Over 10,000 ultra-poor and climate-vulnerable women across 12 districts in Bangladesh have received support to build sustainable livelihoods and strengthen their economic resilience through a joint initiative by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the government. The initiative, implemented by the Local Government Division with technical support from UNDP and financial assistance from Sweden and Marico, reached 10,188 ultra-poor female-headed households across 283 union parishads in 32 upazilas.
Empowering Vulnerable Women
The beneficiaries include women who are widowed, divorced, separated, abandoned, or whose husbands have disabilities preventing them from earning a minimum income. The project aims to move these women towards a life free from poverty by providing them with skills, financial services, and economic opportunities.
Strengthening Economic Resilience
At a national dissemination workshop held at CIRDAP in Dhaka, Local Government Division Secretary Md Shahidul Hassan highlighted the government's commitment to expanding women's access to resources and opportunities. He emphasized that a well-designed poverty graduation approach, supported by strong partnerships, could bring about lasting and transformative change.
Dr. Md Monirul Islam, Joint Secretary of the Local Government Division and National Project Director of SWAPNO-II, stressed the importance of evidence and learning for improving public policy and designing future programs. The assessment findings will help identify what has worked, opportunities for improvement, and inform future initiatives aimed at strengthening women's economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
UNDP Bangladesh Assistant Resident Representative Anowarul Haq and Tasmiah Tabassum Rahman, Portfolio Adviser at Innovision Consulting, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the need to use the assessment findings to strengthen future poverty reduction programs and expand sustainable economic opportunities for vulnerable women across Bangladesh.
