The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Record of Discussions (R/D) with the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on November 23 in Colombo on the technical cooperation project “Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship and Business, Leadership and Network Enhancement”. Discussions (R/D) on the technical cooperation project “Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment through Strengthening Entrepreneurship and Business, Leadership and Networking.
In Sri Lanka, the tourism industry, a major industry and an important source of foreign currency, has been severely affected by the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease since 2020. Furthermore, the country has been facing an economic crisis since late 2021, with rising prices, foreign currency shortages, and debt defaults due to rising demand associated with the global economic recovery and other factors. The worsening economic situation has also seriously affected the economic and social status of women, making it difficult for many women to maintain their livelihoods.
As a background to this situation, in Sri Lanka, women’s access to labor and economic opportunities and their decision-making rights in households and communities are limited due to gender-based social norms and the division of gender roles. Therefore, it is necessary not only to provide economic support to women, but also to address local gender issues and promote household and community transformation in order to create an environment where women can participate in economic activities with peace of mind and to achieve women’s decision-making rights.
In light of this situation, in order to achieve women’s economic empowerment through entrepreneurship and business, leadership and networking in the country, this project will implement pilot activities and build a support model by training women and women’s groups who have been running small businesses in business skills, developing services and products that meet their needs The project will also strengthen the implementation capacity of the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Empowerment, thereby contributing to Goal 1 (Eliminate poverty) and Goal 5 (Achieve gender equality) of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). (End Poverty) and Goal 5 (Achieve Gender Equality) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The details of the project are as follows
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