The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Samhita’s Collective Good Foundation have jointly launched the Women’s Health and Livelihood Alliance (WOHLA) to address the health and economic well-being of women belonging to underserved communities across India.
WOHLA aims to empower women by increasing their access to sexual and reproductive health information, services, and products. It seeks to enhance their financial and digital literacy, thereby fostering livelihood opportunities and promoting workforce participation.
Dr Atul Gawande, USAID assistant administrator for global health, said, “When women are given the opportunity to thrive, the entire community thrives too. Women’s economic security and rights is the critical foundation for communities, peace, and resilient economies.”
He apprised that the initiative will provide career development and job opportunities for women, while expanding access to sexual and reproductive health care services that promote gender equity and economic security for women.
Giving more details about the partnership, Dr Amit Bhanot, India director and chief of party, USAID’s frontier health market (FHM) engage program, said, “WOHLA is designed to mobilize private sector resources, foster partnerships, and implement targeted interventions to cultivate an ecosystem that prioritizes the symbiotic relationship between women’s reproductive health and professional advancement.”
Priya Naik, founder and CEO at Samhita Social Ventures, further stressed that the motive of the partnership is to increase access to reproductive healthcare information, products, and services, along with unlocking access to livelihood interventions for empowering young women.
Tuan Pham, head of social impact at LinkedIn in Asia Pacific, said, “LinkedIn is proud to join forces with WOHLA in our shared mission to uplift and empower women in India. Through this initiative, we are dedicated to leveraging our platform’s capabilities to foster positive change in women’s economic opportunities and success.”
Ashwini Saxena, CEO, JSW Foundation, further stated, “WOHLA India syncs with JSW’s goal to catalyze entrepreneurial journeys of two million rural women in India, giving them enhanced agency and incomes.”
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