Rupantar’s democracy and political empowerment program was launched in 1998 implemented in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. The aim of the program is to empower marginalized women in decision-making process, reduce gender inequality, improve governance, ensure legislation at local level, and build capacity of local elected bodies for providing better services to citizens. The objectives of the program are to improve local governance and increase transparency and accountability. We emphasize on stakeholders and beneficiaries mapping, mass awareness at local level, social media campaign, advocacy and hold dialogue with duty bearers, service providers and policy makers,

Strategic approaches

• Rupantar complements government of Bangladesh (GoB) effort in achieving the sustainable development goal (SDG).
• Inclusive in terms of gender parity.
• A broad based strategy that includes partnership with local government officials, civil society organization, religious leaders, journalist and community people.
• Program fits in to GoB goals.

Key achievements

In Aparajita Khulna cluster, women in decision making process increased in local government institutions, political and civic institutions. There is an increase in support for women leaders in the community. The project has achieved 100% achievement.

In Aparajita Barishal, there is an increase of women in decision making in local government institutions, political and civic institutions, satisfaction of constituents in service delivery by elected and potentially elected women representatives. There is also an increase in support for women leaders in the community.

Our current projects

Aparajita- women political empowerment project- Khulna

Aparajita Khulna project goal is to politically empower grassroots women and to promote equal participation, representation, and leadership of women within local governance. The projects three key intervention strategies include: empowering women to enhance their collective strength and amplify their voices, engaging and creating opportunities for women’s in local political affairs and foster an enabling environment for women’s political empowerment. The project focuses on capacity building, advocacy for sustainability. Capacity development initiatives includes peer-to-peer learning and educating, training, and mentoring assistance. The project is implemented in 2 districts of Khulna and Bagerhat in 11 upazilas and 84 unions. Each union has a women’s network comprising 15 members reaching 1,359 women advocating for grassroots women.

Highlights

Potential and elected women representatives had enhanced capacities, motivation and confidence for effective political participation in the governance processes and selected areas.

Potential and elected women representative had boosted confidence for an approachable debate through Aparajita network.

Political parties at local level, local influential and sub-national government institutions understand the importance of rights and value of women’s political participation in local government initiatives (LGIs).

Our reach

• Each union comprises 1,359 Aparajitas.
• At Upazilla level there are 221 Aparajitas, including 60 co-opted civil society representatives.
• Two districts have 38 Aparajitas, including 15 co-opted civil society representatives.
• At the divisional level, there are 17 Aparajitas, with 6 co-opted civil society representatives.
• At the national level, there are 3 Aparajitas, including 1 co-opted civil society representative. 1,445 women leaders are actively engaged Aparajita Khulna, with 1,451 direct.
• Additionally, there are 2,192,738 indirect beneficiaries.

Outcome

Over 1,359 Aparajitas including grassroots women leaders and elected women representatives have boosted knowledge and understanding on roles and responsibilities as women leaders, identifying and addressing challenges and exploring possible opportunities.

As part of self-advocacy of Aparajitas with political parties, women are increasing in the committees of political parties at upazila and district levels.

A growing number of Aparajitas showing interest in contesting as general ward members and chairman seats in union parishad (UP) elections. The UP elections held in 2021 Aparajita working areas, had 84 unions constitute with 9 women candidates (including Aparajitas) contested for chairman positions, and 2 Aparajitas won the elections.

Elected women representatives and Aparajitas have been actively involved in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) cases.

Aparajitas taken initiatives on survivors of GBV including ensuring access to various government services, assisting in admitting to medical facilities, complaining a general diary at the police station, settling the issue through local arbitration (salish/village court), linking survivors with union parishad (UP) chairman, UP secretary, and district legal aid officer

The changes in community seen over the years

A significant number of elected women representatives are spontaneously and actively participating in development committees, standing committees, and union development coordination committees (UDCCs).

Aparajitas are having access to financial resources for politically empowerment and becoming economically empowered.

Many union parishads, where Aparajita are functioning have designated rooms for women named as “Aparajitas Room”. Designated rooms are used for breastfeeding and hygiene corner.

Allocation of budget increased on gender-sensitive issues at union parishads in Aparajita working areas during project-supported meetings

Impacts

Starting from attending ward meetings to campaign elections, Aparajita project had increased women’s participation, improved representation, and fostering gender-sensitive policymaking in local governance and politics.

The project has promoted the formation of supportive network from union to national level, enabling women to develop leadership, management, advocacy skills, and achieve recognition.

Women have been linked with administrative services and trained to become financially self-sufficient.  Aparajitas leveraged on information technology to enhance access and disseminate information.

Aparajitas active participation and leadership roles in union parishads had increased transparency and accountability in local governance. Aparajitas active participation had influenced prioritization of women’s issues and services.

Aparajita project had empowered women to play a vital role in community engagement including assisting in social and cultural events, leading various initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributing to community well-being for resilience.

Aparajita project had encouraged male champions in creating awareness on gender equality. The project had contributed to a cultural shift towards recognizing and respecting women’s dignity, rights, and contributions both for public and private spheres.

Best practices

Aparajitas have taken-up roles within political structures including as panel chairpersons in union parishads. They actively participate in budget discussions and ward meetings. These engagements ensure their demands are heard and addressed enhancing their leadership skills and political influence.

The project had fostered organizational skills forming supportive networks that span from local to national levels. This support system amplified Aparajita’s voices, enriches information dissemination, and strengthens their capacity to engage in political processes effectively.

Women-friendly facilities in political spaces and prioritization needs in service delivery had made political participation more accessible and effective. These efforts ensure that services reach grassroots levels, directly benefiting women and their communities.

Aparajitas had successfully advocated for women’s rights, participation in decision-making processes, addressing violence and discrimination against women. Through awareness campaigns and establishing toll-free hotlines, the project has contributed to a safer and more inclusive environment for women.

Promoting gender sensitivity among male champions, civil society, and youth, the project had created supportive environment for women’s political empowerment. Collaborations with alike mind organizations and government departments promoted the causes leading to better service delivery and advocacy for women’s issues.

By leveraging information and communications technology (ICT), Aparajita had enhanced the reach and efficiency in advocacy efforts. The project’s innovative approach of including women in political party committees and decision-making bodies had marked a significant step towards gender equality in political spaces.

Aparajita – women political empowerment project Barisal

Aparajita Barisal project was launched in Barishal, Jhalokathi and Priojpur districts, 11 upazillas and 102 unions. The project focuses on women political empowerment through capacity building to strengthen political skills and advocacy to create space for women in political sector. The project implements through three key intervention lines including focusing on women as primary stakeholders, for strength in numbers and voice, secondary stakeholders for space and opportunity and focusing on duty bearers, decision and policy makers for enabling environment.

Our reach

• Directly: 2,855 with Male: 1,183 and Female: 1,672
• Indirect beneficiaries: 2,342,825

Aparajita projects received a year extension from June 2023 till June 2024.

Nari Kotha- radio program

Aparajita project explored an alternative means as for example radio program and social media for reaching target stakeholders and “Nari Kotha” radio program was launched in 2021 for awareness on women political empowerment using social media platform.

It is a nation-wide campaign enabling women to think on the benefits of women participation in decision making process including union parishad and local political system.  The radio program uses online platforms including Facebook, YouTube radio and radio and Bangladesh Betal app to allow women political empowerment activists, civil society organization, and other relevant stakeholders for further use of the content.

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/nari.kotha.radio.program

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@NariKotha.RadioProgram

Astha

ASTHA project was launched in 01 July 2023 with a goal to promote tolerant and peaceful democratic spaces with upholding human rights in civic and social sectors. The project actively engages to empower civic activists, youth, women, minorities, and marginalized groups. The project is supported by Switzerland government, implemented by Rupantar and partners including ASHIKA Development Associates, Democracywatch, GRAUS, Sabalamby Unnayan Samity (SUS), and Trinamul Unnyan Sangstha. The project will cover 147 sub-districts under 18 districts including Barguna, Patuakhali, Satkhira, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Panchagahr, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Joypurhat, Khagrachari, Rangamati, Bandarban, Netrokona, Mymensingh, and Sherpur aiming to reach 603,590.

The stakeholders of the project are marginalized community people, mainly ethnic and religious minority groups, local civil society representatives including women, youth, and opinion leaders, community leaders and policymakers, local administration, election officials, law enforcement agencies, project partners, NGOs, CSOs, and CBOs.

Specific objectives

• To encourage active youth engagement at the grassroots of the working area to prevent communal violence and promote peace, tolerance, social harmony, and good governance.
• To explore the opportunity of youth leadership by creating the scope of synchronized and interactions among youth, community leaders, and seniors.
• To engage the grassroots youth, male and female, from marginalized communities in the mainstream development process of the country aligned to National Youth Policy, 2017.

Initiative to develop the leadership skills in socio-political sector at Rangpur and Rajshahi division

Rupantar is implementing the initiative to develop the leadership skills in socio-political sector at Rangpur and Rajshahi division project. The project was launched in 1 January 2024. The goal of the project is to promote non-violent competition between political parties and strengthen inclusive, citizen-responsive campaigning resulting in a peaceful political atmosphere. Main activities of the project are – project orientation, meeting for developing project strategy and implementation plan, training of trainers (ToT) on The International Republican Institute (IRI) developed training module, socio political harmony leadership skill training, consultation and preparatory meeting for interaction between citizen and political leaders, interaction between citizens and political leaders on pre-election promises and media campaign

• Objective 01: Identifying respective role of social, political leaders and youths for ensuring democratic political atmosphere, effective conflict management, resolution,  upholding mutual respect  and ensuring participatory method.
• Objective 02:Commitment taken by political party leaders and declared in front of citizens and youths to ensure a democratic political atmosphere.
• Objective 03: Promote participatory practice in the political process by direct participation of citizens and youths.

         The project intends to reach 1,052

Highlights

• 1 project orientation meeting session was conducted
• 1 training of trainers (ToT) on The International Republican Institute (IRI) training module was developed
• 16 socio-political harmony leadership skills training were held, with 8 in Rajshahi and 8 in Rangpur.
• 10 consultation and preparatory meetings were organized for interaction between citizens and political leaders
• 10 interaction meetings, with 5 in Rajshahi and 5 in Rangpur held between citizens and political leaders on pre-election promises
• 24 media campaigns carried out.

Immediate result

• The participants from multi-political parties were eager to conduct a peaceful political campaign in future.
• The political party leaders appreciated the training as the learning will strengthen their leadership skills and help to organize a peaceful electoral situation.
• The training will aid the political party to ensure a peaceful political atmosphere in Bangladesh.
• The training had sensitized the political leaders on their roles in democratic political process, conflict management, and resolution that will enable them to ensure and promote mutual respect.

Anticipated outcome

• Outcome 01: Training modules will be developed for the socio-political leaders and youths.
• Outcome 02: Guidelines for interactive meeting will be developed.
• Outcome 03: 250 political socio-political leaders across the working area will be sensitized on respective role in democratic political process, conflict management and resolution for ensuring and promoting mutual respect.
• Outcome 04: 200 youth and student wings of political parties will be oriented and capacitated on ensuring participatory democratic practice and a non-violent political atmosphere.
• Outcome 05: 160 journalists, women leaders, and citizen leaders will come together with 40 political party leaders through 8 interactive meetings to learn about the commitments made by the political party leaders.
• Outcome 06: Around 60,000 community people will learn and be aware on democratic political atmosphere.

Development partners

• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Bangladesh
• The International Republican Institute (IRI)
• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)