The Asia Foundation

Promoting gender equity and women's rights within an Islamic framework in South Asia, as part of a regional program across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan through: developing a training curriculum for Muslim leaders on women's human rights; fostering an exchange of ideas and discourse in South Asia on the relationship of Islam, human rights, and women's rights; creating a locally appropriate training curriculum for religious leaders in South Asia to advance social justice for women; and expanding and strengthening regional networks of Muslim scholars and leaders working to advance women's rights in the context of Islam.

Local Partners:

Islamic Foundation Bangladesh; Islamic University Kushtia

Promoting gender equity and women's rights within an Islamic framework in South Asia, as part of a regional program across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan through: developing a training curriculum for Muslim leaders on women's human rights; fostering an exchange of ideas and discourse in South Asia on the relationship of Islam, human rights, and women's rights; creating a locally appropriate training curriculum for religious leaders in South Asia to advance social justice for women; and expanding and strengthening regional networks of Muslim scholars and leaders working to advance women's rights in the context of Islam.

A 10-day observation program as part of The Asia Foundation's Promoting Democratic Institutions and Practices program in Bangladesh, which involved leadership training, witnessing hearings and meeting with congressional leaders on Capitol Hill, visiting Washington area NGO leaders focusing on women's issues, and meeting with the Maryland state legislature's Women's Caucus.

Acquisition and distribution of 54,610 books and journals to 422 schools, universities, public libraries, and other institutions throughout Bangladesh.

Providing filters for clean drinking water to hundreds of families in vulnerable areas of Bangladesh.

Local Partner:

Rupantar

Delivering intensive training and facilitation to both local police and communities to create effective and sustainable community policing forums in communities across Bangladesh's northwestern Rajishahi and Rangpur Divisions.

Local Partners:

Gana Unnayan Kendra; Light House; Manab Kallyan Parishad; RDRS

Support for environmental leaders from Bangladesh, China, India and Nepal to participate in the Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program at the University of California, Berkeley.

Supporting two Shelter Homes for women victims of domestic violence to provide comprehensive psychosocial services to support vulnerable women and children, by providing counseling, medical aid, vocational training, education, and reintegration.

Local Partner:

Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association

Strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations to promote free and fair elections and improve the accountability of elected officials and institutions between elections. Enhancing the independence of the Bangladesh Election Commission and strengthening its capacity to manage a transparent, accountable, and participatory electoral process.

Local Partner:

Election Working Group

Strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations for voter education, election observation, and advocacy for electoral reform. Supporting the Election Working Group coalition during local government elections to undertake voter and civic education programs, a pre-election survey, and pre-election, election-day and post-election observation.

Local Partner:

Election Working Group

Facilitating training and exchange programs for other Asia Foundation offices, including: participation by three Indian experts in the Asian Approaches to Development Cooperation Dialogue; visits to New Delhi by four senior facilitators of the Nepal Transition to Peace project; participation by two Indians in a Leaders of Influence study program in Bangladesh; participation of 50 Afghan students in English-language training programs in Chandigarh and Hyderabad; and placement and monitoring of two Luce Scholars in India.

Engaging prominent intellectuals and retired diplomats/ambassadors from India and Bangladesh to explore priority areas for mutual collaboration between the two countries, including economic development and trade, transport and connectivity, water sharing, migration, climate change, education, culture, and people to people contact.

Local Partner:

Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies

Enhancing the capacity of religious and secular leaders of influence to contribute to national development and democratic reform efforts, to preserve and promote values of democracy, tolerance, diversity, social harmony, and understanding in Bangladeshi society.

Local Partners:

Local Partners: Bangladesh Centre for Communication Programs; Data International Ltd.; Imam Training Academy of the Islamic Foundation; Rupantar

Advancing the case for reforms that simplify business operations and reduce the informal costs of doing business at the subnational level. Improving the climate for rural small and medium enterprise activity and contributing to poverty reduction by stimulating private sector growth at the subnational level. Promoting a more business-friendly economic environment in the districts covered by the program, and an environment for more inclusive policymaking and regulatory formulation.

Conducting a study to provide a clearer picture of who-is-doing-what in climate change related activities and analyzing and identifying critical gaps and challenges to operationalize climate change adaptation policies, from the national to the local level.

Contributing to creating an effective and open parliament and promoting constructive engagement of parliamentary and civil society actors in research-based policymaking and legislation, as well as executive branch performance.

Local Partner:

State University of New York's Center for International Development

Facilitating the participation of six Indian experts in a dialogue on "Bangladesh-India Relations: The Way Forward" organized in collaboration with the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Local Partner:

Kunzru Centre for Defence Studies

Identifying best practices and providing recommendations for promoting public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Bangladesh. Supporting exposure visits for government, private sector and civil society representatives to Asian countries successfully implementing PPPs, and convening a national dialogue between different stakeholders to take this agenda forward.

An event to release Asia Foundation book on Strengthening Local Economic Governance In Asia: Experience and Innovations, featuring case studies on Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.

Conducting education and outreach to ensure voter participants are informed and come from a range of backgrounds, including poor and marginalized groups (especially women). Nationwide election observation to ensure elections are conducted in a transparent, free, and fair way, and in compliance with established voting regulations.

Local Partner:

Election Working Group

Promoting access to safe drinking water through community partnerships with local business associations in Jessore and Rangpur districts.

Developing and producing informational materials on national development themes for the Leaders of Influence Program.

Research on electoral reform in Bangladesh.

Funding for the executive director of BELA to participate in the University of California Berkeley's Environmental Leadership Program 10th Anniversary observance as a 2003 alumna of the program and also recipient of the 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize.

Establishing two regional domestic violence shelters for women for pursuing justice through legal aid and community mediation.

Acquisition and distribution of 56,000 donated books, journals, and software to hundreds of schools, universities, and other recipient institutions.

Convening former Indian and Bangladeshi diplomats and experts in dialogue to develop a set of recommendations on practical opportunities to advance Bangladesh-India relations.

Survey field research and data analysis to determine MDG progress in select parliamentary constituencies.

Association for Community Development; Action on Disability and Development; Banchte Shekha; Bangladesh Center for Development Journalism & Communication; Bangladesh Development Society; Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sammonny Parishad; Coast Trust; Dak Diye Jai; Democracy Watch; Institute for Environment and Development; Gono Kalayan Sangstha; Gono Unnayan Kendra; Jagoroni Chakra Foundation; Khan Foundation; Lighthouse; Mass-line Media Centre; Manabik Shahajya Sangstha; Nabolok; National Development Program; Noakhali Rural Development Society; Palashipara Samaj Kallayan Samity; RDRS Bangladesh; Right Jessore; Rupantar; Shariatpur Development Society; Solidarity; Srizony; Uttaran and Wave Foundation.

Grant and technical support for 30 member organizations of the Election Working Group national coalition for program activities to promote registration of voters during the updating of the electoral roll; and for election observation and voter and civic education for a major city election.

Baseline research study to assess impact of domestic violence shelter services on women’s willingness to pursue resolution of disputes through mediation or court remedies; Case studies of management effectiveness and sustainability of two women’s shelters.

Developing a curriculum to advance human rights and the rights of women in Muslim societies in South Asia.

Imam orientations to engage local religious leaders in dialogue on national development issues in the fields of democracy and governance, human rights, prevention of trafficking in persons, education, public health, environmental conservation and resource management, agriculture, fisheries, and other areas—with a cross-cutting focus on gender, anti-corruption, and youth themes.

International conference that brought together senior government officials and development specialists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Korea to identify and discuss some of their key development and security challenges.

Dialogue on “Bangladesh-India Relations: The Way Forward” in collaboration with the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Engaging Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist religious leaders and community leaders (including local elected officials, business persons, journalists, service club members, women’s activists, and youth leaders) on national development issues in the fields of democracy and governance, human rights, prevention of trafficking in persons, education, public health, environmental conservation and resource management, agriculture, fisheries, and other areas.

Participation of two Indians in an observation program organized by The Asia Foundation’s Leaders of Influence Program in Bangladesh; Visit of five Bangladeshi Leaders of Influence to Delhi to observe programs related to governance, transparency, and women's empowerment.

Strengthening the private sector in rural Bangladesh by enhancing the capacity of business associations (samities) to represent member interests and more effectively engage with public agencies and officials; Improving the demand and supply sides of the local-level public sector service market for promotion of rural Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) at the sub-district level; Enhancing the sustainability and stakeholder ownership of subnational business reforms by providing technical support to facilitate dialogue among the different business stakeholders at the district level.

Orientation for parliamentarians to introduce MDG Guides and MP roles in promoting MDG-friendly policies and oversight.

Increasing political ownership of the MDGs by parliamentarians through measurement of MDG progress in select parliamentary constituencies, publication of constituency-specific MDG Guides; Orienting Members of Parliament (MPs) to their roles in promoting MDG-friendly policies and oversight.

Demonstrate a successful community policing model to improve public safety, law and order for strengthened governance in vulnerable areas, and to provide a stronger, more responsive community-based policing network, particularly in sparsely governed and ungoverned spaces in the Northwestern region of the country.

Improving the effectiveness and transparency of Parliament while increasing the constructive participation of civil society in the policymaking process, with the goal of advancing Bangladesh’s progress toward the MDGs.

Supporting effective implementation of 2009 Public-Private Partnership legislation that allows government and private sector collaboration to speed project implementation on development priorities such as energy generation and transportation infrastructure.

Co-hosting the “Regional Conference on the Role of Religious and Community Leaders in Advancing Development in Asia” — a forum for over 70 religious and community leaders from 14 countries to share views and experiences drawn from different country contexts and working environments.

Orientation programs to expose local elected officials to national development issues and practical program activities, with a focus on gender, anti-corruption, and youth themes.

The 24th Ellsworth Bunker Asian Ambassadors Dinner featuring Congressman Keith Ellison, who spoke on the topic of "Imperatives for Global Peace: Implications for Asia." The dinner was held at the Embassy of Bangladesh and co-hosted by H.E. Akramul Qader, Bangladesh's Ambassador to the United States, and Ms. Ellen Laipson, president and CEO of The Henry L. Stimson Center and member of The Asia Foundation's Board of Trustees.

Research study on Access to Justice in urban slums to understand the role of dispute resolution processes and improving access to assets for the urban poor.

Project to promote access to safe drinking water through community partnerships with local small businesses in Jessore and Rangpur district.

Release of findings and recommendations of companion reports compiled in "America's Role in Asia: Asian and American Views," with public events in Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Two-month fellowships for a staff person from the Korean International Cooperation Agency and an advanced graduate student to work on The Asia Foundation's projects in developing Asian countries (Bangladesh and the Philippines).

Community-oriented policing programs to promote improved public security and reshape traditional police operational strategies by facilitating collaborative working relations between citizens and police.

Development and production of informational materials on national development themes for the Leaders of Influence Program.

A two-year pilot program launched in 2008 to address challenges of economic governance in the four districts of Bogra, Rajshahi, Barisal, and Sylhet. The program focuses on improving communication between national and district level public and private sector players, as well as enhancing the participation by both sectors in formulation and implementation of the national policy reform agenda. The pilot program involves three main components: 1) Collecting, organizing and disseminating information on the current business climate of targeted districts using tools such as Economic Governance Index (EGI); 2) Promoting active dialogue between public and private sector actors through District Public Private Dialgoues; and 3) Supporting both sectors in carrying out actions for policy reform.

Operating two regional domestic violence shelters to support women pursuing justice through legal aid and community mediation and victims of trafficking in persons.

Baseline research study assessing the impact of domestic violence shelter services on women's willingness to pursue resolution of disputes through mediation or court remedies; Conducting case studies of management effectiveness and sustainability at two different women's shelters.

Acquisition and distribution of 40,000 donated books, journals, and software with a value of $1.8 million to hundreds of schools, universities, and other recipient institutions.

Convening a dialogue and developing a set of recommendations on priority issues and practical opportunities in advancing Bangladesh-India relations.

Research study on a community-oriented policing program assessing perceptions and practices to inform development of a strategy to strengthen program effectiveness.

Field research and data analysis for the continuation of the bimonthly national public perception survey on citizen attitudes to the political and economic environment; Technical support to the Election Working Group (EWG) to conduct monthly national public perception studies on the state of democracy during emergency rule and a national pre-election survey of citizen attitudes and knowledge on the responsibilities of elected officials at different levels of government.

Facilitation for the participation of three Indian Election Commissioners to observe Bangladesh's general elections.

Association for Community Development; Action on Disability and Development; Banchte Shekha; Bangladesh Center for Development Journalism & Communication; Bangladesh Development Society; Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sammonny Parishad; Coast Trust; Dak Diye Jai; Democracy Watch; FEMA; Institute for Environment and Development; Gono Kalayan Sangstha; Green Hill; Gono Unnayan Kendra; Jagoroni Chakra Foundation; Khan Foundation; Lighthouse; Mass line Media Centre; Manabik Shahajya Sangstha; Nabolok; National Development Program; Noakhali Rural Development Society; Palashipara Samaj Kallayan Samity; RDRS Bangladesh; Right Jessore; Rupantar; Shariatpur Development Society; Solidarity; Srizony; Uttaran and Wave Foundation

Grant and technical support for the operation of a national secretariat and the 32 member organizations of the Election Working Group (EWG) national coalition for the design of program activities, implementation guidelines, training materials, and pamphlets for a comprehensive election observation program and voter and civic education on themes including democratic representation, candidate accountability, and participation of women and youth voters.

A luncheon discussion with the Foundation's former country representative in Bangladesh and current regional director for law and governance who focuses on law and human rights, governance, criminal justice reform, elections, and Islam.

Developing a curriculum to advance human rights and the rights of women in Muslim societies in South Asia.

Imam orientations engaging local religious leaders in a dialogue on national development issues in the fields of democracy and governance, human rights, prevention of trafficking in persons, education, public health, environmental conservation and resource management, agriculture, fisheries, and other areas—with a crosscutting focus on gender, anti-corruption, and youth themes.

Support for election commission representatives from Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka to observe India's general elections.

Facilitation for the participation of Indian delegates in a dialogue on India-Bangladesh relations in Dhaka.

Local Economic Governance Program operating in four rural upazilas (sub-districts) in Greater Jessore and Greater Rangpur focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the poultry, vegetables, flowers, fish, and compost fertilizers sectors at the village and union levels; Improving the business environment in these areas so that SMEs can generate income and employment opportunities for the poor and contribute more effectively to local economic growth; Training for samities in effectively articulating their interests to local public service providers (LPSPs) and higher-level business management organizations Training for LPSPs to facilitate more streamlined and faster service delivery; Setting up public-private dialogues that encourage cooperation between both sectors and finding cross trade opportunities between the large upazila-based traders and the village-level samities through networking and program activities.

Staff of Korean NGOs and government development agencies visited Bangladesh to study development cooperation and challenges in Islamic society, and the program strategies of The Asia Foundation and other development agencies.

Program engaging Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist religious leaders and secular leaders (including local elected officials, business persons, journalists, service club members, women's activists, and youth leaders) in dialogue on national development issues in the fields of democracy and governance, human rights, prevention of trafficking in persons, education, public health, environmental conservation and resource management, agriculture, fisheries, and other areas.

Technical support to the EWG for the production of three public service announcements (PSAs) on the voter registration process for television and radio broadcast.

Facilitation of political ownership of the Millennium Development Goals by Parliamentarians through measurement of MDG progress in select parliamentary constituencies, publication of constituency-specific "MDG Guides" and orientation of Members of Parliament to their use in promoting MDG-friendly policies and oversight.

Orientation programs to expose local elected officials to national development issues and practical program activities, with a focus on gender, anti-corruption, and youth themes.

Participation in the annual summit of the Forum of Young Global Leaders.

Pilot legal empowerment project with a focus on citizen participation in local water management committees.

Support for foreign policy experts from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka to attend a regional conference in New Delhi to discuss America’s Role in Asia.

Five Korean development practitioners from government and NGO agencies were awarded fellowships to work in projects in developing Asian countries (Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam) for up to three months.

Domestic election monitoring and voter and civic education in connection with the August 2008 city corporation elections.

Production of a documentary film on citizen rights and participation in governance—Kansat: The Voice of the People.

Community-oriented policing programs to promote improved public security and reshape traditional police management and operational strategies by facilitating collaborative working relations between citizens and police.

Development and production of informational materials on national development themes for the USAID-funded Leaders of Influence Program.

Domestic election monitoring and voter and civic education in connection with the August 2008 municipality elections.

Establishment of two regional domestic violence shelters for women pursuing justice through legal aid and community mediation.

Acquisition and distribution of more than 52,000 donated books, journals, and software with a value of $1.7 million to hundreds of schools, universities, and other recipient institutions across Bangladesh.

Convening a dialogue and developing a set of recommendations on priority issues and practical opportunities in advancing Bangladesh-India relations.

Emergency relief operations in areas affected by Cyclone Sidr.

Technical support to the Election Working Group (EWG) to conduct monthly national public perception studies on the state of democracy during emergency rule and a survey of citizen attitudes toward city corporation governance.

Comprehensive baseline survey of leaders of influence populations, the communities that they serve, and the broader population to measure perceptions and attitudes regarding development issues and societal values that underline traditions of democracy, tolerance, diversity, and social harmony.

Election Working Group (EWG) member organizations: Association for Community Development; Action on Disability and Development; Banchte Shekha; Bangladesh Center for Development Journalism & Communication; Bangladesh Development Society; Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sammonny Parishad; Coast Trust; Dak Diye Jai; Democracy Watch; FEMA; Institute for Environment and Development; Gono Kalayan Sangstha; Green Hill; Gono Unnayan Kendra; Jagoroni Chakra Foundation; Khan Foundation; Lighthouse; Mass-line Media Centre; Manabik Shahajya Sangstha; Nabolok; National Development Program; Noakhali Rural Development Society; Palashipara Samaj Kallayan Samity; RDRS Bangladesh; Right Jessore; Rupantar; Shariatpur Development Society; Solidarity; Srizony; Uttaran and Wave Foundation.

Technical support for the operation of a national secretariat; Grant and technical support to 33 member organizations for the design of program activities, implementation guidelines, training materials, and posters and pamphlets on six core voter and civic education themes (election violence prevention, democratic representation and accountability, first-time voters, women’s electoral rights and political participation, electoral rights and security of religious and ethnic minorities, and electoral rights and participation of disabled persons); Monitoring the pre-election environment; Conducting monthly public perceptions studies on the state of democracy during emergency rule; Raising public awareness on the voter registration process.

Imam Orientation Program to engage local religious leaders in dialogue on national development issues in the fields of democracy and governance, human rights, prevention of trafficking in persons, education, public health, environmental conservation and resource management, agriculture, fisheries, and other areas—with a cross-cutting focus on gender, anti-corruption, and youth themes.

Program to engage Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist religious leaders and secular leaders (including local elected officials, business persons, journalists, service club members, women’s activists, and youth leaders) in dialogue on national development issues in the fields of democracy and governance, human rights, prevention of trafficking in persons, education, public health, environmental conservation and resource management, agriculture, fisheries, and other areas.

Strengthening the network of women’s organizations and women’s study centers in Indonesia through the support for the 2nd Conference of Kartini Network for more than 100 institutions across Indonesia and Asia, including Bangladesh, Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India.

Technical support to the Election Working Group for the production of three public service announcements on the voter registration process for television and radio broadcast; Additional support for a U.S. visit to gather material for a TV series on common themes in U.S. and Bangladesh national elections.

Strengthening the private sector in rural Bangladesh by enhancing the capacity of business associations (samities) to represent member interests and to more effectively engage with public agencies and officials; Pilot study on the feasibility of regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) in Bangladesh.

Improvement of community-policing policy and practice through hosting a four member study tour of The Asia Foundation-Bangladesh Community-Oriented Policing Program.

Raising public awareness on the voter registration process in geographically hard to reach areas and for communities of fisherfolk, untouchable (dalits), slum dwellers, and indigenous peoples. Project partners include: Adivashi Sangskritik Unnayan Sangstha; Bangladesh Dolit Human Rights; Center for Indigenous Peoples Research and Development; Coalition for Urban Poor; Community Development Center; Challan bill Uddug; Cost Development Partnership; Indigenous Population Development; Mrit Shilpa Karigari Unnayan Samity; Paritran; Speed Trust; Uddayam.

Orientation programs to expose local elected officials to national development issues and practical program activities, with a focus on gender, anti-corruption, and youth themes; Pilot anti-corruption project designed to educate community members and mobilize community oversight to reduce those forms of government corruption that have the greatest impact on the poor.

Publication of a handbook on election reporting for print and electronic journalists.

Training for Tamil-language proficiency and cross-cultural understanding among Sinhalese police with Police In-Service Training Institute; Orientation on community-policing approaches in Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces; Study tour of Asia Foundation-supported community-policing initiatives in Bangladesh.

Participation in the annual summit of the Forum of Young Global Leaders.

Research study in Bangladesh to explore two of the main tenets of competitiveness, efficiency, and productivity in the garment sector from the point of view of: international garment and textiles buyers; government officials; garment factory owners; garment factory middle managers; and garment factory workers.

Long-term technical assistance to local partner organizations by a senior Canadian specialist in governance and elections.

National program planning study on access to justice in Bangladesh, in collaboration with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID).

KATALYST local economic governance program to strengthen the private sector in rural Bangladesh by enhancing the capacity of business associations (samities) to represent member interests and to more effectively engage with public agencies and officials.

Support for a pilot legal empowerment project with a focus on citizen participation in local
water management committees.

Production of a documentary film on citizen rights and participation in governance—Kansat:
The Voice of the People.

Community-oriented policing programs to improve public security and reshape traditional police management and operational strategies through citizen/police collaboration.

Development and production of informational materials on national development for the
USAID-funded Leaders of Influence Program.

National roundtable dialogue series on advancing women’s rights in an Islamic framework; regional study programs to Indonesia and Malaysia.

Acquisition and distribution of more than 60,000 donated books, journals and software to
hundreds of schools, universities, and other institutions.

Participation in the first Conference of the International Association of Anti-Corruption
Authorities.

This study explores two of the main tenets of "competitiveness," efficiency and productivity, in the garment sector from the point of view of four key players: (a) international garment and textiles buyers, (b) government officials, (c) factory owners, and (d) factory workers.  The study shall help clarify the following: (1) How do each of these players define competitiveness? (2) Is there a disconnect in their perceptions about competitiveness?, and (3) How do these divergent perceptions affect decisions about investment?.

Technical support to the Election Working Group (EWG) for monthly national public perception studies on the state of democracy during emergency rule and a survey of the voter
registration process in Rajshahi City.

Monitoring, reporting, and raising public awareness of the role and performance of the
Bangladesh Election Commission in preparing a national voter list.

Support for the Election Violence Education and Resolution (EVER) project to identify,
monitor and mitigate election-related violence.

Support for the Imam Orientation Program to engage local religious leaders in dialogue on national development issues in the fields of democracy and governance, human rights, prevention of trafficking in persons, education, public health, environmental conservation and resource management, agriculture, fisheries, and other areas. Support for a supplementary Imam Orientation Program with a focus on governance, elections, and women’s empowerment.

Two year pilot program to address the key challenges of weak economic governance. Activities include a Bangladesh EGI, public-private dialogues, and follow-on actions.

Technical support to the EWG for the production of public service announcements on the voter registration process for television and radio broadcast.

National program to engage Muslim religious leaders in raising public awareness of and
opposition to election violence.

A study to obtain a better understanding of links between government policies and regulations, and changes in economic activity profile within Lalmonirhat District in Bangladesh.

Orientation programs to expose local elected officials to national development issues and
practical program activities, with a focus on gender, anti-corruption and youth.

Publication of a handbook on election reporting for print and electronic journalists.

Production of an animated voter education film on democratic representation and
accountability.

Election Working Group (EWG)/Association for Community Development; Action on Disability and Development; Banchte Shekha; Bangladesh Center for Development Journalism & Communication; Bangladesh Development Society; Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sammonny Parishad; Coast Trust; Dak Diye Jai; Democracy Watch; FEMA; Institute for Environment and Development; Gono Kalayan Sangstha; Green Hill; Gono Unnayan Kendra; Jagoroni Chakra Foundation; Khan Foundation; Lighthouse; Mass line Media Centre; Manabik Shahajya Sangstha; Nabolok; National Development Program; Noakhali Rural Development Society; Palashipara Samaj Kallayan Samity; RDRS Bangladesh; Right Jessore; Rupantar; Shariatpur Development Society; Solidarity; Srizony; Uttaran and Wave Foundation

Technical support for the operation of a national secretariat. Grant and technical support to 33 member organizations for the design of program activities, implementation guidelines, training materials, and posters and pamphlets on six core voter and civic education themes (election violence prevention, democratic representation and accountability, first-time voters, women's electoral rights and political participation, electoral rights and security of religious and ethnic minorities; and electoral rights and participation of disabled persons); monitoring the pre-election environment; conducting monthly public perceptions studies on the state of democracy during emergency rule; and raising public awareness on the voter registration process.

Participation in the annual summit of the Forum of Young Global Leaders.