CPD Annual Report 2019 CPD Annual Report 2019 Published in July 2020 by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) House 40/C, Road No 11 (new) Dhanmondi, Dhaka – 1209 Bangladesh Telephone: (+88 02) 55001185, 48118090 Fax: (+88 02) 55001181 Web: www.cpd.org.bd E-mail: [email protected] © Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) 2020 Design concept by Avra Bhattacharjee Contents Message from Chairman and Executive Director 04 Remembering Sir Fazle Hasan Abed 07 CPD’s Focus, Vision, Mission and Objectives 09 Macroeconomic Policy Analysis 10 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 Good Governance 23 Youth and Employment 25 Human Development and Social Protection 28 Regional Cooperation 31 Special News 36 Capacity Development 40 Institutional Structure 44 Financial Aairs 50 (partnership). CPD researchers have In keeping with its traditions, CPD CPD’s Research, Dialogue, Finance and implemented the study on Four Years successfully hosted its fth anniversary Administration divisions have provided Message from of SDGs in Bangladesh: Measuring lecture. We invited Dr. Mario Pezzini, relentless cooperation to perform our Progress and Charting the Path Director of the OECD Development goals smoothly. Sincere thanks are due Forward that provides an Centre and Special Advisor to the OECD to our Distinguished Fellows Dr CHAIRMAN evidence-based assessment of the Secretary General on Development. Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and Professor progress made so far and the possible Pezzini delivered his lecture on New Mustazur Rahman for their guidance challenges for realisation of the 2030 Perspective on Global Development: and intellectual input. We further and Agenda. The research also suggests the National and International Ways recognise with appreciation the possible pathways for overcoming Forward. He highlighted the need for stewardship of Research Director Dr these challenges. The ndings of such people-oriented global development Khondoker Golam Moazzem and Executive research were shared at a programme policies towards sustainable develop- Finance Director Mr Shaqul Islam. In participated by policymakers, experts ment. April 2019, CPD’s Director of Dialogue and representatives of development and Communications Ms Anisatul Director partners. CPD received excellent We lost the visionary leader Sir Fazle Fatema Yousuf, after almost 18 years of cooperation from various government Hasan Abed this year. He was a service, retired from CPD. She has been departments and the Ministry of founding member of CPD’s Board of CPD’s public face and played a pivotal Planning for implementing the SDGs Trustees and the founder and Chairper- role in our public engagement and in related activities. son of BRAC, the largest non-govern- eciently connecting CPD with its ment organisation in the world. CPD broader stakeholders. We express our We are happy to present the Annual ers assessed the state of the Bangla- in this regard analysed the dynamics This year, CPD also worked on a host of family mourns the demise of this deepest gratitude for her dedicated Report 2019 of the Centre for Policy desh economy and put forward and challenges of delivering public other issues. These include youth legendary personality who guided us service to the Centre. Dialogue (CPD). The Centre has passed recommendations for the national services in a number of areas including employment, social protection, wage through his extraordinary organisation- another productive year with several budget. Additionally, we have under- agriculture, vulnerable group develop- for the workers in the readymade al vision. We pay our deepest respects Finally, we would like to thank our creative activities that range from taken in-depth thematic studies on a ment, education, health and WASH. garments sector, a universal pension to him. friends and well-wishers for their research to dialogue, publication and number of sectors. One of the signi- CPD organised a daylong event to scheme, Bangladesh’s smooth gradua- continuous support and encourage- outreach. CPD researchers generated cant works in 2019 was that CPD discuss these issues where more than tion from the least developed country Our various work programmes, ment in our mission toward establish- new knowledge and published undertook a review of the policy about 650 participants from across the (LDC) category, and Bangladesh’s demonstrating quality and rigour, ing a just and equitable society research reports and briefs on import- interventions made by the newly country attended and highlighted their perspectives on the Belt and Road would not be possible without the through knowledge generation and ant issues which are critical for elected government during the rst concerns as well as demands for better Initiative (BRI) initiated by China. commitment and hard work of each policy advocacy. Bangladesh’s development. Their 100 days of the government in oce. service delivery. Such events were also and every member of the CPD family. scholarship was shared with a broader This was a continuation of CPD’s work organised by CPD at the district level. community of stakeholders, including on highlighting the priority areas for policymakers, with the objective of political parties prior to the national CPD, along with the SDG Platform, has shaping policies. While selecting elections held in December 2018. also implemented a research themes for its activities, CPD kept its programme on the state of the SDGs in focus on the core issues such as The Sustainable Development Goals Bangladesh. Partners of the SDG reducing inequality and vulnerability of (SDGs) are another important focus of Platform have prepared six reports on the poor through inclusive growth. CPD’s work. In 2019, CPD, as the the themes of the 2019 High-Level coordinator and secretariat of the Political Forum which include SDG4 CPD continued to work on its agship Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh (education), SDG 8 (decent work), programme titled Independent Review (SDG Platform), worked on localising SDG10 (reduced inequality), SDG 13 of Bangladesh’s Development (IRBD). the SDGs in Bangladesh through (climate action), SDG 16 (peace, justice Under this programme, CPD research- research and outreach. CPD’s activities and strong institutions), and SDG 17 (partnership). CPD researchers have In keeping with its traditions, CPD CPD’s Research, Dialogue, Finance and implemented the study on Four Years successfully hosted its fth anniversary Administration divisions have provided of SDGs in Bangladesh: Measuring lecture. We invited Dr. Mario Pezzini, relentless cooperation to perform our Progress and Charting the Path Director of the OECD Development goals smoothly. Sincere thanks are due Forward that provides an Centre and Special Advisor to the OECD to our Distinguished Fellows Dr evidence-based assessment of the Secretary General on Development. Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya and Professor progress made so far and the possible Pezzini delivered his lecture on New Mustazur Rahman for their guidance challenges for realisation of the 2030 Perspective on Global Development: and intellectual input. We further Agenda. The research also suggests the National and International Ways recognise with appreciation the possible pathways for overcoming Forward. He highlighted the need for stewardship of Research Director Dr these challenges. The ndings of such people-oriented global development Khondoker Golam Moazzem and research were shared at a programme policies towards sustainable develop- Finance Director Mr Shaqul Islam. In participated by policymakers, experts ment. April 2019, CPD’s Director of Dialogue and representatives of development and Communications Ms Anisatul partners. CPD received excellent We lost the visionary leader Sir Fazle Fatema Yousuf, after almost 18 years of cooperation from various government Hasan Abed this year. He was a service, retired from CPD. She has been departments and the Ministry of founding member of CPD’s Board of CPD’s public face and played a pivotal Planning for implementing the SDGs Trustees and the founder and Chairper- role in our public engagement and in related activities. son of BRAC, the largest non-govern- eciently connecting CPD with its ment organisation in the world. CPD broader stakeholders. We express our We are happy to present the Annual ers assessed the state of the Bangla- in this regard analysed the dynamics This year, CPD also worked on a host of family mourns the demise of this deepest gratitude for her dedicated Report 2019 of the Centre for Policy desh economy and put forward and challenges of delivering public other issues. These include youth legendary personality who guided us service to the Centre. Dialogue (CPD). The Centre has passed recommendations for the national services in a number of areas including employment, social protection, wage through his extraordinary organisation- another productive year with several budget. Additionally, we have under- agriculture, vulnerable group develop- for the workers in the readymade al vision. We pay our deepest respects Finally, we would like to thank our creative activities that range from taken in-depth thematic studies on a ment, education, health and WASH. garments sector, a universal pension to him. friends and well-wishers for their research to dialogue, publication and number of sectors. One of the signi- CPD organised a daylong event to scheme, Bangladesh’s smooth gradua- continuous support and encourage- outreach. CPD researchers generated cant works in 2019 was that CPD discuss these issues where more than