With the support of the Government of Japan, UN Women has provided equipment and production assets worth Rs. 50.4 million to help women entrepreneurs who have been most affected by the economic downturn in Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Mizukoshi of Japan on Wednesday (26) handed over some equipment such as sewing machines and flour milling machines to the women entrepreneurs being supported at a distribution ceremony held in Colombo.
384 women from Ampara, Monaragala and Vavuniya districts received assistance as part of a three-year project on gender equality and women’s empowerment aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UN Women said in a statement: “My husband’s income has been drastically reduced due to the situation in the country.
“Our whole family now depends on me,” says K. Vanitha, who runs a tailoring business in Ampara, Sri Lanka. With the rising cost of living and rapidly declining purchasing power, many women entrepreneurs, like Wanita, are shouldering heavy burdens and struggling to keep their businesses afloat.
UN Women said the in-kind aid provided is part of its 3-year project on “Implementing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Sri Lanka” funded by the Japanese government.
“The project has also developed the skills of over 100 officers at the divisional secretariat level, who in turn will work towards empowerment and organization building,” said Geetha Samanmali Kumarasinghe, Minister for Women and Children, MP in Colombo. Resilience of other women and ensuring gender equality in Sri Lankan society.
Mizukoshi Hideaki, the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, while talking about the need to put women and girls at the center of relief and recovery efforts, noted that the participation of women and girls, who make up more than half of the country’s population, is necessary to achieve inclusive development. Is. Japan is committed to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through its longstanding collaboration with UN Women and Sri Lanka.
As part of this project, nearly 800 women have received capacity building training in business and entrepreneurship conducted by UN Women and Chrysalis.
“Investing in women’s economic empowerment is at the center of UN Women’s duties. Entrepreneurs supported through the project will receive one-to-one business coaching and mentoring from other established companies to help them implement their business strategies and ensure the sustainability, growth and diversification of their ventures, said Esther Hall, UN Women Series Officer. Lanka.
Ashika said the participants, including Vanita, who were eligible for in-kind assistance, “developed business plans that were reviewed by an independent panel comprising local government officials, sector technical officers and external stakeholders to assess the feasibility and award the requested assistance.” it placed.” Gunasena, CEO of Chrysalis. These companies operate in several sectors including crop cultivation, agribusiness, apparel, animal husbandry, food production, spice milling, small grocery, and value addition to the coconut and palmyra value chains.
Vanita, who got a sewing machine for her tailoring work, said, “Since the price of ready-made garments has gone up, more people have started buying fabric for sewing. This will help me expand my business and future investments. (Newswire)
