Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) is a global initiative of Global Affairs Canada to support Canada’s new Feminist International Assistance Policy. This program, globally was launched in June 2017 in response to the needs of local women’s organizations (WROs) working to advance the empowerment of women and girls, promote gender equality and protect the human rights of women and girls in developing countries.
In order to ensure that GAC was partnering with the appropriate implementing agency for this initiative, an extensive landscape analysis was performed which resulted in the choice of the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) as the partner to implement WVL in Bangladesh.
Since March 2019, MJF has been implementing Women’s Voice and Leadership in Bangladesh (WVLB) which includes providing grants and capacity-building support to grassroots Women Rights Organizations (WROs) to work closely with marginalized and at-risk women and girls in their communities. More concretely, WVLBis strengthening the ability of local WROs/community-based organizations (CBOs) to help women, girls and transgender – particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalized – to exercise their rights. The project advocates on behalf of women, girls, transgender to governments and decision-makers at all levels and develops linkages and networks that amplify their voice and influence. To this effect, MJF has been working through multi-year partnerships with 18 WROs/CBOs and women networks across the country. Project activities include providing: (1) multi-year funding to selected local WROs; (2) targeted capacity-building efforts to WROs selected for multi-year funding; (3) strengthen networks and alliances between WROs; and, (4) small, short-term funding to local WROs and networks to pilot innovative ideas, opportunities and organize discrete activities to respond quickly.
The Women’s Voice and Leadership Bangladesh project has been extended under the title “Women’s Voice and Leadership Bangladesh (Interim Period),” with the new project period spanning from April 2024 to September 2024. During this interim phase, the project will focus on completing several unfinished activities from the previous project period, ensuring that all pending objectives are met. In addition to addressing these outstanding tasks, the project will continue to carry out its regular activities, maintaining its ongoing commitment to supporting women’s rights and leadership in Bangladesh. This extension allows for a comprehensive approach to both new and existing initiatives, reinforcing the project’s impact and sustainability.
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