Nagorikota :Civic Engagement Fund (CEF)
PARAYAN (Inclusiveness)

Aparajeyo-Bangladesh acknowledges the valuable support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), GFA Consulting Group GmbH, the Civic Engagement Fund (CEF), and all consortium partners for their commitment to strengthening citizen participation, promoting gender equality, reducing gender-based violence, and supporting inclusive development in Bangladesh.

PARAYAN (Inclusiveness) is a human rights-based initiative that places youth, women, and the most disadvantaged communities at the center of social change. The project aims to strengthen these groups as change agents so they can claim their rights while contributing to more inclusive, gender-responsive laws, institutions, and social practices.

The project builds the capacity of youth, women, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, and local leaders to advocate for equal rights and improved public services. It also works to shift public attitudes toward gender equality and reduce gender-based violence through awareness campaigns, community engagement, and collaboration with government stakeholders.

Project Goal

Youth, women, and the most disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh are strengthened as change agents to claim their rights, while public opinion, laws, and duty-bearer practices shift toward inclusive, gender-responsive norms and reduced gender-based violence.

Project Outputs

1. Community-level protection and access mechanisms established through courtyard meetings, Pariborto Corners, legal aid referrals, and Mohila Mukti Sanghee/Freedom Fellows.

2. Youth and women-led CBOs and Youth Clubs strengthened and connected with media, IEC/BCC campaigns, and the 16 Days of Activism campaign to promote gender equality and reduce gender-based violence.

3. Government engagement strengthened through coordination with DWA and DSS, GO-NGO networking, government training, and the review of the National Women Development Policy-2011.

4. Organizational and system capacity strengthened through staff training, an SRHR toolkit, and a Web/iOS-based monitoring, reporting, and case-management application.

Project Partners

Aparajeyo-Bangladesh (AB) - Lead Organization (Dhaka and Mymensingh)

Consortium Partners:
• Chandradip Development Society (CDS) - Barisal
• Manob Sheba O Shamajik Unnayan Shangstha (MSSUS) - Khulna
• Reliant Women's Development Organization (RWDO) - Sylhet and Sunamganj
• Jugantar Samaj Unnayan Sangstha (JSUS) - Chittagong

Funding Source

Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh / Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), through GFA Consulting Group GmbH under the Civic Engagement Fund (CEF).

Grant No.: Nagorikata-CfP I-AB-001

Implementation Period

1 March 2025 - 31 August 2027

Project Budget

BDT 61,424,950 (excluding in-kind contributions)
Total including in-kind contributions: BDT 63,713,450

Project Location

6 districts across Bangladesh, covering 27 Upazilas and 84 Unions.

Dhaka and Mymensingh are directly implemented by Aparajeyo-Bangladesh.

Barisal, Khulna, Sylhet, Sunamganj, and Chittagong are implemented through consortium partners.

Target Group

• 65,000 women
• 40,000 youth
• 45,000 people from marginalized communities, including rural, char, tea garden, slum, and haour communities.

Reach

Total direct beneficiaries: 150,000

Estimated indirect beneficiaries: 5.5 million citizens.

Summary

PARAYAN uses a human rights-based approach that strengthens youth, women, and disadvantaged communities as change agents. The project develops the leadership capacity of these groups in partnership with CSOs, women-led organizations, CBOs, and men and boys to advocate for more inclusive and gender-responsive policies and services.

The methodology is based on four interconnected forms of empowerment:

• Power Over - addressing exclusion and inequality.
• Power Within - strengthening self-recognition and capacity.
• Power With - building networks and partnerships.
• Power To - enabling people to live free from violence and fully exercise their rights.

Key interventions include Pariborto Corners, legal aid mechanisms, Mohila Mukti Sanghee women's freedom fellows, youth clubs, an SRHR toolkit, a Web/iOS-based monitoring and reporting system, and policy advocacy through collaboration with government stakeholders.