Home ›› 25 Feb 2022 ›› Corporate
Standard Chartered and Sajida Foundation have joined forces for a job placement and business development support programme for extreme-poor urban communities.
The first phase of this initiative will support 300 beneficiaries from Dhaka, Chattogram, and Chandpur who have lost their livelihoods due to the impact of Covid-19, BRAC Bank said in a statement.
A recent survey by Sajida Foundation shows that 77.5 per cent of the urban extreme poor population have either lost their jobs or are working with reduced income due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 41.9 per cent of them will not be able to afford the cost of treatment if they contract Covid-19. This new initiative will target these communities, building on the successes of Standard Chartered’s entrepreneurship, employment, and reskilling training for vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. To date, the bank has supported over 1,500 beneficiaries, in partnership with UCEP Bangladesh.
Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, “The ultimate battlegrounds in the fight against Covid-19 lie amongst our grassroot communities. Beyond the health challenges, this pandemic is reshaping the patterns of livelihood for the economically vulnerable, leaving many without the recourse to reintegrate within the evolving economic landscape. We are pleased to be announcing another cohort of our reskilling and re-integration programme and would like to thank Sajida Foundation for partnering with us on this ongoing journey. We remain committed to sharing our tried and tested interventions as widely as possible so that other socially responsible organisations can build on them and join us in tackling the challenges that lie ahead.”
