Standard Chartered and Sajida Foundation have joined forces for a job placement and business development support programmefor extreme-poor urban communities.
The first phase of this initiative will support 300 beneficiaries from Dhaka, Chattogram and Chandpur who have lost their livelihoods due to the impact of COVID-19.
A recent survey by Sajida Foundation shows that 77.5% of the urban extreme poor population have either lost their jobs or are working with reduced income due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. 41.9% of them will not be able to afford the cost of treatment if they contract COVID-19.
This new initiative will target these communities, building on the successes of Standard Chartered’s entrepreneurship, employment and reskilling training for vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Till date, the Bank has supported over 1500 beneficiaries, in partnership with UCEP Bangladesh and BRAC.
Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO, Standard Chartered Bangladesh said, “The ultimate battlegrounds in the fight against COVID-19 lie amongst our grassroot communities. Beyond the health challenges, this pandemic is reshaping the patterns of livelihood for the economically vulnerable, leaving many without the recourse to reintegrate within the evolving economic landscape.”
Zahida Fizza Kabir, CEO, SAJIDA Foundation said, “Globally COVID-19 has shown to be not only a healthcare challenge but also a major challenge for the economy and livelihoods of vulnerable households. It is critical that we take approaches to increase resilience of these households so that they can withstand future shocks"
