WBC empowering rural women to build businesses

Bangladesh has made significant progress in educating its women over the years, but female entrepreneurship is still frowned upon, especially in villages.

But a programme run by The Coca-Cola Foundation is helping rural women become self-reliant through businesses.

What are Women Business Centres (WBCs)?

The Coca-Cola Company in 2010 announced a global 10-year initiative named 5by20 to enable the economic empowerment of five million women entrepreneurs across its value chain by 2020.

To align with the global commitment, The Coca-Cola Foundation, in partnership with United Purpose, established women business centres (WBCs) in rural areas of Bangladesh to economically empower marginalised women.

During the first phase of the initiative, 70 WBCs in Jamalpur, Khulna, and Bagerhat districts directly impacted the well-being and economic empowerment of one lakh women. Also, the programme indirectly impacted the well-being of four lakh people.

The initiative is now in its second phase with the goal of empowering 40,000 women entrepreneurs through 30 WBCs in Sunamganj and Gopalganj. At the WBCs, women have been trained in business management, IT, and poultry farming. They have improved their existing skills as well.

The WBCs also provided the women with loans and spaces to operate businesses. Besides, they made arrangements so that the women could sell their products.

Field visits

Eleven journalists from the country’s leading media outlets, including The Business Post, were invited by The Coca-Cola Foundation Bangladesh to visit the WBCs recently. During the two-day visit, the journalists visited three centres – Sontoshpur and Pipradanga WBCs in Bagerhat as well as Dumaria WBC in Gopalganj.

The WBCs are run essentially by a cooperation-driven business model where female entrepreneurs have a great chance to team up with other fellow entrepreneurs, receive the necessary training, and contribute to business depending on their ability.

Straight from the horse’s mouth

Unnati Mondol of Pipradanga WBC said she had done her graduation after marriage. Her husband was struggling to bear family expenses and she wanted to financially contribute. That is when she learned about the WBC training.

“I received training in business marketing and communications. I also gained other skills, such as tailoring, computer, and conducting pH tests for tube well water,” she told The Business Post.

She, along with four other women in her village, then started a business with financial support from the local WBC in 2017. She said The Coca-Cola Foundation provides different equipment, such as freezers, laptops, and pH test kits, needed to run the business.

Currently, she earns Tk 15,000-18,000 per month from her shop. “In addition to the grocery store, we are planning to open a centre to provide computer training to students and others.”

Topoti Rani Majumder, a 38-year-old entrepreneur in Sontoshpur, grows organic vegetables and fish along with running a grocery store.

Along with four others, she started the grocery store in 2017 with an investment of Tk 50,000. She received training from The Coca-Cola Foundation and got a freezer from United Purpose.

The store sells children’s food, vegetables, milk, egg, water, and cold drinks. Topoti currently earns Tk 14,000-16,000 per month.

She said she was criticised by people when she was setting up the business. “But they praised me after seeing my success.”

Workshop

During the journalists’ visit, The Coca-Cola Foundation in collaboration with United Purpose hosted a knowledge sharing workshop in Gopalganj. 50 women entrepreneurs from Gopalganj, Jamalpur, Khulna, and Bagerhat attended it while Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Shahida Sultana was the chief guest.

“Through such programmes and training, women from rural and marginalised communities can empower themselves to not only support their families but also contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the country. The impact is collectively felt by the society,” said Shahida.

Saadia Madsbjerg, president of The Coca-Cola Foundation, said, “Through United Purpose, women are being empowered to build careers and assets. They are becoming self-sufficient.”

She said there is no better investment than creating an environment where people can thrive and achieve success.