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Ashshash – for men and women who have escaped trafficking


Switzerland has an interest in ensuring that international migration is regular, secure, and respects human dignity and the rights of migrants. The programme will support men and women who have escaped trafficking to reintegrate into society, raise awareness on the perils of irregular migration and improve public and private capacities to deliver services to victims of trafficking. The intervention contributes to Switzerland’s political dialogue on safe, orderly and regular migration at the global level.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Bangladesh
Migration
Vocational training
nothemedefined
Forced displacement (refugees, IDP, human trafficking)
Vocational training
Migration generally (development aspects and partnerships)
01.06.2023 - 31.05.2027
 CHF  9’500’000
The project in brief
Background While no figures or percentages can be assigned, media reports suggest that the number of men, women and children being trafficked from Bangladesh is on the rise. Additionally, in Bangladesh, the high profits coupled with low penalties for the crime, have made trafficking attractive to criminal gangs and large-scale organised crime rackets. Factors that have contributed to the increase in trafficking include: high supply of low-skilled labour, lack of prosecution of traffickers, lack of information on safe migration, and lack of protection for those who have escaped trafficking (leading to re-trafficking). The promotion of a stable, economically and socially inclusive Bangladesh is in Switzerland’s interest to ensure peace, security and prosperity in the densely populated region of South Asia.
Objectives Women and men who have escaped trafficking restore their dignity and well-being and become self-sufficient.
Target groups

Direct Beneficiaries
The programme will directly benefit 6,000 men and women who have escaped trafficking in 10 trafficking prone districts (Jashore, Satkhira, Khulna, Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka, Norshingdi, Manikgonj, Faridpur, Shariatpur, and Jhenaidah). Among them, at least 65% (3,900) are women and 90% (5,400) are poor.

Indirect Beneficiaries
24,000 women and men from the survivors’ families will indirectly benefit from the 6,000 survivors’ engagement in economic activities. Approximately 2,000,000 men and women in their communities will be informed about trafficking and its consequences through online and in-person outreach campaign.
Medium-term outcomes
  • Outcome 1: Men and women who have escaped trafficking improve their physical, social and economic well-being through psychological support and other reintegration services
  • Outcome 2: Institutions are made more accountable and effective in providing services beneficial to men and women who have escaped trafficking
Results

Expected results:  

  • Output 1.1: Women and men who have escaped trafficking are provided with holistic care, including psychosocial counselling and legal and essential services;
  • Output 1.2: Women and men who have escaped trafficking are provided with training and resources to access new or better employment;
  • Output 1.3: Women and men who have escaped trafficking are offered access to finance and increased market linkages;
  • Output 2.1: Change agents of local communities are aware of and trained in human trafficking prevention and reintegration services for survivors of trafficking;
  • Output 2.2: Public/ private institutions developed capacity to provide improved social protection and legal support to survivors of trafficking;
  • Output 2.3: Public and private sector stakeholders influence policies/practices to support sustainable reintegration of survivors of trafficking.


Results from previous phases:   The programme supported 4,500 survivors of trafficking (70% women), of whom 4,009 were placed in gainful employment, with 85% earning BDT 5’000 or above per month and 80% improving their social status in their family or community within a year. 77% of the 4,500 survivors who received psychosocial counselling and health care reported improved mental and physical health status. 18 public and private institutions improved the quality and accessibility of their services to survivors. Programme interventions mobilised CHF 38’000 in cash and in-kind support from public and private institutions for reintegration services. With technical support from the programme, the Ministry of Home Affairs developed a roadmap for a National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for victim protection and initiated a National Anti-Human Trafficking Fund to implement the NRM.
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Winrock International


Coordination with other projects and actors
  • Other development partners: Potential synergies with partners like USAID, UNODC, IOM, KOICA, EU, and US Department of State could be further explored.
  • SDC: SIMS, Reintegration of migrant workers in Bangladesh, Prabriddhi, BMMDP, and B-Briddhi.
  • SMFD: Decent Work for Migrant Workers from South Asia (DWSA)
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    9’500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’190’013
Project phases Phase 2 01.06.2023 - 31.05.2027   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.09.2015 - 31.07.2023   (Completed)
  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    EDUCATION
    GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Facilitation of orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility
    Vocational training
    Facilitation of orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility
    Cross-cutting topics The project also supports partner organisation improvements
    Aid Type Mandate with fiduciary funds
    Mandate without fiduciary fund
    Project number

    7F08654

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Last update 16.11.2021