The Economic Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), signed two projects,  Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP) Phase - II, and the Institutional Strengthening for Promoting Accelerated Transformation (ISPAT) on 9 February, 2026 at ERD.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of ERD, and Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, formally signed the documents on behalf of their respective institutions.

TEPP II will run from January 2026 to March 2028 with a total budget of about USD 3.57 million, funded by the UK Government. It will strengthen Bangladesh’s trade and investment policy ecosystem to support a competitive post-LDC transition by enhancing trade negotiation capacity, evidence-based policy analysis, institutional reforms, and investment climate processes through the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

ISPAT will be implemented from January 2026 to June 2027 with a budget of USD 1.06 million supported by the Australian Government. The project will strengthen and modernize the NGO Affairs Bureau through digital systems, improved transparency and gender-responsive service delivery, alongside policy reform and capacity development to enhance NGO oversight and engagement in national development priorities.

Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, ERD highlighted, “These initiatives reflect our commitment to a holistic approach to institutional strengthening—building capacity, enhancing transparency and accountability, and fostering evidence-based policymaking. Through these projects, we aim to develop confident, capable institutions and professionals who can effectively support good governance and Bangladesh’s economic transformation, particularly during the post-LDC transition.”

Stefan Liller, UNDP Resident Representative said, "These two projects are highly strategic and catalytic, strengthening the institutions and policy ecosystems that underpin Bangladesh’s economic transformation and governance reforms. Working closely with government and development partners, UNDP is committed to supporting nationally led, forward-looking reforms that will deliver long-term impact.”

The signing of these two projects reaffirms the strong partnership between the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP, and development partners in advancing the country’s economic transition, strengthening public institutions, and promoting transparent, technology-enabled, and citizen-centric service delivery. Both TEPP II and ISPAT are expected to play pivotal roles in enabling stronger governance systems, fostering private sector competitiveness, and supporting Bangladesh’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Along with representatives from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), the event was graced by the presence of A K M Sohel, Additional Secretary & Wing Chief (UN), ERD; Md. Daud Miah ndc, Director General (Additional Secretary), NGO Affairs Bureau; Md. Muzib-Ul-Ferdous, Director General (Additional Secretary), BIDA; Mohammad Khairul Alam, Deputy Chief (Export Wing), Ministry of Commerce; Syed Haider, First Secretary & Head of Development Cooperation, Australian High Commission; Asif Kashem, Senior Programme Manager, Australian High Commission; Anowarul Haque, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP and Sheela Tasneem Haq, Senior Governance Specialist, UNDP.

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