UNICEF and some bright children, representing the Bangladesh Generation Parliament initiative, have highlighted the critical need for enhanced budget allocation to key child welfare sectors, and emphasised the effective utilisation of these funds.

They were speaking during a pre-budget briefing held at the Bangladesh National Parliament on Monday.

The “Safeguarding Children’s Interest in the National Budget: Pre-Budget Briefing” was jointly organised by UNICEF with the members of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, Standing Committees on the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health and the Bangladesh Parliamentary Forum on Health and Wellbeing.

The briefing follows the release of a comprehensive analysis of the national budget for the outgoing fiscal year 2023-2024 conducted by UNICEF. The analysis was presented to the lawmakers, revealing concerning trends in budget allocation and utilisation for key sectors, particularly education, health, and social protection.

The presentation also shed light on the investment needs in three key sectors for the upcoming budget and recommendations going forward, said the UNICEF. 

Children representing eight divisions of Bangladesh were present at the event to voice chidrens’ concerns and aspirations. "If we can participate in budget discussions, it will help us express our opinions, the obstacles that we face in our everyday lives and the needs related to our education, health and other areas”, said 11-year-old child journalist Owaiz Abtee from Kurigram.

“Engaging children in pre-budget analysis is a powerful step towards fostering active citizenship and ensuring that children’s voices are heard in shaping the nation's future. UNICEF's support in this initiative underscores our commitment to inclusive and participatory governance”, said Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, chief whip at the Bangladesh National Parliament.

Among other key issues, the briefing referred to the need for highlighting the underutilisation of public funds in critical sectors, despite the lack of allocation in other critical areas. 

In the present fiscal year, despite an annual increase in the total budget size by 12.3%, the allocation for crucial sectors like health, education, and social protection has proportionally declined, posing a significant risk to the well-being of children and in achieving the country's sustainable development goals.

"Investing in our children is not just a moral obligation—it is a smart economic strategy that would bring high returns. Ensuring full utilisation of the allocated budget for children is essential for sustaining the remarkable developmental strides Bangladesh has been making," said Stanley Gwavuya, OIC representative to UNICEF in Bangladesh. 

"It is our duty as policymakers to ensure that the allocation and execution of budgets reflect our commitment to the well-being and rights of every child in Bangladesh. Today’s discussion reiterates our collective responsibility to enhance the mechanisms of budget utilization,” said Shamsul Hoque Tuku, the deputy speaker of the National Parliament, and the chair of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights echoing the need for legislative support.

In the health sector, Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality and under-five mortality.

However, the upcoming national budget needs to ensure 2% of GDP investment in health with a special focus on universal health services for all, increasing the health workforce, boosting medicines and equipment in primary healthcare facilities and increasing immunisation funds. 

In education, Bangladesh has achieved nearly 100% enrolment in primary education with gender parity. It is crucial to ensure 3% of GDP investment in education and prioritise increasing students’

 competencies at the primary and secondary levels, curriculum reform, strengthening the student assessment system, training teachers, and making schools heatproof. 

In social protection, Mother and Child Benefit Programme is a critical intervention to ensure children’s nutrition in their early years. Though Bangladesh government invests reasonable resources in social protection, benefits need to reach those in need.

UNICEF conducted a U-report poll involving over 28,000 young voices, to incorporate broader youth opinions. About 84% of the participants said that it is important for the government to spend more on health, education as well as social protection issues directly impacting children. This initiative is a testament to UNICEF's commitment to incorporating children's voices in policy dialogues that affect their lives directly.