FOCUS AREAS

Global Campaigns to Pave the Way
• The UNITE FOR CHILDREN, UNITE AGAINSTAIDS campaign is the largest effort to globally recognise and act against the impact of HIV/AIDS on children. UNICEF and UNAIDS work with governments, NGOs, academic institutions, faith-based groups, community, youth and sporting organisations.

• UNICEF is part of the Measles Initiative, which works to reduce measles deaths by 90 per cent by 2010 (from 2000 levels) with the  American Red Cross, the UN Foundation, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).  • Polio reappeared in Bangladesh in 2006, after being polio-free for five years. UNICEF is part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), working with WHO, Rotary International and CDC. In Bangladesh GPEI works with Government and local partners to regularly vaccinate some 22 million children. GPEI receives support from donors such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

• UNICEF Bangladesh is one of the leading agencies regionally for the United Nations Girls Education Initiative. Partners for this initiative - which aims for universal primary education, and gender parity in secondary education by 2015 - include UN agencies, the World Bank, donor agencies and NGOs such as CAMFED International, Campaign for Popular Education Bangladesh, World Vision and others.

Partnering across UNICEF Programmes

• The Government of Bangladesh aims to reach universal birth registration by 2010. UNICEF is working for this across all sectors, with ties between birth registration and school enrolments, immunisation programmes and interventions for vulnerable children.  UNICEF also supports social mobilisation and awareness raising.

• UNICEFBangladesh has a cross-sector focus on preventing HIV.  UNICEF, with the government, will in particular promote a comprehensive approach to prevention of parent-to-child transmission (PPTCT) of HIV.  UNICEF also works towards the priorities of the National Strategic Plan for HIV-AIDS 2004-2010, which include providing support and services to vulnerable groups and people living with HIV and promoting safe practices in the health care system.

• In the Chittagong Hill  Tracts (CHT), which consists of 3 districts in Bangladesh, UNICEF and the government have been supporting various activities related to education, health and nutrition, water and sanitation. One of these projects includes over 2220 para centres, or community centres, most of which are in indigenous communities and are staffed by local women. Para centres provide early childhood development, health, nutrition, water and sanitation services. By 2010, a total of 3500 para centres are expected to serve 525,000 people.

• UNICEF’s field based staff, working across the 64 districts, are crucial in the success of all UNICEF projects.  Field staff facilitate projects by providing local support to the government counterparts and monitoring all UNICEF-assisted work. Field staff are vital in ensuring timely responses to emergencies.

• The success of all UNICEF projects is underpinned by Behaviour Change Communication (BCC). Through behaviour research BCC helps projects to remove barriers and motivate individuals and communities to maximise benefits by changing their behaviours.