Gender Peace Initiative - Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Kurunegala

September 28, 2020

Robert Juhkam, Resident Representative, UNDP Sri Lanka

**Check Against Delivery**

You made it!

Congratulation to all of you. You are risk-taking, motivated promising entrepreneurs. I wish you all great success as you venture forward. UNDP is a proud partner to this initiative.

Today is a happy occasion where each one of you – as women heads of households have worked hard and strived to be where you are today, with or without support from your family, friends and society.

I have heard about the challenges and obstacles you’ve faced to get to this position. Leading a family on your own cannot be easy. But I take inspiration in knowing how much you have overcome to make a living on your own.

My colleagues have briefed me on the specific obstacles you have to face when you have to access welfare funds or even pension – particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown.

It can be easier to overcome everday challenges with digital means like computers, smart phones

UNDP promotes positive digital transformation. I believe that investment made towards digital cash transfers for example, will enable governments to reach people in need more efficiently, crowdfund for medical emergencies and relief, and ensure small businesses have quicker access to funds.

For digitalization to be a true force for delivering on the SDGs, technological advances must combine with sound policy that empowers citizens and enables our financial system to meet the urgent investment challenges that must be overcome to build forward better.

This is why, at UNDP we have partnered with Sri Lanka’s Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) to explore avenues of digital transformation for Sri lanka stemming from a digital strategy for the country.

Use this opportunity and become strong women in society in your communities.

As your children and those around see you acting as role models, they too will strive to work even harder and be successful. Show them that it is possible to achieve big things. How can you do this?

a)      Take the learnings you have gained over the past few months and harness it to expand your business. Don’t be afraid to innovate and diversify your products and your clientele

b)      Actively take part in community forums and make your voice heard

c)      We believe in strength in numbers, so support each other in goodtime and through challenges and build partnerships. Work as collectives so together you become stronger.

Make the most from the challenges we face as we confront Covid-19 in Sri Lanka

COVID-19 has made everyday life full of social and economic challenges. But now that we experience lockdowns and hardship, the lessons from that offer us an opportunity to do things differently.

many young women and men are called upon to contribute to the recovery effort, and hence they need to be equipped with the right skills to successfully manage evolving challenges and the resilience to adapt to future disruptions. This vision requires making innovation, entrepreneurial thinking and entrepreneurship the norm.

UNDP is pleased to be part of this journey….to help you who are the focus of this project to be economically resilient through skills development and strengthened livelihoods.

Finally, to our partners and stakeholders...thank you for collaborating with UNDP and supporting us to support these women. The lockdown constrained us a fair bit but through it all thank you for making this project work.

We need to do more….much much more. With just 10 years left to achieve the SDGs in Sri Lanka, let me call on each of us to play our part in helping Sri Lanka build forward better.

More power to you!