Project profile — Empowering Women in the Nursing Sector in Bangladesh

• Bangladesh (100.00%)

• Health, General: Health policy and administrative management (12110) (30.00%)
• Basic Health: Health personnel development (12281) (53.00%)
• Population Policies/Programmes And Reproductive Health: Personnel development for population and reproductive health (13081) (17.00%)

• Gender equality (principal objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (significant objective)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project aims to improve the enabling environment, reduce gender-related barriers, push the nursing agenda forward and build the capacity of nursing teachers. This project supports women’s and girls’ health and enhances the voice and influence of nurses, primarily female, in the health sector in Bangladesh. This project enhances nurses’ performance and professional status in Bangladesh through investment in management and leadership training; and, the development of a comprehensive and attractive nursing career path. This project also improves the nursing training facilities and the creation of a national nurse training institute. Project activities include: (1) providing support for the expansion/repair/renovation of the Mohakhali College of Nursing complex and the proposed site of the National Nurse Teachers Training Institute (NNTTI); (2) developing and implementing a NNTTI Certificate Training Program; (3) developing and implementing a system of continuous professional development; (4) developing a comprehensive competency-based, gender-responsive nursing career path; and (5) engaging influencers/policymakers in improving the status of nursing. This project delivers on Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy priorities of gender equality, women and girls’ empowerment, and human dignity. It operates on a national scale to benefit all nurses in the public and private sectors. It responds directly to the prioritized needs for Bangladesh’s nursing profession outlined in the 2018 National Task Force on the Future of Nursing in Bangladesh Report. Finally, this project also addresses Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on health, gender equality, and inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The project expects to directly benefit more than 90,000 nurses and the Bangladesh Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery, and indirectly benefit project stakeholders including the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council, targeted public and private nursing institutes and selected district hospitals.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved quality education for women nurses; (2) enhanced performance and professional status of women nurses; and (3) improved enabling environment for women nurses’ meaningful participation in the health sector in Bangladesh.

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) submitted final architectural designs for the Nurse Teacher Training Centre (NTTC) construction to the Government of Bangladesh for approval. Also completed construction validation and environment and social management plans; (2) supported the Government of Bangladesh to finalize and approve the curriculum for the NTTC comprehensive nurse teacher certificate training program, with technical assistance from the Université de Montréal; (3) supported 627 participants to complete the 28-day government nurse teacher certification program; (4) 89% of senior Director General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM) staff reported that, because of the project's support and training, they had enhanced capacity to train nurse teachers on key areas; (5) trained monitors, formulated actionable recommendations to the DGNM and made 7 monitoring and evaluation visits in 2023; (6) trained 586 (516 women and 70 men) nurses in critical care and psychiatric care; (7) trained 323 nurses in management and 49 nurses in Leadership for Change. 100% of the nurses trained on management and leadership are currently in management roles; 16 nurses certified to train other nurses in management and Leadership for Change; and (8) provided technical assistance to the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC). Also rolled-out accreditation of nursing institutes, comprehensive competency-based licensing and examinations and a continuous professional development program.

• Proactive disclosure