Dhaka 19.09.2024: Save the Children formally launched a four-year project, “Strengthening Women's Organization Capacity for Championing Women’s Rights (SWOCCHAR),” funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Contrary to the sector approach, this unique project takes an institutional approach to strengthen the organizational capacities of women-led organizations so that they have stronger programming, voice, and influence on women’s economic rights and gender equality.

Save the Children organized the orientation workshop of the SWOCCHAR Project in a hotel in the capital, Dhaka, with the women-led organizations to discuss and deep-dive into their role in combatting gender barriers and jointly chart the way forward.

The workshop was also joined by Her Excellency Irma van Dueren, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, Keya Khan, Director General of the Department of Women Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, Bitopi Das Chowdhury, Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand & Marketing, Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh and Shumon Sengupta, Country Director, Save the Children in Bangladesh.

The Ambassador stated- “From the Dutch Embassy, it is our priority to work on women empowerment as this contributes to achieving SDG 5 in Bangladesh. We will be happy to give all the support to ‘SWOCCHAR’ project and the woman leaders. Together, we can try to do a better job. Take your place – be strong- make your voice– to achieve your aim.”

Keya Khan, the Director General for the Department of Women Affairs commended- “It seems very exceptional that 8 women-led organizations from diverse sector will be working through a same project. It is not always possible for the government to bring changes only. Department of Women Affairs, civil society, and development partners can work as a team to eliminate all kinds of discrimination and violence against women in this country.”

Shuman Sengupta, Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh, said, “SWOCCHAR is a unique project that seeks to build a bigger platform for eight women-led organizations to own advance women’s economic rights and gender equality, which are key to sustainable development in Bangladesh. I am thankful to the Netherlands Embassy and the Department of Women Affairs for all their support, and we look forward to viewing the positive transformation of women-led organizations through this project.”,