2,000 women reps of UPs, UZPs to get leadership training

UNICEF and the National Institute of Local Government (NILG) will impart training to 2,000 elected women representatives of Union Parishads (UPs) and Upazila Parishads (UZPs) in 20 selected districts this year to foster their empowerment and leadership skills.

A UNICEF release issued Thursday said the overall goal of the initiative is to build capacity of elected women representatives and officials of local government institutions (LGIs), particularly Upazila and Union Parishads focusing on improved awareness of child rights, empowerment for positive action and leadership development to accomplish their tasks, roles and responsibilities in the seven divisions of Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, every union has got three elected women members and a woman Vice-chair at upazila level.

Capacity development for identifying issues affecting children and women and initiating corrective action at the local level is part of the package.

"UNICEF is delighted to be partnering with the NILG on this work that will go a long way to empower women who have been elected to serve their community. The modules also emphasize the importance of adequately addressing women's and children's issues at local level", said Mr. Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative.

The training will focus on enhancing their leadership and management skills which include child rights and development; structure of local government and roles and responsibilities of elected women representatives; capacity development and empowerment of elected women members of UPs and Vice-chair of UZs; human relation and leadership development and elected women representatives in social development.

    msshova@gmail.com