Guiding Principles

In the Cooperation Strategy Bangladesh 2008-2012, the following principles guide SDC’s programme implementation

• Supporting capacity development (i.e. organizational and human resource development) as the core task of SDC’s development cooperation
• Scaling-up through policy dialogue based on field experience as well as through alliances, networking and dissemination
• Exploring innovative opportunities and taking risks
• Fostering of regional initiatives (programmes and projects) through exchange with other countries in the region.

Cross-cutting Themes

Two cross-cutting themes will be explicitly addressed throughout the programme:

Gender

To address still existing inequalities between men and women, mainstreaming gender issues continues in all lines of action. It comprises analyzing women’s and men’s respective roles and their access to and control over resources, disaggregated baseline information for planning and for monitoring gender-specific outputs and outcomes, and bringing up gender-related issues at policy level.

HIV / AIDS

While HIV/AIDS is not seen as a major pandemic, the potential risks remain high. Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS issues throughout the programme will focus on prevention through awareness building in projects, for example through training programmes and campaigns, to contain the risk of spreading.