Uncertainty for Women and Children as Government Projects Face Delays and Funding Gaps

Working mother Tanzila Mostafiz, whose child is 1 year and 11 months old, recently secured a place for her child at the government-run daycare center in the National Library building in Agargaon, Dhaka, after significant effort.

The center operates under the “Establishment of 20 Child Daycare Centers” project, overseen by the Department of Women Affairs under the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. Currently, 550 applications from parents remain on a waiting list.

Although the project officially ended on June 30, the centers continue to function as no formal closure has been announced. Parents can still enroll their children, but staff members are currently unpaid.

Tanzila said her child enjoys attending the center, which is close to home, safe, and affordable. With private daycare fees being high, she worries about where to leave her child if the government center closes.

Broader Staff Concerns

It’s not only daycare staff facing uncertainty. Employees under multiple projects in the Ministry, including the Multisectoral Program to Prevent Violence Against Women and the “Tathya Apa: Empowering Women through ICT” initiative, as well as the Joyita Foundation’s Rapa Plaza operations, have struggled with irregular salaries and job insecurity. Over 2,500 staff, including 1,700 women, are affected.

Anonymous ministry officials acknowledged that project planning often overlooks long-term sustainability. New projects are frequently launched without guaranteeing continuity or securing positions for trained personnel, while donor-driven proposals sometimes dictate staffing, leaving experienced workers at risk of losing their jobs despite their skills.

Childcare Centers in Numbers

The daycare project began in 2016 with an initial plan to set up 11 centers, later expanded to 20 (11 in Dhaka, 9 outside). Currently, over 1,100 children attend these centers. The project’s cost is Tk 84 crore, with 243 staff members, including at least 170 women. Revenue has grown from Tk 7 lakh in 2018–19 to Tk 1 crore in 2024–25.

Meanwhile, the Joyita Foundation’s Rapa Plaza operations, which had served women entrepreneurs for 14 years, were shut down on May 13 following legal disputes over relocation to the new Joyita Tower. Around 200 women employees and entrepreneurs were impacted. Many, like Sharmin Rahman, struggle to find affordable alternatives, with monthly costs in the new location potentially reaching Tk 12 lakh.

Staff Salaries and Job Security

Daycare and project staff, including those in long-running initiatives, have faced salary reductions and delayed payments. One longtime daycare employee, speaking anonymously, said:

"We spend time caring for children, but job uncertainty affects our mental well-being."

New projects, such as the “Integrated Service Strengthening and Quick Response Team for Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children”, are hiring new staff through outsourcing. Existing personnel must reapply, with no guarantee of retention.

Joint Secretary Prakash Kanti Chowdhury clarified that according to the 2025 Service Delivery Guidelines, recruitment for these new projects must go through outsourcing. Priority will be given to existing staff, but there is no certainty for everyone.

Multisectoral Program and Tathya Apa

The Multisectoral Program, running for 25 years, employs 381 staff (102 women directly recruited). Funded initially by the Bangladesh government and DANIDA, its fourth phase ran from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2024. After DANIDA’s withdrawal in 2022, the government reduced funding, downgraded it from Grade A to Grade B, and intermittently delayed salaries.

The Tathya Apa project, which empowers women through ICT, began as a pilot in 2011 and expanded in 2018 to 492 sub-districts. Out of 1,483 positions, 1,172 are held by women, with 311 having left. An additional 497 outsourced positions also include over 100 women. Staff have protested repeatedly for permanent positions, including a 72-day sit-in at the National Press Club, sometimes involving their children.

Expert Concerns

Khandakar Golam Mouazzem, research director at CPD, said that frequent government changes and shifting priorities often leave projects incomplete or unsustainable. As a result, experienced female staff face job loss mid-career. He emphasizes the need for mid-term evaluation and review to ensure continuity and effectiveness of projects.

Current Operations

The projects currently run One-Stop Crisis Centers (OSCC) in 14 medical colleges, district hospitals, and sub-district health complexes, DNA profiling and screening labs, trauma counseling centers, and the National Helpline 109, among other services.

Despite the ongoing challenges, ministry officials express hope that childcare and women empowerment services will continue under proper arrangements, emphasizing the popularity and necessity of these programs for working women.