Solution Overview

WEE | Traidcraft Exchange

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About the Pitch

Submitted By:  Traidcraft Exchange

Name of the Solution:  Ensuring Women’s Empowerment through Good Governance (WEE)

The Pitch in One Sentence:

 Building Female-led Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) as Actors of Governance and Development in Bangladesh through capacity building

The Initiative in Video:

The Project on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/TXBangladesh/

The Project Website: https://traidcraftexchange.org/womens-economic-empowerment

Summary of the Pitch

As a means to contribute to women’s economic freedom, promote inclusive development, promot3 circular economy and reduce poverty, Traidcraft will diversify women’s income opportunities in both informal and formal value chains by training 15,000 women in total. In the formal economy, through partnerships with private sector actors, Traidcraft plans to build 100% women-run, led, and managed 100 Rural Women Community Stores (WCS) in the northern, southern and central regions of Bangladesh. Traidcraft Exchange will also further strengthen the project participants’ business skills through a transfer of knowledge and skills approach, through which rural entrepreneurs will be developed and the private sector will have market access to the deepest rural regions in collaboration with Traidcraft. Private sector partners will provide logistical and financial contribution in construction of the 100 WCS, whereas Traidcraft will train and build up 3000 women entrepreneurs and ensure that good governance is maintained throughout the process.

What specific problem is this initiative trying to solve? 

 The specific issue at hand is Gender inequality in Bangladesh, especially in the rural areas which basically stems from a lack of income which leads to a lack of power for women in the society. The proposal is designed to enable 15,000 women CSOs to participate in local democratic governance and promote inclusive development in rural Bangladesh. It will take a two-pronged approach: i) strengthening the capacity of grassroots women CSOs to collaborate effectively with local government, on policy dialogue and implementation, and ii) at the same time, promoting gender equality and the social and economic rights of marginalized rural women through a partnership with formal/private sector to develop sustainable business models in rural areas. These two approaches are interlinked and complementary. Through the WCS modality, 3000 Female entrepreneurs are expected to have a voice and power through an innovative source of income in their communities. Women will be home-grown business owners and will be empowered throughout their community and surrounding areas. These women will be next-generation leaders, inspiration and voice of reason for the younger female generation and female counterparts of their villages, which will later be extremely useful to local businesses trying to penetrate an area to expand their business. Additionally, responsible waste management and recycling to promote a circular economy will be practiced throughout the process by linking WCS members with private sectors, which will later enhance private partners’ agenda to contribute to sustainable development goals.

Details of the Pitched solution

15,000 marginalized rural women secure their economic rights and strengthen their role and visibility in productive work, including through a pilot initiative of “Women Community Stores” that engages with the formal economy. This proposal is focused on improving women producers’ business and sales skills as well as their confidence as a means to thereafter support the economic integration of women in non-traditional economic roles in both the informal and formal local private sector, with the aim of increasing their income and economic empowerment. 100 ‘Women Community Stores’ are established and running effectively, 200 local young women are employed in ‘Women Community Stores’ (Disaggregated by age & disability) and at least 100 contracts will be signed between ‘Women Community Stores’ and formal sector agro-processing and leading consumer goods companies. How will Traidcraft do it? A rigorous assessment study is being conducted to identify 100 potential women CSOs, who are in the process of getting formally registered with the Ministry of Co-operatives, and some leaders with a view to piloting the women community stores plan. Alongside, Traidcraft is conducting a group assessment exercise using a group performance assessment grid. The assessment will be reviewed by the top management and internationally recognized consultant to select 150 to 200 women CSOs for further evaluation by the external expert. The expert will help mainstream women into the supply chain of FMCG companies as business entities, facilitate their profitable business relationship with FMCG companies and enhance awareness of rural consumers regarding recycling of plastic containers through them. The consultant is also responsible for helping 100 WCS to develop a business plan for setting up WCS, set up criteria for selection; disseminate the criteria amongst pre-selected women CSOs and ensure their proper understanding; evaluate the capacity of the pre-selected women CSOs and select 100 for the WCS following the pre-set criteria; develop the business capacity of these CSOs, provide regular business coaching mentoring support to the WCS; and finally document the entire process. Traidcraft has vast experience in managing business projects as the Senior Management team has vast experience in managing businesses, banks, and projects before joining or through Traidcraft. WCS will act as the hub to mainstream women into the supply chain of FMCG/other companies as business entities, facilitate their profitable business relationship with companies and enhance awareness of rural consumers regarding recycling of plastic containers through them. 3000 Members of the selected 100 women CSOs will be trained on the governance mechanism of social enterprise. The Cooperative officers will deliver this training to CSOs. The 2 leaders from each CSO will receive the training first and then they will roll it out amongst their 3000 members. The group leaders of CSOs will receive the training first as trainers and then will roll out the training amongst their members. The training will be delivered by TX and project staff with support from an external resource person in theoretical content.. Women CSOs will be linked with local agents of large FMCG companies, other relevant companies and plastic recycling companies to sell off the collected plastic wastes through WCS. Representatives from high officials of FMCG industries may also attend the workshops to explore the potential expansion possibility of their market share by capturing a relatively untapped market. Through facilitation by the Action, the companies are expected to invest in developing the capacity of the women who will run and manage the WCSs. The linkage workshops between CSOs and companies will also help to promote consciousness around gender equality and practice within these businesses (including their own staff). Sub activities of setting-up up 100 pilot ‘Women’s Community Stores’ include: licensing, securing premises, registration with the dept of co-operatives, and establishing management structures and systems which will be handled by Traidcraft. Established WCS then will be linked with leading companies to sell their products in rural markets. Formal contracts will be facilitated between the women community store managers & the companies. Traidcraft Exchange will facilitate 100 visits for potential women leaders to successful women-led enterprises in other projects or districts and will also arrange for successful women entrepreneurs to visit the project’s women CSOs and hold discussion sessions to share tips for success with the CSO members. The whole purpose is to listen, learn and boost the motivation level of the potential women entrepreneurs that the Action is aiming to build. The project will promote responsible consumption by introducing a community-based waste disposal system. Negotiations will be initiated with companies to initiate waste recycling. Some of the companies have already shown interest in buyback the containers after usage of the products through the WCS. This will incentivize the users towards responsible disposal of waste too. Moreover, linkages will be established with plastic recycling companies (e.g. Bangladesh Petrochemical Company Limited or BPCL, Garbageman) to sell off these collected plastic wastes through WCS/ Women CSOs (with all sales proceeds going to the WCSs and women CSOs). Small community fairs will be organized to spread awareness of sustainable consumption practices, by consumers, Through the fairs, rural consumers will be encouraged to return the product containers back to the WCSs, which will be later recycled through the efforts of a commercial plastic recycling agent. Awareness of sustainable consumption will also be created through the mainstream IMC activities of the companies, which will complement the sustainable consumption awareness activities taking place at the fairs. FMCG companies will also be included in awareness-raising campaigns to spread gender equality and decent work for women. Both national and local campaigns will be organized to endorse gender parity amongst leaders of companies, which will act as a promotion of the brands that will partner with Traidcraft. What does Traidcraft need? Traidcraft is seeking CSR funds from companies to implement the following activities by the next two years, in return companies will have access to the deepest rural areas, trained entrepreneurs or store owners, and identified potential business hotspots. Companies will be also involved in women empowerment, climate adaptive practices and circular economy through WCS construction and will have directly contributed to SDGs 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 16 & 17.

Impact and Beneficiaries of the Pitched Solution

 The proposed project will cover Faridpur (4110 Women), Jashore(5190 Women), Khulna(1800 Women), Panchagarh(1950 Women), and Thakurgaon(1950 Women) formed into 500 established and well-run groups, in total training 15,000 Women and impacting 61,650 in total considering average family size in Bangladesh. Proposed women-run community stores are on the verge of being established in chosen unions of these districts with 3000 Women as lead businesswomen. One Community Store is being constructed with CSO savings and Traidcraft’s fund in Bakoshkhali, Jashore after the location has been evaluated and suggested by external consultants. For the remaining 99 community store constructions, Traidcraft is seeking CSR partnerships with local corporates to further enhance sustainable development for these marginalised women.

What city, village and upazilas are this solution impacting?

 The proposed solution will be covering the following districts and sub-districts: 1. Faridpur (Faridpur Sadar, Bhangra, Boalmari) 2. Jashore (Manirampur, Jashore Sadar, Jhikorgacha), 3. Khulna (Dacope), 4. Thakurgaon (Baliadangi) & 5. Panchagarh (Panchagarh Sadar).

Which division will this solution be impacting?

  • Dhaka (ঢাকা Dhaka),
  • Khulna (খুলনা Khulna),
  • Rangpur (রংপুর Rangpur)

What kind of support do you need to take your idea forward?

CSR Funds, Corporate Partnerships

how much funds do you need to get started?

 BDT 5,00,000 – 10,00,000

About Lab Traidcraft Exchange

Traidcraft Exchange works in partnership with Traidcraft, the fair trade business, to promote justice and fairness in trade. Working alongside partners and communities in some of the poorest countries in the world, and through policy, lobbying and campaigning in the UK, we have made a difference to millions of people.

Please note: we are currently in a period of strategic review and will be releasing a brand new strategy this year – do check back in to find out more.

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