Aimed at empowering more than 2,000 women, supporting civil society organisation CSO activities, advancing gender equality, economic inclusion, and sustainability, a project named FAME has been launched in Bangladesh.
Organised by the Dhaka Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DWCCI), the launch event on Sunday was attended by French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy, who reaffirmed France’s commitment to feminist diplomacy and systemic change.
“The FAME project aims to promote economic inclusion, gender equality, sustainability, and support for women, LGBTQIA+ communities, and persons with disabilities,” she said, adding that “the initiative reflects France’s feminist diplomacy and ongoing support to local actors working for systemic, inclusive change.”
Supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs under the Support Fund for Feminist Organisations (FSOF), the project comes with a 10-million-euro budget, according to French Embassy in Dhaka.
It will run from 2024 to 2027 across 10 countries, including Bangladesh.
The FAME project is set to directly empower over 2,000 women in Bangladesh while strengthening grassroots civil society activities through three grant windows. DWCCI serves as a key strategic partner in the country.
SAWDF will be coordinating South Asian activities while the project implementation is being carried out by a consortium of seven organisations — Concerned Women for Family Development (CWFD), Sarbojanin Unnayan Sangstha, ABALAMBAN, Centre for Women and Children Studies (CWCS), Nabodigonto Nari Unnayan Sangstha, PURNIMA, and Shustha Jibon — led by Geres.
Stakeholders highlighted the importance of inclusive economic growth and the role of women-led organisations in transforming social and financial systems. The project reflects shared priorities between France and Bangladesh to strengthen gender-focused policy.