emphasized the importance of promoting gender equity and increasing female participation in UN peacekeeping missions, calling the project a key step in this direction. The initiative will include the construction of a dedicated accommodation facility for female peacekeepers undergoing pre-deployment training, ensuring proper housing during their training.

The project, funded by EIF and implemented by UNOPS in collaboration with BIPSOT, will build a G+2 dormitory with facilities to house 60 female peacekeepers. This initiative aligns with international commitments, including UNSCR 1325 and SDGs 5, 10, 16, and 17. The project is set to last three years, with an estimated budget of USD 997,336.