Questions/Answers

The main aim and objective of the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner (BSFMWC) initiative is to create a single window for women to receive services and to facilitate and ensure access to services. Moreover, the following points can be confirmed as there are specific points for submission of application: 1. Follow up on all applications; 2. Know immediately about the action taken on the application; 3. Not leaving any application without informing about the action taken; 4. Categorizing services, categorizing the areas in which women apply and expecting services, categorizing those services, and adopting special plans on all the categories in which applications will be submitted more; 5. Making recommendations on various plans and policies for the advancement of women; 6. Ensuring the opportunity to apply from any corner of the country and abroad through information technology; 7. Ensuring service delivery through the use of information technology and implementing government policies that reduce time and cost and various stages of application; 8. Involvement of other departments related to access to women's services in this initiative; 9. Opportunity to apply through hotline mobile number or app from any place at any time Created; 10. Assistance in Women's Entrepreneurship, Self-Employment, Poverty Alleviation and Women's Empowerment through Proper Disposal of Applications; 11. To assist in the development of women's education through intensive supervision through any application related to women's education; 12. To play a role in preventing violence and discrimination against women as soon as any application comes to the notice of the district administration; 13. The connection of the upazila with the district has been established as it is very easy to bring the women seeking assistance at the grassroots level under the assistance of the district administration. As a result, grassroots women have the opportunity to get involved;

Gender-responsive public services delivered through this innovative initiative Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner (BSFMWC) can play a key role in ending violence and harassment against women in following ways: • Addressing women’s social and economic exclusion and women’s safety; • Having safe access to quality public services, such as health care, education and training, and good quality employment, will reduce the risk of violence in public spaces and when women travel to and from work; Meanwhile this model has been implemented at Netrokona district of Bangladesh. Within 2022 it will be implemented in whole Bangladesh to provide need-based services to women.

Women must be given the opportunity to stand in line with men without discrimination for a nation to truly developed and prosperous. This initiative supports Goal 5 of SDG and target 5.2, 5.3 5.4, 5.5. 5.A, 5.B, and 5.C Bangladeshi women have been struggling to establish their rights in family, society and in the state. Practically in the society and the implementation of law, women are still facing discrimination, exclusion and injustice and have negligible influence in decision making processes. While working in the district administration, it was seen that women came to the district administration with various problems. But since there is no special platform for them, in many cases it is not possible to be sure whether they have received the requested services. Besides, women apply for the services of any other organization through the district administration but, as there is no specific arrangement, no follow-up or information is available about the application of the service candidates. Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner has created a specialized platform for women, through which any woman in Netrokona district can apply from any place at any time and find out where such applications are awaiting for disposal through this initiative.

This initiative is sustainable in social, economic and environmental terms due to: • Poverty rate is decreasing due to self-employment. • Women's empowerment and decision-making capacity has increased. • The socio-economic status of the women who have received services through this initiative has increased their social respect. • Assistance in job creation and facilitating financial (lending facilitation) flows have created opportunities for empowerment of women through economic development and provision of entrepreneurial loans. • Providing necessary assistance to prevent any kind of child marriage and violence against women. This initiative is completely managed through the use of ICT and it is completely environment friendly.

Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner was established with the idea of establishing a special platform for women for the implementation of state philosophy and government policy ideals. While working in the district administration, it was seen that women came to the district administration with various problems and applications. But since there is no special platform for them, in many cases it is not possible to be sure whether they have received the requested services. Moreover, women have less opportunity to report their application from anywhere at any time. Besides, women apply for the services of any other organization through the district administration but, as there is no specific arrangement, no follow-up or information is available about the application of the service candidates. As a result, women are deprived of proper services. Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner has launched at Netrokona district of Bangladesh. This initiative created a specialized platform for women, through which any woman in Netrokona district can apply from any place at any time and find out where such applications are awaiting for disposal through the use of information technology and the issue of receiving services can be settled.

The initiative is explicitly a gender sensitive innovation dedicated to all classes of women opportunity for rural woman is also ensured through the initiative. They can avail access by using technology. The initiative also contributes to ensure the digital divided among all classes of women where can avail the desired service with final feedback. The initiative would boost up the entrepreneurship, empowerment and accessibility of women.

Any woman of Netrokona district will be able to easily receive services through information technology. Especially; (A) Female students (B) Women Entrepreneurs (C) Self-employed women (D) Startup (E) Women victims of child marriage and sexual harassment (F) Women seeking health care (G) Tortured women (H) Women seeking loan assistance (I) Women seeking financial assistance (J) In other cases service seeking women The district administration of Netrokona under the slogan “No Women will be left behind in Netrokona District” in order to ensure empowerment, has taken an initiative to set up an integrated online platform titled "Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner (BSFMWC)". It was launched on March 08, 2021, the International Women's Day. This initiative is playing an important and effective role in the education of women, prevention of child marriage, prevention of violence against women, alleviation of poverty, creation of gender sensitivity, empowerment of women and creation of self-employment in Netrokona district. Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner is an information technology based initiative that is specially taken to provide services to women in special arrangements.

Every goal and objective of this initiative has been successfully implemented through this initiative. The various activities in the context of this initiative are highlighted below. Consider the context of building special arrangements for the provision of services to women through the use of information technology • Create original concept paper • Stakeholder Consultation • Develop Software and mobile apps • Provide training to the concerned stakeholders 1100 women have already applied through the initiative. Out of them 905 applications have been processed. Assistance has been provided according to the category of applications. Loan assistance has been provided to 105 women entrepreneurs. These loans are provided by the Department of Women's Affairs, BSCIC and the Department of Youth Development. Financial assistance has been provided to 480 people. In this case, if the applications are sent to the Deputy Commissioner and other agencies / departments through the district administration, the concerned stakeholders have provided information on what action has been taken on each application. As a result, the applications are sent to the concerned stakeholders through the software, just as the activities are easily known. As a result, the application was disposed of expeditiously. Receipt of services according to class format is included in an automated database. As a result, a database is automatically found about the classification of the subject of the applicant's application and the activities undertaken. It has opened a new horizon of providing services for the advancement of women through the use of information technology. Disputes related to violence against women have been settled in 189 cases, education assistance in 65 cases and 237 applications in other cases.

The obstacle encountered in this initiative are: • Creating skilled manpower, necessary equipment and financial resources etc. • Making women accustomed to using the app at the grassroots level; • Coordination with the other departments; • Popularize the use of the app at the customer level; The obstacle has been overcome by following means: • Training, orientation and motivational workshops and seminars have been organized to increase the interest and importance among concerned stakeholders. • Undertaking extensive publicity; • Take effective initiatives to coordinate and communicate between partners; • The allocation of funds in the field of information technology in the local government institutions inspired according to the policy.

While working in the district administration, it was seen that women came to the district administration with various problems. Since there is no single platform for them, in many cases it is quite impossible to be sure whether they have received the requested services. Besides, women apply for the services of any other organization through the district administration but, as there is no specific arrangement, no follow-up or information is available about the application of the service candidates. Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner is a unique platform for women, through which women’s are getting need-based services through this single window.

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According to the National Information and Communication Technology Policy 2018, there are instructions to ensure transparency and accountability in providing digital information and services to the people in a digital manner. This initiative is an IT based platform which ensured transparency, accountability in providing services to women. Besides, the initiative will also develop the capacity of the concerned agencies including the district administration as service providers. This initiative will play an important role in bringing women into the mainstream of society by providing special assistance to the society by ensuring social equality and universal access as per the ICT policy.

Not Applicable

1100 women have already applied through the initiative. Out of them 905 applications have been processed. Assistance has been provided according to the category of applications. (Report attached) Loan assistance has been provided to 105 women entrepreneurs. These loans are provided by the Department of Women's Affairs, BSCIC and the Department of Youth Development. Financial assistance has been provided to 480 people. (Report attached). This initiative taken by the district administration, Netrokona, is planned to be implemented in future as a roadmap from district to upazila and up to the union. • It will be implemented in all upazilas of Netrokona district by next December, 2021. • It will be implemented in 86 unions of Netrokona by 6 March, 2022. • Implementation on 6 March, 2022 in other district offices. • It will be implemented in the remaining 63 districts and 493 upazilas in 2022. • Recommendations will be sent to the Cabinet Division or the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to issue a directive considering the single window platform for women's development as a model to be implemented in the whole of Bangladesh in the future;

A well decorated office room has been allocated with equipment Necessary logistics has been provided User and stake holder are trained A dedicated officer and supporting staffs are appointed Taka Five lacs have been deposited in a concern bank Primarily selected for the Digital Bangladesh Award 2021

During implementation of this initiative ministry, Government organization (GO) and non-government organization NGO) has been involved. Beside this local government institution, civil servant, peoples representative and civil society also involved to implement this initiative. These makes the initiative is sustainable over time, in financial and institutional terms. • Local govt. institution will allocate 5% of its annual budget for women's development. A progress review meeting will be held once between the committee and the stakeholders in the upazila. • The initiative is planned to be extended to all districts, upazilas and unions across the country in phases within the next one year.

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This initiative formally evaluated internally by an internal evaluation committee consisting three members. Evaluation report of the committee mainly use took interview of both the service receiver and service provider. Service receiver has been asked on output of their desired service, outcome and impact on their socio-economic status after receiving service. Data received both from service provider and receiver. Autogenerated data also received from software. All the collected data has been analysed and received findings. An evaluation was conducted by forming a committee consisting three members. The internal evaluation committee headed by an Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC). Another two members are Programmer (IT personnel), and Assistant Commissioner (ICT).

Every goal and objective of this initiative has been successfully implemented through this initiative. The tools have been used in the context of this initiative are: Concept paper, Stakeholder Consultation, Software and mobile apps and Provide training to the concerned stakeholders. Consider the context of building special arrangements for the provision of services to women through the use of information technology. The indicators have been used during evaluation of this initiative are: • Number of services sought and provided • Service categories • Number of services provided as per category • Output of the submission • outcome of the services received by service receiver

The main findings of the evaluation are: • Poverty rate is decreasing as a result of self-employment. • Women's empowerment and decision-making capacity has increased. • The economic and social status of the women who have received services through this initiative has increased their social and family respect. • They have acquired the ability to educate their children or to spend their own money on other activities. As a result, oppression and discrimination against women have decreased. • Assistance in job creation and facilitating financial (lending facilitation) flows have created opportunities for empowerment of women through economic development and provision of entrepreneurial loans. • Providing necessary assistance to prevent any kind of child marriage and violence against women has clearly signalled a positive change in socio-economic development. The challenges faced in this initiative are: • Creating skilled manpower, equipment and financial resources etc. • Making women accustomed to using the app at the grassroots level; • Coordination among other departments; • Popularize the software at the customer level; • Involve stakeholders in the implementation of this initiative and motivators All the information getting after evaluation used efficiently to minimize the challenges and gearing up service provider as this initiative has huge positive impact on life standard of service receiver.

During the implementation of this initiative a control room has been fixed at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Netrokona. Two female supporting staff (as service receiver is only women) has been allocated to look after the submission of service receiver. If any service receiver comes in office physically all the arrangement has been ensured at specific room for their comfort. A responsible officer has been assigned to ensure smooth services for service receiver through this initiative. Other departments have been linked in this system if their support is necessary to provide smooth service. Prior this set up software and specific mobile application has been developed and all the IT equipment has been provided. There is an arrangement of a hotline number to give support to women if need. Women of Netrokona district can get help from anywhere in the globe through this initiative depending on their need.

During the making design of this single platform service providing system for women active participation of probable service receiver and different service provider has been ensured. The probable service receiver is- Female students, Women Entrepreneurs, Self-employed women, Women victims of child marriage and sexual harassment, Women seeking health care, Tortured women, Women seeking loan assistance, Women seeking financial assistance, in other cases service seeking women. All the stakeholders service provider (District Administration, Information Officer, Department of Women's Affairs, Department of Social Services, Youth Development, Superintendent of Police, BSCIC, Legal Aid and Health) and service receiver will be involved in this initiative. Each department will take care of the services in their respective positions. Applications from women entrepreneurs who have applied for the training services are forwarded to the concerned partners, such as BSCIC, through the software. The DM of BSCIC provides information on the action taken on the applications in the software. As a result, the action taken on the applicant's application is known through an integrated initiative.

This initiative taken by the district administration, Netrokona. In course of planning, design of this initiative, the experiences are- • Women are far away from their basic rights • Institutional set up is not properly sensitize to need of women • There is no proper and effective monitoring system to oversee the action on women need • If there is special institutional support to women need the outcome is significant. District Administration, Netrokona, Bangladesh has designed and developed this initiative. This model is planned to be implemented in future from district to upazila and up to the union. • It will be implemented in all upazilas of Netrokona district by next December, 2021. • It will be implemented in 86 unions of Netrokona by 6 March, 2022. • Implementation on 6 March, 2022 in other district offices. • It will be implemented in the remaining 63 districts and 493 upazilas in 2022. Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women's Corner is an IT based single platform from where any woman of the Netrokona district can avail services by using this initiative. As the initiative is technology dependent, the time, costs and visits of both the service provider and the recipient will be reduced.