Empowering Women in the Nursing Sector in Bangladesh

This project aims to improve the enabling environment reduce gender-related barriers push the nursing agenda forward and build the capacity of nursing teachers. This project supports women’s and girls’ health and enhances the voice and influence of nurses primarily female in the health sector in Bangladesh. This project enhances nurses’ performance and professional status in Bangladesh through investment in management and leadership training; and the development of a comprehensive and attractive nursing career path. This project also improves the nursing training facilities and the creation of a national nurse training institute. Project activities include: (1) providing support for the expansion/repair/renovation of the Mohakhali College of Nursing complex and the proposed site of the National Nurse Teachers Training Institute (NNTTI); (2) developing and implementing a NNTTI Certificate Training Program; (3) developing and implementing a system of continuous professional development; (4) developing a comprehensive competency-based gender-responsive nursing career path; and (5) engaging influencers/policymakers in improving the status of nursing. This project delivers on Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy priorities of gender equality women and girls’ empowerment and human dignity. It operates on a national scale to benefit all nurses in the public and private sectors. It responds directly to the prioritized needs for Bangladesh’s nursing profession outlined in the 2018 National Task Force on the Future of Nursing in Bangladesh Report. Finally this project also addresses Sustainable Development Goals focusing on health gender equality and inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The project expects to directly benefit more than 90 000 nurses and the Bangladesh Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery and indirectly benefit project stakeholders including the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council targeted public and private nurs

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved quality education for women nurses; (2) enhanced performance and professional status of women nurses; and (3) improved enabling environment for women nurses’ meaningful participation in the health sector in Bangladesh.