UNDP Bangladesh, Sweden to continue partnership

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh and Sweden have agreed to continue their partnership to create economic opportunities for the ultra-poor women living in the rural areas of Bangladesh.

A cost-sharing agreement was signed on Sunday at the Swedish Embassy to extend the Swedish Embassy and UNDP Bangladesh’s flagship project ‘Strengthening Women’s Ability for Productive New Opportunities (SWAPNO II)’ until 2025.

Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Sudipto Mukerjee and Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka Christine Johansson signed the cost-sharing agreement on behalf of their respective sides to sustain their journey of empowering underprivileged women in Bangladesh.

Christine Johansson said the Swedish Embassy has been working closely with Bangladesh. “The engagement and continuous support from the government for project SWAPNO gives us the extra confidence to move forward with this phase and shows how it can be replicated for further development.”

Meanwhile, Sudipto Mukerjee said Sweden’s collaboration with SWAPNO has been proven as an effective partnership that has brought substantial changes in the lives of rural women.

“Extension of the partnership will maximize the benefits that SWAPNO offers in other vulnerable districts of Bangladesh,” he said during the signing.

The extension of the SWAPNO project is effective from 30 June 2022.