UNDP, Sweden to continue supporting ultra-poor rural women in Bangladesh
Officials from the Swedish Embassy and the UN Development Program pose for a picture after signing a cost-sharing agreement commissioned by their respective sides in an attempt to continue their partnership to create economic opportunities for ultra-poor rural women in Bangladesh at the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka, at Sunday. – Press release photo.
Sweden and the UN Development Program in Bangladesh will continue their partnership to create economic opportunities for extremely poor rural women in the country.
A cost-sharing agreement was signed for this purpose at the Swedish Embassy’s office in Dhaka on Sunday to extend the Swedish Embassy and UNDP Bangladesh’s flagship project ‘Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities’ to 2025.
Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, and Christine Johansson, responsible for the Swedish embassy in Dhaka, signed the cost-sharing agreement on behalf of their respective sides, in order to maintain their journey to empower underprivileged women in Bangladesh.
Christine Johansson said: “The Swedish embassy has worked 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 proven to be an effective partnership that has led to significant changes in the lives of women in rural areas. An extension of the partnership will maximize the benefits that SWAPNO offers in other vulnerable districts in Bangladesh, Sudipto Mukerjee said at the event.
The extension of the SWAPNO project applies from 30 June 2022.
In the earlier phase, the project helped financially disadvantaged women to develop their talents, link them to services and the local market and ensure their financial inclusion.
By realizing 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, SWAPNO empowers women in a way that has far-reaching implications in 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, and Kajal Chatterjee, National Project Manager for the SWAPNO project were present at the signing.