UNCLASSIFIED BANGLADESH COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION STRATEGY (CDCS) i DECEMBER 2020 – DECEMBER 2025 APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................... i TABLES AND FIGURES .................................................................................................................................................. iii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................................... iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................. 1 COUNTRY CONTEXT .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Democracy and Governance ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Economy .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Environmental Vulnerabilities ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Human Capital (Health, Education, Workforce Development) ........................................................................ 7 COVID-19....................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Social Vulnerabilities ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Refugee Displacement and Impacted Communities ............................................................................................. 8 Government of Bangladesh Priorities ...................................................................................................................... 9 Country Roadmap Analysis ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Country Transition Planning ..................................................................................................................................... 10 STRATEGIC APPROACH ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Integrated Development Objectives Optimize Linkages Across Sectors ...................................................... 11 Inclusion as a Cross-Cutting Issue .......................................................................................................................... 11 Building Commitment and Capacity for the Journey to Self-Reliance ............................................................ 12 Engaging the Private Sector .................................................................................................................................. 12 Financing Self-Reliance ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Redefining Our Development Relationship with the Government of Bangladesh ...................................... 13 The Role of Civil Society and Citizens ................................................................................................................... 14 Efforts of Other USG Actors and Other Donors ............................................................................................... 14 RESULTS FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................................................... 16 Goal Statement ............................................................................................................................................................ 16 DO 1: Improved Democratic Systems that Promote Transparency, Accountability, and Integrity ....... 17 IR 1.1: Enhanced Governance and Fiscal Integrity of Institutions ............................................................... 18 IR 1.2: Improved Fundamental Freedoms and Rights .................................................................................... 19 IR 1.3: Improved Political Processes .................................................................................................................. 20 DO 2: Enhanced Opportunities for an Inclusive, Healthy, Educated Society, and a Robust Economy .. 21 i IR 2.1 Improved Capacity of Organizations and Leaders to Advocate for Inclusive Growth ............. 22 IR 2.2: Enhanced Capacity of the Private Sector to Provide Services and Generate Revenues .......... 23 IR 2.3: Increased Capacity of Bangladeshis to Pursue Prosperous and Healthy Lives ........................... 24 DO 3: Strengthened Resilience to Shocks and Stressors .................................................................................. 26 IR 3.1: Improved Capacity to Mitigate Shocks and Stressors ...................................................................... 27 IR 3.2: Enhanced Ability to Adapt to and Recover from Shocks and Stressors ...................................... 29 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING ............................................................................................... 30 ANNEX .............................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Journey to Self-Reliance Bangladesh Country Roadmap ................................................................................... 33 ii TABLES AND FIGURES Figure 1. USAID CDCS Results Framework ............................................................................................................... 5 Table 1: Goal Assumptions and Risks ......................................................................................................................... 17 Table 2. Development Objective 1 and Associated Intermediate Results ......................................................... 17 Table 3. Development Objective 1 Assumptions and Risks .................................................................................. 21 Table 4. Development Objective 2 and Associated Intermediate Results ......................................................... 21 Table 5. Development Objective 2 Assumptions and Risks .................................................................................. 25 Table 6. Development Objective 3 and Associated Intermediate Results ......................................................... 26 Table 7. Development Objective 3 Assumptions and Risks .................................................................................. 30 Table 8. Learning Questions ......................................................................................................................................... 31 Table 9. Integration Learning Questions .................................................................................................................... 31 iii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ADB Asian Development Bank BHA Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance CDCS Country Development Cooperation Strategy CEFM Child, Early, and Forced Marriage COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease 2019 CSO Civil Society Organization DO Development Objective DoJ Department of Justice DoS Department of State DRG Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance DSA Digital Security Act EG Economic Growth FDI Foreign Direct Investment FFP Food for Peace FSR Financing Self-Reliance FTF Feed the Future FY Fiscal Year GBV Gender Based Violence GDP Gross Domestic Product GFSS Global Food Security Strategy GHP Global Health Programs GoB Government of Bangladesh ICT Information and Communications Technology IPTI Indo-Pacific Transparency Initiative IR Intermediate Result J2SR Journey to Self-Reliance JSP Joint Strategic Plan LCG Local Consultative Group iv LDC Least Developed Country LMIC Lower-Middle Income Country MEL Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning MoE Ministry of Education MoPME Ministry of Primary and Mass Education NBR National Board of Revenue NGO Non-Governmental Organization NPA National Plan of Action NPI New Partnerships Initiative NRM Natural Resource Management NSS National Security Strategy PMP Performance Management Plan PRM Population, Refugees, and Migration PSE Private Sector Engagement RF Results Framework RMG Ready-Made Garments RoL Rule of Law SRLA Self-Reliance Learning Agenda STEM Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics TIP Trafficking-in-Persons UMIC Upper-Middle Income Country U.S. United States USAID United States Agency for International Development USD United States Dollars USG U.S. Government WBG World Bank Group WePOWER Women in Power Sector Professional Network v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Strategically located in South Asia, Bangladesh is a key Indo-Pacific partner with huge development potential. In recent decades, it has experienced consistent economic growth, made impressive gains in educational attainment and health, and hosted a vibrant civil society. Bangladesh also faces formidable challenges.