What happens when women lead? A new future for Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, women’s participation in the workforce is low, and only 7.2% of small businesses in the country are owned by women.* For generations, girls have been discriminated against just because they are girls. Too often, they are married off before finishing school, become mothers before they reach adulthood, and spend their lives being dependent on their husbands. Reshma’s story began like this. But she managed to change its course. She decided to start her own business by producing apple cider vinegar on her own. As demand grew, she sought support to help expand her business. Through a training program funded by the European Union, Reshma equipped herself with the entrepreneurship skills she needed to succeed and grow her business from the ground up. “That training worked in my life like magic,” Reshma says. “I was very inspired.” She began hiring women from her own village and today, she’s not just supporting her family, she’s also helping to create opportunities for other women in her community. Studies show women reinvest up to 90% of their income into their families **, improving access to education and healthcare, causing education rates to rise, and families to thrive. In a country like Bangladesh, the ripple effects of this can have a huge impact. That’s why the European Union is investing in women like Reshma so they can lead, create and rise on their own terms. There are many women like her, full of potential and determination. Armed with the right skills, they too are transforming their lives, supporting their families, and driving change in their communities, just as Reshma has done. Reshma’s story is not unique, but it is proof that investing in women is smart economics. Because when women lead, entire communities can succeed. * Study On Mapping The Market Potential And Accelerating Finance For Women Entrepreneurs 2016, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group. ** KfW DEG Women At Work, 2020.