Commercial counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Bangladesh Song Yang on Tuesday said that China would continue to support Bangladesh鈥檚 economic and social development and the improvement of people鈥檚 livelihoods through concrete actions.
Speaking at a launching ceremony, he laid emphasis on working together with the United Nations Development Programme and other partners to build a fairer and more inclusive world, where poverty becomes a thing of the past.
The local government, rural development and cooperatives ministry, in collaboration with the UNDP and the China International Development Cooperation Agency, launched the Livelihoods Support for Urban Poor Communities in Bangladesh project in Dhaka.
The initiative, funded through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund under CIDCA鈥檚 leadership, aimed to strengthen urban livelihoods through skills development, nutrition support, and small-scale critical infrastructure, empowering marginalised households across Dhaka North, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Chandpur, in line with national strategies for inclusive urban development, UNDP said.
Local government division secretary Md Rezaul Maksud Jahedi called the launch timely, noting that Bangladesh contributed less than 0.35 per cent of global emissions yet ranked among the most climate-vulnerable countries.
He said that the project was a crucial step to strengthen the livelihoods of urban poor, uphold their dignity, and build resilience against climate change.
Resident representative UNDP Bangladesh Stefan Liller emphasised the project鈥檚 transformative potential.
鈥楩or over two decades, UNDP has supported large-scale urban resilience and livelihoods programmes tailored to the needs of vulnerable urban communities. Building on these successes, today marks a new chapter. With the support of CIDCA, this programme strengthens South-South cooperation and reinforces shared priorities under the 2030 Agenda,鈥� he said.
Earlier, Anowarul Haq, assistant resident representative UNDP Bangladesh, gave an overview of the project鈥檚 objectives, followed by a keynote presentation of the project framework and strategies by Yugesh Pradhanang, project manager, UNDP.
The session highlighted plans for skills training, nutritional support, and inclusive livelihood opportunities to address challenges faced by urban poor communities, particularly women and children.
The new project will contribute to UNDP鈥檚 broader urban portfolio and directly benefit 100,000 low-income community members through targeted support.
It will also strengthen institutional capacity for more inclusive and sustainable city governance, helping to ensure that no one is left behind in Bangladesh鈥檚 urban transition.