The British Council in Bangladesh has recently launched an eight-week online self-access leadership course under the Women in Leadership (WiL) program.
The 2024 WiL program is a synthesis of two programs: the leadership for gender equality and a peer mentoring program, which has been taking place online since 2020.
The initiative aims to empower emerging women leaders by equipping them with essential leadership skills and capacity building that support gender equality and women’s leadership within their sector and community.
The British Council, in partnership with Clore Social Leadership, Wave Foundation, and Bangladesh Civil Service Women Network (BCSWN), is currently offering the Women in Leadership (WiL) program from January to March 2024.
This program will provide an opportunity for 30 emerging women leaders from BCSWN and 20 young women professionals from different sectors to develop their leadership capacity and skills through a digital fellowship, including training, online networking, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities.
Six virtual speed mentoring sessions will be organized, engaging prominent and renowned women activists in the country who will share their lifetime experiences with the participants about gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social leadership.
Six webinars will also be organized where the participants will be able to share and highlight their learning, insights, experiences, and key achievements of the project.
A day-long networking and celebration event (WiL Summit) will be organized in Dhaka in March.
Women leaders will engage with policymakers and civil society members through this networking event on crucial thematic issues.
Participants will leverage online learning and collaboration to refine their leadership skills and build cross-cultural connections within the region and the UK.
Women leaders will demonstrate effective leadership actions that promote decision-making, influence, and innovation in their respective sectors, driving progress towards gender equality.
The program fosters social capital growth, enabling participants to make significant strides towards achieving gender equality and inclusion.
The WiL program welcomes a diverse group of fifty participants: thirty government women professionals from the BCS Women Network and twenty women professionals from the British Council Alumni work.
Notably, on January 22, the first batch of thirty government women professionals successfully participated in a virtual orientation program.
Saila Farzana, additional secretary, Ministry of Public Administration, said: “The alignment of the BCS Women Network’s vision and mission with the goal of promoting gender equality and women’s leadership within the cadre service makes the program a significant step forward."
"As women continue to strive for leadership roles, we not only strengthen our cadre service but also set a positive example for future generations. The collaborative effort supports the mission and vision of the BCS Women Network and contributes to building a more equitable and empowered workforce," she said.
Director British Council Bangladesh Tom Miscioscia said: “As is well documented, women and girls continue to be globally underrepresented in leadership roles across various sectors, including politics, entertainment, business, IT, and other industries.”
"At the British Council, we are proud to support the development of women’s leadership through our Women in Leadership (WIL) program, which in recent years has reached 304 female leaders across South Asia, including Bangladesh.
"The program will run in partnership with Clore Social Leadership (UK) and the Wave Foundation (Bangladesh) and provides participants with a digital fellowship, including training, mentorship, and networking opportunities," said the director.
