The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has awarded BSR's HERproject - a factory-based women's health initiative-a US$1 million grant to expand the existing program in China, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam, and to launch new initiatives in Bangladesh and east Africa. This funding complements longstanding support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Levi Strauss Foundation.

Currently, HERproject reaches 40,000 women in 30 factories in six countries (China, Egypt, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and Vietnam), and this grant will allow HERproject to reach 200,000 women in at least 75 factories and farms.

"Support from Sida comes at a pivotal point in HERproject's evolution," said Chad Bolick, Director of Partnership Development at BSR. "This grant will bring to a global scale a program that has to date been focused on individual countries. It will also ensure that opportunities to invest in women-a key priority for BSR-are highlighted across our membership and beyond."

Since 2007, BSR's HERproject, or Health Enables Returns, has initiated partnerships among companies, factories, and local NGOs to promote female worker's health and rights awareness through workplace training programs. BSR connects its network of global companies operating in emerging economies to promote the delivery of women's health training among the companies' suppliers (local factories) by qualified trainers from local NGOs. This unique model has shown that targeted factory-based trainings and monthly peer-to-peer follow-up meetings are efficient and cost-effective ways to reach a large and vulnerable population of women.

BSR anticipates increased interest from companies in launching HERproject in Bangladesh, a new focus country for the project, where a large percentage of garment products are made. "Roughly 80 percent of workers in Bangladesh's garment industry are women," said Bolick. "What's more, women in Bangladesh face numerous health challenges, including high maternal mortality and adolescent birth rates, low contraceptive use, and inadequate pre- and ante-natal care. By launching HERproject in Bangladesh, we'll help address the critical need for more health training among women."

To meet the strong need for health education that exists in east Africa, BSR also plans to expand the program into either Kenya or Tanzania, where it will be possible to test the current factory-based model in an agricultural or horticultural setting. According to the International Labour Organization, seven out of 10 women work in the agricultural and horticulture sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region with some of the worlds' highest unmet family-planning needs, high maternal mortality rates, and high rates of HIV/AIDS.

Already, HERproject has a proven track record of improving female workers' general and reproductive health knowledge and access to health-care services. The program also provides great advantages for participating companies, factories, and local NGOs. Companies benefit from higher-quality production, local NGOs expand as demand for their services increases, and factories benefit from lower turnover rates and reduced absenteeism. In fact, according to a 2007 study conducted by HERproject partner Extending Service Delivery, factories reaped a return of US$3 for every US$1 invested in women’s health training and services.

As part of this grant, BSR will be recruiting new companies to join HERproject. Companies interested in participation can email getinvolved@herproject.org.

About HERproject
Launched in 2007 in China, BSR's HERproject links multinational companies and their factories to local NGOs to create sustainable workplace programs that increase women's health awareness. Working with HERproject partner Extending Services Delivery, BSR also seeks to demonstrate the return on investment for factory-based women's health programs. HERproject is active in China, Egypt, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Participating companies include Abercrombie & Fitch, Clarks, Columbia Sportswear, HP, Levi Strauss & Co., Nordstrom, and Timberland. For more information about HERproject, visit www.herproject.org.

About BSR
A leader in corporate responsibility since 1992, BSR works with its global network of more than 250 member companies to develop sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. With six offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, BSR uses its expertise in the environment, human rights, economic development, and governance and accountability to guide global companies toward creating a just and sustainable world. Visit www.bsr.org for more information.

BSR

BSR

Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing socially responsible business solutions to many of the world's leading corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and China, BSR is a nonprofit business association that serves its 250 member companies and other Global 1000 enterprises. Through advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works with corporations and concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more just and sustainable global economy. For more information, visit www.bsr.org.

More from BSR