Declining flow of foreign aid to development sector becomes a concern: Experts
They attributed the crisis to several interrelated factors: a drop in global donor interest, Bangladesh’s reclassification as a middle-income country, shifting international priorities due to global crises, and evolving aid policies
The declining flow of foreign aid to Bangladesh's development sector has become a serious concern, particularly for initiatives focused on improving the lives of marginalised communities, experts said today (8 May).
They attributed the crisis to several interrelated factors: a drop in global donor interest, Bangladesh's reclassification as a middle-income country, shifting international priorities due to global crises, and evolving aid policies. As a result, there is now an urgent need to identify sustainable and alternative sources of funding to continue supporting vulnerable communities, they said.
This concern was raised at a roundtable discussion held at the BRAC Centre Inn in Dhaka's Mohakhali. ActionAid Bangladesh organised the roundtable on the theme "Strengthening Community Support Amid Changing Funding Landscapes."
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The event brought together representatives from civil society organisations, national and international development agencies, the private sector, climate and environmental experts, policy analysts, journalists, and development researchers.
Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), stressed the importance of a robust policy framework for utilising CSR funds.
"As LDC graduation is set to significantly impact CSOs, we must explore south-south funding, adopt a CSR policy, that could be led by the Finance Ministry, to channel private sector support, promote digital and structural reforms in both government and CSOs, ensure democratic leadership transitions, and advocate for a dedicated Tk1000 crore budget to sustain rights-based social development amid shifting political mindsets," he said.
ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir called for collective action and innovative solutions to overcome the ongoing crisis. "Active and collaborative steps are urgently needed to ensure the sustainability of community development efforts."
M Zakir Hossain Khan, chief executive of Change Initiative, and Sharmin Nilormi, a professor of Jahangirnagar University's Department of Economics, also spoke at the roundtable, among others.
