This country report is one of a set of case studies undertaken as part of the Strategic Joint Evaluation of the Collective International Development and Humanitarian Assistance Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This report presents findings on the relevance, coherence, effectiveness and efficiency of the international response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, and highlights lessons for future crises. Bangladesh, a lower middle-income country in the south Asia region, was selected due to its high 2020-2022 development assistance volumes. Bangladesh, having received support from a wide range of partners, emerged as the largest recipient of COVID-19 vaccinations through the global COVAX facility and - despite many risk factors - managed a widely successful response. The case highlights lessons on the importance of acting quickly and allowing for flexibility to meet needs in the face of uncertainty. It also shows the effectiveness of aligning international support with national priorities, which were facilitated by building on trust-based relationships and following national leadership.
