[{"bbox": [83, 106, 1145, 156], "category": "Text", "text": "significant economic growth in the last decade, gains were also not evenly distributed. Gini coefficient of income rose from 0.458 in 2010 to 0.482 in 2016."}, {"bbox": [83, 172, 1145, 384], "category": "Text", "text": "Notwithstanding signs of gradual economic recovery backed by a rebound in exports and strong remittance inflows, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed the country's steady trend of poverty reduction, at least temporarily. Poverty is estimated to have risen to 30% in 2020 as a result of lower employment and earnings¹⁴. This is indicative that a substantial part of the labour force is highly vulnerable to shocks, thereby making a strong case for a wider coverage of social security to protect basic income for all and at all times. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) responded proactively to the COVID-19 crisis with a BDT 1.21 trillion (EUR 11.8 billion) support package including cash transfer and food assistance for poor and vulnerable households and a stimulus package (with loans) to sustain employment in key sectors.¹⁵"}, {"bbox": [83, 396, 1145, 767], "category": "Text", "text": "Overall visions, objectives and policy directions for the development of Bangladesh are outlined in the Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2021-2041¹⁶ which aims at eradicating extreme poverty and obtaining upper middle income country status by 2031. It also aims to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition among young children and puts a strong emphasis on harnessing the country's demographic dividend by strengthening social security for workers, amongst other. Sector strategies are prescribed in the 8th Five Year Plan 2020-2025 (8FYP)¹⁷. Social protection features as Sector 14, also covering food security and nutrition, social inclusion and gender equality. Reference is made to a \"stronger and more efficient social protection system\" as a major structural improvement in the country's poverty reduction strategy. This builds on the vision and phased implementation of \"comprehensive social protection to all poor and vulnerable citizens based on a modern life cycle based approach\" set out in the 7th Five Year Plan 2014-2020. For this, GoB commits to (i) a fast-tracked implementation of the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) focusing on the consolidation of schemes based on life-cycle (including the Child Benefit Programme and social security for the working population); transition from in-kind to cash-based transfers; scaling up of digital payments; single registry and grievance; and (ii) increased spending on social protection from 1.2% of GDP in 2019 to 2% by 2025 (excluding Government pension)."}, {"bbox": [83, 779, 1145, 912], "category": "Text", "text": "The ten-year NSSS (2015-2025) is the key framework to develop the social protection system¹⁸. It proposes essential reforms towards a rationalisation of programmes based on core life-cycle categories, improved targeting, coverage and delivery and robust systems of information, monitoring and evaluation. In the area of food security and nutrition, interventions follow the 2006 National Food Policy, the 2015 National Nutrition Policy, the National Plan of Action for Nutrition 2016-2025 (NPAN2) and the second Country Investment Plan 2017-2021¹⁹."}, {"bbox": [83, 925, 1145, 1109], "category": "Text", "text": "The NSSS fits the dynamic and multidimensional approach to fight poverty of the New European Consensus on Development²⁰. It directly addresses two \"P\"s for sustainable development: People and Prosperity for which access to adequate and sustainable social protection is fundamental to eradicate poverty, tackle discriminations and inequalities, address all forms of malnutrition and enhance resilience. The NSSS is consistent with the EC's Communication on Social Protection in EU Development Cooperation²¹ and also addresses efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of social protection financing under the \"Collect More, Spend Better\" approach. The NSSS is in line with the EU Gender Action Plan 2021-2025²² and the EU's Joint Communication on Resilience²³."}, {"bbox": [83, 1124, 1145, 1176], "category": "Text", "text": "In June 2021, GoB has finalised the National Action Plan on the Labour Sector in Bangladesh, committing to uphold labour rights and workplace safety in Bangladesh."}, {"bbox": [72, 1227, 1157, 1276], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁴ I.e. 7% points above a non-COVID scenario. Source: Bangladesh Development Update, \"Moving Forward: Connectivity and Logistics to Strengthen Competitiveness\", World Bank, April 2021"}, {"bbox": [72, 1275, 1157, 1300], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁵ Stimulus package for sustainable and inclusive recovery from COVID-19 fallout, Ministry of Finance of Bangladesh, 8 Dec 2020"}, {"bbox": [72, 1299, 1069, 1324], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁶ Perspective Plan of Bangladesh 2021-2041: Making Vision 2041 a Reality, GED, Planning Commission, March 2020"}, {"bbox": [72, 1323, 1038, 1348], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁷ 8FYP (2020-25): Promoting prosperity and fostering inclusiveness, GED, Planning Commission, December 2020."}, {"bbox": [72, 1347, 1157, 1420], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁸ In Bangladesh the term social security is used synonymously with that of social protection. The latter includes social assistance (non-contributory schemes for poor/vulnerable populations (cash/in-kind) and social insurance (contributory schemes for health protection, pensions and work-related benefits). The current framework almost exclusively builds on non-contributory schemes."}, {"bbox": [72, 1419, 826, 1444], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁹ Bangladesh Second Country Investment Plan 2017-21: Nutrition-sensitive food systems."}, {"bbox": [72, 1443, 1157, 1515], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²⁰ Joint statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission on the New European Consensus on Development - \"Our World, Our Dignity, Our Future\", 7 June 2017."}, {"bbox": [72, 1515, 1157, 1564], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²¹ Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee of the Regions on Social Protection in European Union Development Cooperation, 20 August 2012 [COM (2012) 446]."}, {"bbox": [72, 1564, 333, 1588], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²² Council Conclusion of 2020."}, {"bbox": [72, 1588, 1157, 1637], "category": "Footnote", "text": "²³ Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on A strategic approach to resilience in the EU's external action, 7 June 2017 [JOIN (2017) 21]."}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1157, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 27"}]