SAJIDA Foundation’s CEO, Ms. Zahida Fizza Kabir, participated as a panelist at the Asia Philanthropy Congress (APHIC) 2024, held in Japan on 29 November. Organised by the Nippon Foundation, the event focused on fostering collaboration among philanthropy leaders to address social challenges, with the theme “Working Together to Realize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I).”

SAJIDA Foundation has long been at the forefront of integrating inclusive development strategies, particularly for women and marginalised communities in Bangladesh. The Foundation’s interventions span several key areas, including emergency response, economic empowerment, health, mental well-being, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), all tailored to meet the specific needs of these communities.

During the session, Ms. Kabir highlighted how SAJIDA integrates DEI principles into its programmes to foster innovation and meet the needs of underserved groups. She emphasised that inclusive decision-making processes enhance creativity and lead to more impactful outcomes, noting that when diverse voices are included, decisions are more effective and beneficial for everyone.

SAJIDA’s emergency response and resilient initiatives provide climate-resilient health and livelihood support to disaster-affected populations, benefiting over 10,300 participants. These initiatives focus on women, with 34.16% of eligible women receiving maternal health services and 96% of participants in climate-resilient agricultural training being women. These efforts aim to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly women, during times of crisis.

In women-centric economic empowerment, SAJIDA’s Microfinance Programme serves over 767,000 members, including 453,128 women, offering tailored financial models that allow women to access higher loan segments and make informed financial decisions. The SUDIN Programme, focused on urban poverty alleviation, ensures 100% of its economic inclusion interventions benefit women, providing grants, interest-free loans, and market linkages for female artisans to create sustainable livelihoods.

Health and mental well-being are priorities for SAJIDA. The Mental Health Programme includes the SHOJON tele-mental health platform, a 100% women-led initiative with 95.7% female participation. The Uttaran Programme offers health financing, teleconsultations, and social safety net services, with 50% of participants being women. These programmes ensure women have access to vital healthcare services and social support to thrive in their personal and professional lives. SAJIDA’s WASH Initiatives focus on menstrual hygiene management and women’s safety. The “Stop the Stigma” project reached over 19,890 women and installed sanitary pad vending machines in schools and communities. Public sanitation facilities served 363,293 women from April 2023 to October 2024, improving health and dignity in public spaces.

Ms. Kabir also discussed how SAJIDA promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in its workplace by offering childcare facilities, flexible work practices, and leadership development programmes for women employees. These initiatives help remove barriers to participation and decision-making, enabling women to balance professional responsibilities with family commitments.

Despite these advances, key challenges persist in Bangladesh. Gender inequality remains a major issue, with women facing systemic barriers that limit their participation in public and professional life. Societal expectations often restrict women to domestic roles, despite their significant financial contributions to households. Ms. Kabir advocated for more flexible work environments, such as remote work, and highlighted the need for affordable childcare, particularly for women in nuclear families.

The session also addressed persistent gender stereotypes and sexism, which limit women’s opportunities. Ms. Kabir pointed out that SAJIDA’s Microfinance Programme, while designed to empower women, struggles to recruit and retain female employees due to demanding work conditions. She called for a more equitable distribution of domestic responsibilities and challenged the societal norms that place the burden of domestic work solely on women.

Ms. Kabir also stressed the importance of mentorship and leadership programmes for women, urging organisations to implement structured mentorship opportunities and regular feedback mechanisms to address employee concerns. These initiatives can foster growth, inclusion, and motivation within organisations.

Through her participation, Ms. Kabir underscored the transformative power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the need for targeted investments in women and marginalised communities to drive sustainable change. She concluded by reiterating SAJIDA Foundation’s commitment to building a future where no one is left behind, particularly women, persons with disabilities, and diverse communities.

At the Asia Philanthropy Congress, Ms. Kabir joined Ms. Yuki Kusano, Japan Program Manager of the Fish Family Foundation, and was moderated by Mr. Tristan Ace, Chief Engagement Officer at AVPN. The session provided a platform to share insights on embedding DEI principles within organisations to create sustainable development and social impact across Asia. SAJIDA Foundation’s commitment to promoting an inclusive society through DEI aligns with the APHIC mission of fostering collaboration to address Asia’s most pressing social challenges.

About the Asia Philanthropy Congress 2024

Launched in 2022, the Asia Philanthropy Congress continues to serve as a vital platform for advancing cooperation and addressing societal gaps. This year’s focus on DE&I reinforces the importance of collective action to create a more equitable future for communities across Asia.