With a clear mandate to empower people out from the shackles of discrimination and poverty, our NGO partner Practical Action Bangladesh combine three approaches to support the marginalized people in each region, so they identify the needs within a community and develop strategies to assist them to become self-sufficient. Weaving Bangladesh partnered with Practical Action via their economic and women’s empowerment programs. Our NGO partner’s three approaches include: Problem-solvers, working hand in hand with individuals, communities and local organizations to tackle the causes of poverty. B. Knowledge sharers, getting fresh answers and practical resources into the hands of the people who need them most. C. Expert advisers, providing professionals and policy makers with development advice. This combination of different ways of working enables us to turn small solutions into big change for millions of people.

Our recent analysis indicating problems of jute sector SMEs we are offering an ingenious internet-based solutions under economic growth category in jute production and jute textile sector trade and marketing to create sustainable local economic opportunity for women, girls and youth entrepreneurs in COVID affected, Climate stress poverty stricken Northwest Bangladesh. With a mandate to direct access to market our specific objectives were: Recover from recent COVID pandemic shocks in the jute production and textile sector benefiting 25, 000 jute related actors. Build economic independence of 2,000 women jute weavers, 20,000 jute farmers, 100 girls and youth as intermediary actors for supporting such business through 20 Tech or ICT Hubs. Increase income and business transaction of 15 small medium jute product making enterprises in 4 districts of Northwest Bangladesh

Our artisans often hailing from similar communities, work in shared workspaces under the banner of our fifteen esteemed local entrepreneurs/SMEs who have harnessed their business for years now. Super-efficient and highly skilled, they hail from the poorest and most disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh, but over the years have upheaved their livelihood through their employment under each fifteen SMEs and guidance of Practical Action and now connecting with Weaving Bangladesh utilizing their traditional weaving and craft skills. Our SMEs being under the enlistment of Fair Trade helps to benefit these women with the opportunities to not only earn monetarily and respect from family and community, but learn of new techniques along with the way through our NGO partners skill development program. A breadwinner and a dignified approach to provide the best for their homes and children alongside a healthier happier living and more importantly a voice to be heard.

We are not empowering women per se. It is the women who are empowering us, the communities, business houses, and our nation as a whole, embracing age old crafts passing down to generations. We are just their catalyst in trying to provide better livelihood through trainings and opportunities and make a sustainable living future.

When it comes to our products, our sole preference is jute, most lucrative Bangladeshi-grown natural fibre.  Around 30 million people involved in the jute sector in Bangladesh of which 0.2 million people working in jute factories, and 0.1 million in jute trade. The government’s new jute policy focused on enhancement of the country’s production capacity, diversification of the product base and growth of export earnings. The cultivation and trading of jute is struggling with lack of market competitiveness, poor production diversification experience, e-commerce services to link value chain actors and buyers.

Jute diversified products requires superior quality fibres, which can be obtained through encouraging jute farmers to produce new varieties such as – Kenaf variety, improving eco-friendly post-harvest technology. The trade of jute textile products needs online market linkage, platform and logistics support, and digital access to finance. Several initiatives taken in both in Bangladesh and in India to improve the sector but a long way to go. Jute Diversified Products Council estimates that with appropriate strategies the sector has the potential to rise up to 300% of its current size domestically (Source: Innovation).  The current jute textile sector (particularly smaller industries) in Bangladesh has become uncompetitive in the global and local market with lack of appropriate e-commerce services, jute fibre processing technology and market integration. Market of traditional jute product is decreasing but there is a great potential for jute-diversified products.  With lack of design of products, market intelligence, promotion and online market connectivity the sector is growing slowly. Moreover, poor capacity of spinning, diversifying products, poor market intelligence and knowledge of jute export are the key constraints in the jute textile value chain especially affecting small and micro jute enterprises and associated weaver, workers, retailers and farmers. Jute textile is a prospective sector for women employment and entrepreneurship like garments sector.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in Bangladesh economy is the source of employment for youth, women and girls. SMEs in Bangladesh’s economy creating employment for 7.8 million people directly and providing a livelihood for 31.2 million in total. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all spheres of life and business but one of the hardest hit are the already vulnerable SMEs due to dependence on a short cash cycle, supply chain disruption, and loss of sales.  We have experienced COVID impact in jute trade value chain especially with small scale jute enterprises, farmers and women weavers.