In Nepal, the SABAH project has led a quiet revolution, one that is measured in the smiles of women who once had little hope of ever achieving financial independence and transforming their communities.
Home-based workers in South Asia have long been marginalized, working tirelessly from their homes to produce textiles, handicrafts, and food products, yet earning little recognition or income.
Funded by the SAARC Development Fund, SABAH changes this reality by equipping women with skills in quality control, product development, and marketing, while connecting them to domestic and international markets.
Gita, 39-years-old from the hills of Nepal, had spent years knitting intricate patterns. She produced beautiful knitwear, but it rarely reached beyond her community. She had heard about the SABAH project through her friends, and after attending an orientation, she decided to join. The program provided her with training on quality control, product development, and how to effectively market her products. SABAH’s collaborative approach allowed Gita to connect with other women artisans., and within a year, Gita’s income tripled. She was no longer just a home-based worker; she was a businesswoman who was helping her family financially and sending her children to good schools.
The impact of SABAH goes far beyond individual success and economic gains. “By improving their economic status of the women workers, SABAH is indirectly improving the lives of entire families. Children can attend school, healthcare becomes more accessible, and families are better equipped to handle finances,” said Apsara Maharajan, President of SABAH Nepal and a former home-based worker herself.
SDF, in collaboration with Home Net South Asia (HNSA) and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), launched the SABAH project. Spanning across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, SABAH project aims to uplift home-based workers by providing them with the tools, training, and networks they need to achieve financial independence. Through the project, women are given access to domestic and international markets, along with training in quality control, product development, and business management.
With funding from SDF, SABAH has established offices, outlets, and Trade Facilitation Centers across member states, ensuring sustainable growth for women artisans. In the case of SABAH Nepal, now fully owned and managed by its women members, it operates outlets, including a flagship store and The Village Café in Lalitpur, which showcases traditional dishes and artisan products. From handwoven bamboo shawls to Dhaka scarves and sustainably sourced food items, SABAH’s offerings embody the creativity and resilience of its women artisans.
Binita, who oversees the SABAH office and outlet in Kathmandu, said that through SABAH, women receive not just access to markets, but also the necessary training, mentorship, and community support. “The project has brought together grassroots organizations that work directly with these women, helping them form networks that give them collective bargaining power,” she said. “SABAH also works to ensure that the products these women make are of high quality and have a marketable appeal, thus opening doors to domestic and international markets that they would otherwise be unable to access.”
The SABAH project stands as a powerful testament to the belief that empowering women is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty in South Asia. And in this quiet revolution, it’s the women who are leading the charge.
