Bangladesh

On Saturday 2 May, UNDP Country Director Stefan Priesner led the proceedings at the inauguration ceremony of the second cycle of women crew groups, participants in the Government of Bangladesh, European Commission (EC), and UNDP-supported Rural Employment Opportunities for Public Assets (REOPA) project. In addition to the 11,640 women presently occupied in road maintenance since February 2008, 12, 804 women picked up their tools, donned their REOPA uniforms and commenced work for a two-year employment cycle from this date. Along with Stefan, the acting head of the EC and a number of programme and project colleagues including Assistant Country Director Majeda Haq, International Team Leader Göran Jonsson and International Operations Manager Ali Tahsin attended the inauguration. The event received significant media coverage with journalists talking to the women about their hopes for involvement in the project, and with UNDP senior management about the long-term benefits of the project.