Project Description:

A baseline study was conducted by DM WATCH to explore the state of women-led enterprises and women-oriented enterprises in unlocking and accessing larger volumes of domestic capital to expand their economic space, understand the local economic structure with the role, contribution, and benefits of women; and assesses the current state of implementation and enforcement of policies supportive of women’s economic empowerment at the local and national level.

The study underscored the current situation of the local economy in the five districts (Manikganj, Thakurgaon, Cox’s Bazar, Kurigram, and Jashore) through a Gender-responsive framework. It aimed to present the main characteristics of a local economy viewed and analyzed from a gender perspective. Multi-Sectoral Competitiveness Analysis (MSA) was conducted to analyze the performance of key drivers in the local economy from the perception of women entrepreneurs in each district. In addition to that, insights were drawn from the key stakeholders from the local and national government bodies, local and national business associations and financial institutions, and also groups with knowledge of the local economy and gender issues. Both qualitative and quantitative findings were triangulated and analyzed following a mixed-method approach.

The study recommends arranging awareness programs on entrepreneurs’ rights, support services, policies, and regulations related to women’s rights and business, offers to counsel offered to empower women to oppose discrimination and harassment. Long-term training can also be designed with a follow-up support system to support entrepreneurship and job creation for women and youth.