During this Covid-19 pandemic, rural women in Sabah are facing a severe economic predicament due to several factors which include remoteness, inadequate amenities, lack of resources and capital, and also market obstacles.
To overcome this problem, one possible solution project needed is social entrepreneurship as an alternative. This project will help provide equity funds, and human and social networks, thus enabling women to pursue and enhance their skills.
This project funded by APPGM will operate on idle lands in the villages and turn these into herbal gardens due to the abundant plants and herbs in the areas. The participants will be trained using environmental-friendly methods of herbal planting and also will be taught technic to replant the herbal plants so as to sustain their supplies.
The project is to benefit women from the B40 group (5 persons from each village; single mothers, unemployed youth, female farmers and local female leaders) in the selected villages in Pensiangan, Sabah.
The solution provider of this project is the Institute Borneo Studies (IBS), UCSF and Sabah Women Entrepreneurs of Excellence (SAWENA). The project duration is seven (7) months from July 2021 to January 2022 with an allocation of RM25,000.00.
The main SDGs impacted through this solution project is Goal 1 – End poverty in all its form everywhere, Goal 4 – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all, Goal 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, Goal 8 – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all and Goal 10 – Reducing inequalities within and among countries.