EC allocates addl Tk 380m for ultra poor women
Friday, 10 April 2009
FE Report
The European Comm-ission (EC) has allocated an additional 4.2 million euro (approximately Tk 380 million) under REOPA to help ensure food and employment security for ultra poor women of the country.
Women, who are taking part in an EC, UNDP and government of Bangladesh supported local poverty reduction project, will receive an increased wage of Tk 100 per day.
The extra funding will guarantee this wage for the full 24-month period of the project and help ensure food security for the women and their dependants. This is particularly important given the recent rises in global food prices and the effect this is having on those living at or below the poverty line.
On April 7, 2009, the EC and the UNDP signed an Addendum to their Contribution Agreement (CA) for crew wages for Rural Employment Opportunities for Public Assets (REOPA) project.
The new funds bring the EC's contribution to this project to approximately 27-29 million euro (around Tk 2420 million), of which 19.4 million euro (nearly Tk 1720 million) will be for crew wages.
As well as allowing all destitute women taking part in the project to receive increased daily wages for the full 24-month period, the funds also allow for the employment of an additional 1,164 women. These women will receive the same daily wage for 24 months, starting from May this year.
The original Financing Agreement for the REOPA project was signed between the European Community and the government of Bangladesh in December 2006, in line with the REOPA project planning documents. At the time, the daily wage rate for the 23,280 women was fixed at Tk 70.
However, the sharp increase in global food prices meant that the funds originally available was no longer sufficient to ensure sustainable food security. This Addendum rectifies the situation for the two year project cycle.
The European Comm-ission (EC) has allocated an additional 4.2 million euro (approximately Tk 380 million) under REOPA to help ensure food and employment security for ultra poor women of the country.
Women, who are taking part in an EC, UNDP and government of Bangladesh supported local poverty reduction project, will receive an increased wage of Tk 100 per day.
The extra funding will guarantee this wage for the full 24-month period of the project and help ensure food security for the women and their dependants. This is particularly important given the recent rises in global food prices and the effect this is having on those living at or below the poverty line.
On April 7, 2009, the EC and the UNDP signed an Addendum to their Contribution Agreement (CA) for crew wages for Rural Employment Opportunities for Public Assets (REOPA) project.
The new funds bring the EC's contribution to this project to approximately 27-29 million euro (around Tk 2420 million), of which 19.4 million euro (nearly Tk 1720 million) will be for crew wages.
As well as allowing all destitute women taking part in the project to receive increased daily wages for the full 24-month period, the funds also allow for the employment of an additional 1,164 women. These women will receive the same daily wage for 24 months, starting from May this year.
The original Financing Agreement for the REOPA project was signed between the European Community and the government of Bangladesh in December 2006, in line with the REOPA project planning documents. At the time, the daily wage rate for the 23,280 women was fixed at Tk 70.
However, the sharp increase in global food prices meant that the funds originally available was no longer sufficient to ensure sustainable food security. This Addendum rectifies the situation for the two year project cycle.