The Second Strengthening Social Resilience Program, as described by Country Director Edimon Ginting, focuses on accelerating reforms to extend coverage and efficiency of social protection, enhance financial inclusion for marginalized communities, and bolster responses to diverse protection needs. This initiative builds on the success of the initial Strengthening Social Resilience Program, concluded in June 2022, aiming to enhance the policy, regulatory, and institutional framework supporting social protection in Bangladesh.
Aligned with the government’s Action Plan Phase II of the National Social Security Strategy (2021-2026), the program aims to fortify the preventive and protective capabilities of Bangladesh’s social protection system. It targets to streamline management of social protection programs, expand protection for the most vulnerable groups, and introduce contributory schemes to broaden social protection coverage, thereby reducing vulnerability and poverty risks.
Key program features include a beneficiary survival verification system to curb leaks in cash-based social protection programs, consolidation of disability-focused cash programs for efficiency, and integration of climate-resilient measures to mitigate vulnerability to climate change-induced disasters.
Moreover, ADB’s support extends to enhancing support for vulnerable groups such as women and transgender individuals, by increasing beneficiaries under widow allowance programs and expanding coverage of livelihood support for transgender communities. Additionally, Bangladesh Bank is set to double funding for the Small Enterprise Refinancing Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs, enhancing financial access for women in small business.
The program also prioritizes strengthening governance mechanisms within sectors like the ready-made garments industry through initiatives like the employment injury scheme pilot. It further supports establishing a tripartite committee under the Ministry of Labour and Employment to advance social insurance schemes for workers.
To facilitate effective program implementation, ADB will provide a $1 million grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund (TASF 7), alongside another $1 million from the ADB-administered Community Resilience Partnership Program Trust Fund, aimed at bolstering capacity building, technical analyses, and policy support for relevant government agencies.
This partnership underscores ADB’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh in enhancing its social protection infrastructure, ensuring a more inclusive and resilient future for all citizens.
