Sweden and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Monday signed a five-year grant agreement aiming to strengthen the existing cooperation in preventing corruption.

Under the agreement, TIB will implement its core project “Participatory Action against Corruption: Towards Transparency and Accountability (PACTA)” during 2022-2026.

In addition, TIB is supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK and the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) of Switzerland in this project. Sweden will contribute 50 million Swedish Kronor (around US$ 5,340,000) for this project.

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The signing ceremony was held at the Embassy of Sweden with the Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, Christine Johansson and Executive Director of TIB, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, as signatory parties, respectively.

The project's overall objectives are to contribute to curbing corruption as means of developing a more inclusive, equitable and non-discriminatory society consistent with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The project will involve more people in the social movement against corruption grounded on data-driven community monitoring to identify governance deficiencies, promote transparent service delivery and facilitate social accountability.

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Speaking at the event, Head of Development Cooperation- Christine Johansson, said, “Combatting and preventing corruption is central to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and a key priority for the Swedish Government. It is with great pleasure that I today renew our longstanding partnership with TIB.”

Expressing gratitude for the continued support, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Executive Director of TIB said they are honoured and inspired to sign this 4th successive round of partnership agreement between the Embassy of Sweden and TIB with the shared objective of strengthening the social movement against corruption in Bangladesh in order to achieve higher standards of transparent and accountable governance for inclusive development, social change and justice.