21/06/2026
๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐พ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐
On 4 June 2026, the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), BRAC University, under the ๐๐บ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ: ๐ช๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐น๐ถ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ-๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ (๐ฃ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐) initiative funded by UN Environment Programme and UN Women Bangladesh, organised a workshop at SME Foundation to strengthen understanding of financial mechanisms supporting renewable and clean energy and climate-resilient initiatives. The workshop brought together representatives from financial institutions, renewable energy practitioners, policymakers, development partners, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, and ecosystem stakeholders.
The programme commenced with an overview of the EmPower II initiative delivered by Ms. Sabrina Nourin, Senior Program Manager, Partnership & Intervention, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), BRAC University. She highlighted the project's objectives, key interventions, and expected outcomes, emphasising its focus on strengthening women's economic empowerment through renewable energy adoption, climate-resilient entrepreneurship, access to finance, technical capacity building, and ecosystem development. The presentation also outlined the project's contribution to creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for women and marginalized groups while supporting Bangladesh's climate adaptation and low-carbon development agenda.
The programme also featured a dedicated short session on the support services and opportunities available through the SME Foundation for marginal and women entrepreneurs. Mr. Md. Nazim Hasan Sattar, Deputy Managing Director, SME Foundation, shared valuable insights on the Foundationโs initiatives, capacity-building programmes, financing facilitation mechanisms, and business development support available to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. His session highlighted the importance of strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and expanding access to resources that can help women and marginalized entrepreneurs establish, sustain, and grow climate-resilient enterprises.
The highlight of the programme was an awareness session on Bangladesh Bank-The Central Bank of Bangladeshโs sustainable finance policies, green financing instruments, and opportunities for promoting renewable energy and climate-resilient enterprises through formal financial channels. The session was led by Mr. Chowdhury Liakat Ali, Director, Sustainable Finance Department, Bangladesh Bank, who provided valuable insights into the evolving sustainable finance landscape in Bangladesh. His presentation underscored the critical role of financial institutions in advancing sustainable development, fostering climate-resilient entrepreneurship, and enhancing financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs and marginalized communities, particularly those living in climate-vulnerable areas.
The perspective of UN Women further highlighted the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in climate-vulnerable areas, including limited access to finance, technology, markets, and institutional support. Ms. Kazi Rabeya Ami, Programme Analyst, Climate & Gender, UN Women, emphasized the importance of creating an enabling ecosystem that addresses these barriers and promotes inclusive economic opportunities for women. She underscored the role of strategic partnerships and coordinated stakeholder engagement in bridging the institutional gaps between climate-vulnerable women entrepreneurs and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, thereby strengthening their resilience and capacity to participate in sustainable and climate-resilient economic activities.
The event forms part of EmPower IIโs broader efforts to promote women's economic empowerment through renewable energy adoption, climate-resilient entrepreneurship, and inclusive financial systems. Implemented by CED, BRAC University, in partnership with UN Women and UNEP, the initiative aims to create an enabling ecosystem that supports sustainable livelihoods while contributing to Bangladeshโs climate adaptation and low-carbon development goals.
