Economic opportunities for women through south-south cooperation

The Governments of Bangladesh and China, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marked the conclusion of the China-UNDP South-South Cooperation Project at the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) office.

Over two years, the initiative empowered 1,425 individuals, including 1,400 women, across 32 districts, enhancing livelihoods and resilience for vulnerable communities.

The project, supported by China's Ministry of Commerce (MoFCOM), targeted women, female-headed households, jobless garment workers, and persons with disabilities. Key achievements include new economic opportunities and robust networks for women entrepreneurs, strengthening their resilience against economic shocks.

Chief Guest Mir Khairul Alam, Chief Executive Officer of DNCC, said, "Our collaboration with China and UNDP aligns perfectly with Bangladesh's development priorities. I thank both UNDP and the government of China for this collaboration; together, we are paving the way for a resilient and sustainable future for our urban communities." He further mentioned, "This project has created value by training and equipping vulnerable individuals, particularly women, with automated sewing machines and entrepreneurship skills. It also provided technology transfer and skill enhancement training for PPE and garment production."

Ambassador Yao Wen of China, reiterated his government's commitment to strengthen South-South partnerships that drive sustainable development globally. He said, "The successful completion of this project empowered vulnerable groups, especially women, to better cope with pandemics like COVID-19 and natural disasters. It also created employment opportunities for marginalised people in Bangladesh. The implementation of this project provided valuable insights for the Chinese government and UN agencies to collaborate on future projects in Bangladesh. I want to take this opportunity to thank UNDP for its support and express gratitude to all the city corporations."

UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller highlighted, "This partnership showcases the power of South-South Cooperation in delivering sustainable solutions for urban challenges, particularly for poor women. As we observe the ongoing 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women, empowering women with economic opportunities is even more vital, equipping them with the tools to overcome shocks and stresses and build resilient lives."

From February 2022 to March 2024, UNDP, with support from MoFCOM under the UNDP China South-South Triangular Cooperation framework, successfully restored livelihoods and empowered women, showcasing the transformative impact of South-South Cooperation.