Sweden and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Bangladesh will continue their partnership to create economic opportunities for ultra-poor rural women in Bangladesh.

Instead of the decision, a cost-sharing agreement was signed at the Swedish Embassy’s office in Dhaka on July 3 to extend the Swedish Embassy and UNDP Bangladesh’s flagship project ‘Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO II)’ until 2025.

Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh and Christine Johansson, Chargé d’Affaires ai, Swedish Embassy in Dhaka, signed the cost-sharing agreement on behalf of their respective sides to maintain their journey to empower underprivileged women in Bangladesh.

Christine Johansson said, “The Swedish Embassy works closely with Bangladesh. The commitment and continuous support from the government for the SWAPNO project gives us extra confidence to move forward with this phase and shows how it can be replicated for further development.”

“Sweden’s cooperation with SWAPNO has been proven to be an effective partnership that has brought about significant changes in the lives of women in rural areas. Extending the partnership will maximize the benefits that SWAPNO offers in other vulnerable districts in Bangladesh,” said Sudipto Mukerjee during the signing.

The extension of the SWAPNO project applies from 30 June 2022.

In the previous phase, the project has helped economically disadvantaged women to develop their talents, link them to services and the local market and ensure their financial inclusion.

To realize the success, the Swedish Embassy has stepped forward to lift 10,000 extremely poor and vulnerable women from 10 poverty-stricken and climate-vulnerable districts from poverty.

According to the latest independent evaluation report from the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), SWAPNO empowers women in a way that has far-reaching consequences in terms of facilitating the active involvement of women in local development activities and offering social support and recognition.

Among others, Ikramul H. Sohel, National Program Manager, Swedish Embassy in Dhaka, Van Nguyen, Deputy Representative for UNDP Bangladesh, Kajal Chatterjee, National Project Manager for the SWAPNO project were present during the signing.