Analyzing the Effectiveness of Access of Information (a2i) Program in Promoting Women Empowerment in Selected Areas of Bangladesh: A Case Study of Shimulia Union Parishad and Muksudpur Union Parishad, Dhaka District

Abstract

Access to Information (a2i) (a2i-II: 2012 – 16) is a program functioning across Bangladesh in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), UNDP and USAID. To date, ‘a2i’ has created 4,547 Union Digital Centers (UDCs) in every Union (the lowest tier of local public administration in Bangladesh). Women entrepreneurs were set in those UDCs with the aim of increasing women empowerment. This paper investigates to what extent ‘a2i’ is effective in promoting women empowerment through women entrepreneurship. To find the answer, this paper analyzed primary data collected from two different Union Parishads (UPs) of Bangladesh: Shimulia UP and the Muksudpur UP, Dhaka district. Data collection followed both the quantitative and qualitative approach. Analysis of this data set found out different aspects and socioeconomic challenges for women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. The results of this paper indicate that the socioeconomic barriers are causing the a2i program to have a less profound impact in promoting women empowerment through women entrepreneurship. This paper proposes that the design, redesign, and implementation of the a2i program should have a flexible characteristic so that it can address the socioeconomic challenges from within the scope of the program. This paper can be used as a guidepost for the future policy formulations related to women entrepreneurship and empowerment. Furthermore, this research provides an opportunity to conduct nationwide research for identifying a general pattern between the a2i program and its implications for women empowerment.