USAID/Bangladesh  Mission Director Derrick Brown visited USAID development programs in the Jashore-Khulna region from Sept. 18-20, including visits to key agriculture, labor and food assistance programs. The site visits were undertaken in collaboration with WordFish, WFP, Winrock International and World Vision Bangladesh among other implementing partners.

“It’s been truly inspiring to hear people’s life-changing stories and know how they’ve overcome barriers and improved living conditions with determination and hard work.  It’s been especially great to also know that the American people, through support provided by USAID, played a small role in their big achievements,” Mr. Brown said.

During his visit, Mr. Brown and his delegation met with government officials, community leaders and program participants. Program highlights in Khulna included a visit to Nobo Jatra, an integrated Food for Peace development program targeting victims of poverty, hunger and natural disasters; and a meeting with the management and labor leaders at a shrimp and fish processing plant to learn about the industry’s labor conditions. Mr. Brown also toured a Digital Center  supported by the USAID-UNDP-funded Access to Information (A2i) program, which makes information on government services available to local garment workers. In addition, he spoke with beneficiaries at a shelter for survivors of cross-border trafficking.

In Jashore, Mr. Brown visited Janata Engineering, a small, but rapidly growing agricultural machinery manufacturer and dealer that produces and assembles farming equipment. He also observed a USAID-funded aquaculture and nutrition activity that has provided technical support to 400,000 smallholder farmers; and he met with local vegetable farmers who have been taught new farming techniques and trained in health, personal safety and hygiene practices by the USAID Agricultural Value Chain project in partnership with Shwapno, a private retailer.
 

The U.S. Government, through USAID, has provided more than $7 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971. In 2017, USAID provided over $212 million to improve the lives of people in Bangladesh through programs that expand food security and economic opportunity, improve health and education, promote democratic institutions and practices, protect the environment, and increase resiliency to climate change.