Speakers highlight expanded CEF role in strengthening citizen engagement

Speakers said the expansion of Nagarikata: Civic Engagement Fund (CEF) marked a new chapter in deepening citizen participation and inclusive governance in Bangladesh, as the programme broadened its reach with the support of new development partners.

They stressed that citizen-led initiatives backed by the fund are increasingly reinforcing accountability, state–citizen dialogue and rights-based participation from the local to the national level.

The expansion, they added, aligns citizen engagement with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 5 and 16.

The observations came at the CEF expansion event held at a city hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday, where representatives from civil society organisations, government, development partners and other stakeholders reviewed the programme’s journey and growing impact. The scene-based programme departed from conventional formats to foreground collaboration, partnership and a citizen-centred approach, highlighting how supported initiatives are advancing inclusive governance across diverse communities.

Adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Sharmeen Murshid, said civil society plays a critical role in building a just and equitable society, and programmes like Nagarikata are strengthening those voices. Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Siegfried Renggli said the fund has made significant progress since its formal launch in 2024 by reaching a wide range of NGOs and community-based organisations across districts, while fostering trust and cooperation between the state and civil society. Canadian High Commissioner Ajit Singh said Canada was proud to stand with Bangladesh and partners in expanding the initiative, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusive governance, gender equality and democratic progress.

Director General of the Department of Women Affairs Zinat Ara said Nagarikata’s strong focus on SDG 5 was timely in the current context of women’s rights in Bangladesh, while NGO Affairs Bureau Director Dr K. M. Mamun Uzzaman noted that 25 projects have already been approved under the programme and expressed hope for further collaboration. The event also formally announced the programme’s expansion, welcoming the European Union as a new development partner and underscoring enhanced capacity through technical support from UNOPS and coordination with GFA Consulting Group, as stakeholders reaffirmed their shared responsibility to safeguard civic space and ensure meaningful citizen participation in governance.