Project profile — icddr,b - Institutional Support 2018-2022

The expected outcomes as stated by icddr,b include; 1) improved evidence-based low-cost gender-responsive solutions for public health problems in Bangladesh and other resource-poor countries globally, including in the areas of maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition and education, and focusing on women and girls; 2) improved utilization of evidence-based low-cost gender-responsive health care services and education by vulnerable people in Bangladesh, particularly women and girls; and 3) strengthened management and sustainability of icddr,b as a global research centre.

Results achieved with the support of Canada and other donors as of March 2019 include: (1) enhanced organizational capacity and skills for mainstreaming gender in the design of all research conducted by icddr,b, including research on particular health issues impacting women and girls, and integration of gender considerations into all research protocols. For example, human resource policies, procedures and plans have been put in place to ensure gender sensitivity and inclusivity and increase staff awareness on the centre’s code of conduct addressing gender diversity, equality and inclusion and harassment; anti-bullying and anti-abuse of power are constantly being reinforced within the organisation and efforts are continuously being made to make female staff comfortable in the workplace. 1,169 employees participated in 32 batches of diversity awareness training sessions (55% were women); 33 gender focal points were identified and trained, and awareness sessions within divisions and departments were held with gender focal points; gender-sensitive training sessions for humanitarian services were developed for hospital-based care and treatment; 105 nursing fellows were trained for infection control and breastfeeding counselling; and over 1,200 humanitarian clinical and research service providers received gender-sensitive training; (2) continued delivery of free health care to approximately 240,000 patients (a 10% increase over 2017), especially women and children through icddr,b hospitals in Dhaka and Matlab; (3) collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh to respond to the health needs of the Rohingya refugees, including women and children, particularly in the area of mass vaccination campaigns, diarrhoeal disease management, disease surveillance and emergency nutrition and health care; and (4) increased gender-balance in icddr,b’s staff complement. Out of total of 4471 staff, 2231 are female and 2240 male. This includes 224 scientific staff: 83 female and 141 male.