The Economic Relations Division (ERD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday signed two project documents, the Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP) Phase II and the Institutional Strengthening for Promoting Accelerated Transformation (ISPAT), at the ERD in the capital.
Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of ERD, and Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, formally signed the documents on behalf of their respective institutions.
TEPP II will run from January 2026 to March 2028 with a total budget of around USD 3.57 million, funded by the UK government. It will strengthen Bangladesh’s trade and investment policy ecosystem to support a competitive post-LDC transition by enhancing trade negotiation capacity, evidence-based policy analysis, institutional reforms, and investment climate processes through the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), according to a UNDP press release.
ISPAT will be implemented from January 2026 to June 2027 with a budget of USD 1.06 million, supported by the Australian Government. The project will modernise and strengthen the NGO Affairs Bureau through digital systems, improved transparency, and gender-responsive service delivery, alongside policy reform and capacity development to enhance NGO oversight and engagement in national development priorities.
Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky highlighted, “These initiatives reflect our commitment to a holistic approach to institutional strengthening – building capacity, enhancing transparency and accountability, and fostering evidence-based policymaking. Through these projects, we aim to develop confident, capable institutions and professionals who can effectively support good governance and Bangladesh’s economic transformation, particularly during the post-LDC transition.”
Stefan Liller said, “These two projects are highly strategic and catalytic, strengthening the institutions and policy ecosystems that underpin Bangladesh’s economic transformation and governance reforms. Working closely with government and development partners, UNDP is committed to supporting nationally led, forward-looking reforms that will deliver long-term impact.”
The signing of these two projects reaffirms the strong partnership between the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP, and development partners in advancing the country’s economic transition, strengthening public institutions, and promoting transparent, technology-enabled, and citizen-centric service delivery.
Both TEPP II and ISPAT are expected to play pivotal roles in enabling stronger governance systems, fostering private sector competitiveness, and supporting Bangladesh’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Along with representatives from the ERD, the event was attended by A K M Sohel, Additional Secretary and Wing Chief (UN), ERD; Md. Daud Miah, NDC, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the NGO Affairs Bureau; Md. Muzib Ul Ferdous, Director General (Additional Secretary) of BIDA; Mohammad Khairul Alam, Deputy Chief (Export Wing) of the Ministry of Commerce; Syed Haider, First Secretary and Head of Development Cooperation, Australian High Commission; Asif Kashem, Senior Programme Manager of the Australian High Commission; Anowarul Haque, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP; and Sheela Tasneem Haq, Senior Governance Specialist of UNDP.
