The government and several UN agencies have jointly initiated a $12 million pilot project to increase the resilience of human beings and boost economic development through inclusive and gender-responsive disaster management.

The pilot project styled as 'National Resilience Programme' (NRP) was launched at a city hotel on Thursday.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya announced the launch as the chief guest, with secretary Md Shah Kamal of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) in the chair.

The Ministry of Disaster Management in association with the UNDP, the UN Women and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) organised the function.

Co-financed by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the NRP will be implemented by the Ministry of Disaster Management, Ministry of Planning (MoP), Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA) and the Local Government Division (LGD).

Omar Farook, Humanitarian Adviser, DFID, Charlotta Schlyter, Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, and Mia Seppo, UN Resident Coordinator, spoke as the guest of honour.

Speaking at the event, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Maya said, "The NRP is a knowledge-based programme which will promote women leadership to build a disaster-resilient nation."

He also said the NRP will work with the business community to develop risk-informed business continuity planning.

He also expressed the hope that it would also build the capacity of the relevant ministries and boost the resilience to natural disasters.

The minister called upon all the line ministries and development partners to implement the programme effectively and efficiently for disaster risk reduction which was also adapted as the Sendai Framework.

The programme has four parts. The 'Department of Disaster' part will focus on disability inclusive and gender-responsive capacities, 'Programming Division' part will focus on the capacity building for disaster- and climate risk-informed planning, the 'Department of Women' part will focus on the gender dimension of the programme and the LGED part will focus on infrastructure.

Speaking on the occasion, Md Shah Kamal said, "To sustain the economic and human development, it's essential to have strong partnership for inclusive disaster risk reduction plan."

Mr. Omar Farook said the DFID mainstreamed resilience to natural disasters into the programme and continues its support to ensure sustainable progress in disaster management.

Charlotta Schlyter said Bangladesh needs the support of women in its efforts to fight and adapt to climate change.

Being a feminist government, Sweden will continue its support for the vulnerable women in Bangladesh, she added.

Mia Seppo appreciated the current economic growth in Bangladesh but warned that the adverse impacts of climate change can hold back the development of the country.

While the country is on its way to becoming a middle-income country, its exposure to natural hazards such as floods and earthquake is likely to intensify due to climate change, its rapid urbanisation, the demographic pressure and the continued erosion of its land, Mia said.

"The National Resilience Programme will increase the resilience and reduce disaster risks in terms of loss of lives and livelihoods," she added.

Kabir Bin Anwar, secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr Mahbub Hossain, additional secretary, Local Government Division, Md Ainul Kabir, additional secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, and Kajal Islam, additional secretary of Planning Division, also spoke.

Over 200 representatives from different ministries, development partners, INGO, NGOs, research organisations, academic institutions and the media attended the event.