Bangladesh

Donor: USAID • Partner: Research Triangle Institute, Inc. (RTI) Timeframe: June 2022 – October 2026

Shobai Miley Shikhi (Everyone Learns Together)

USAID’s Shobai Miley Shikhi Activity (Everyone Learns Together) (SMSA) is a five-year (2022 – 2026) program working to improve learning outcomes for primary-school aged learners with disabilities in Government primary schools. The activity will achieve its objectives through strengthening existing inclusive education reforms, introducing innovations to enhance inclusive school environments and instruction, and supporting parents’, caregivers’, and communities’ ability to provide inclusive education.

SMSA will address its objectives by partnering with the government of Bangladesh, specifically the Department of Primary Education and National Curriculum and Training Board, local organizations, disabled persons organizations (DPOs), the National Grassroots Disability Organization, the Center for Disability in Development, Save the Children, and Inclusive Development Partners (IDP). Over the course of the first three years of the activity, IDP will provide technical support around Universal Design for Learning (UDL), inclusive instructional techniques for teachers, and capacity strengthening for government and school officials.

Project Highlights

  • Developing a Rapid Situational Gender Analysis report
  • Training of SMSA staff, Ministry of Education officials, local DPOs and non-governmental organizations on UDL

 

Donor: Crown Agents • Partner: University of Massachusetts Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion Timeframe: Feb. 2015 – May 2016 

Technical Assistance for a Situational Assessment of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Bangladesh and for Developing a National Strategy and Action Plan for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Bangladesh

IDP staff worked with the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion on the development of a national strategy to address individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders in Bangladesh. The situational assessment phase of this program provided critical data to inform strategic plan development. Through the situational assessment, our researchers collected qualitative and quantitative data from individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders as well as their family members, service providers, and other stakeholders. In the development of the national strategy, our researchers considered Bangladesh’s National Health Policy, 7th Five Year Plan, National Social Protection Strategy, and other relevant policies. In addition, our researchers incorporated other international examples of health and education policy to address the needs of individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders in Bangladesh.

Project Highlights

  • Conducted a comprehensive current situational analysis of individuals with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders and relevant government initiatives in Bangladesh that resulted in the development of an inter-ministerial National Strategy and Action Plan for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Bangladesh

Project Resources