The capacity building program will support up to 30 women-owned micro and small enterprises in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka with training and coaching on business development, leadership skills, and accessing export markets.
According to USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman, “The U.S. and Sri Lanka share a vision of prosperity that includes the participation of women-owned businesses in export markets.
This agreement brings us one step closer to that vision.”
Following the signing of the agreement, Ms. M. Piyaseeli, Chairperson of Women’s Development Federation said
“We are glad to enter into a partnership with the USAID PARTNER project to build the capacity of women-led micro and small enterprises in the southern region.
This is an important milestone for our organization, as we are exploring opportunities to extend our services to women entrepreneurs, building upon our decades of experience in livelihood assistance and micro-finance support for women.”
The Women's Development Federation of Hambantota offers financial and non-financial services to empower women and their families in Hambantota and Moneragala districts.
It has over 70,000 members and has operated for over 30 years.
USAID’s PARTNER project is a five-year initiative that helps to minimize bottlenecks to trade, as well as strengthen foreign direct investment and small businesses and associations to promote a vibrant private sector in Sri Lanka.
This project is part of the longstanding partnership between the American and Sri Lankan people to support self-reliance and promote a healthy, educated, and employed population. To find out more about USAID’s work, please see usaid.gov/sri-lanka.
Photo Caption Ms. M. Piyaseeli, WDF-H Chairperson and Mr. Malith Gunasekara, Chief of Party of the USAID PARTNER project, sign a Letter of Cooperation on April 1, 2022, to officially launch a capacity building program for women entrepreneurs on trade and market access.