Chevron launches Jibika's second phase
Chevron Bangladesh in collaboration with BRAC has recently launched the second phase of its Jibika project in an attempt to help people in need of greater Sylhet region.
According a press statement, Jibika project's phase II was launched in a programme held in the capital on Thursday last.
With Chevron fund, the project aims at empowering the marginalised and poor people living around the company-operated gas fields in Sylhet, Habiganj and Moulvibazar for the period of 2019-2022.
BRAC, which oversees the project in partnership with Sylhet-based development organisation IDEA, runs the project through forming Village Development Organisations (VDOs). A member can apply for loans after signing up with a VDO.
The launching programme of Jibika II was attended by energy and mineral resources division additional secretary Muhammed Ahsanul Jabbar as the chief guest. Besides, Chevron Bangladesh's corporate affairs director Ismail Chowdhury, general manager of Chevron Asia South's corporate affairs Alexander Yelland, director of Community Empowerment, Gender Justice and Diversity and Integrated Development Programme of BRAC, Anna Minj, among others, were present on the occasion.
Ismail Chowdhury said Chevron’s Corporate Social Responsibility programmes changed thousands of lives in north-east Bangladesh.
Jibika, the first project under the Chevron Bangladesh Partnership Initiative, is an example of a successful collaboration between BRAC and Chevron that has been supporting VDOs and promoting entrepreneurship among its members in Sylhet, Moulavi Bazar and Habiganj, he added.
The press release also says, Alexander Yelland acknowledged the Department of Cooperatives for their efforts in making a positive and sustainable change in the communities where Chevron operates. He appreciated the great work already done towards the capacity development of these VDOs.
Yelland also mentioned that Chevron’s social investment programmes primarily focus on economic development, health and education, thereby supporting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN.