Purpose of Project

Mobilizing and developing the capacity of 40 women’s business centres as a pandemic response

The Rural Women Entrepreneurs project utilizes digital technologies to mobilize and develop the capacity women’s business centres spread across Bangladesh, to respond to the short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the country’s rural communities have faced unprecedented disconnect from health and livelihood services, as resources have been diverted and lockdowns have restricted movement. For vulnerable members of these communities, such as women and the elderly, the effects have been even greater and many have struggled to access preventative care or treatment, which in turn has affected long-term health, livelihoods, and wellbeing. This project reacts by closing gaps in healthcare access through teleconsultations and screening services, increasing understanding of COVID-19 prevention practices, and providing holistic wellbeing support for community partners through strengthening nutrition, WASH, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Phase 1 of the project has reached more than 40,000 households with these services and treated over 17,000 patients; Phase 2 will increase this by a further 50%.