• Human Services Ministry and IPED forge transformative partnership

IN a continued stride toward women’s economic empowerment, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has formalised a landmark partnership with the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), aimed at transforming how women in Guyana access financial support and entrepreneurial training.

Through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this week, the Ministry and IPED have joined forces to enhance the impact of the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) — a programme that has already helped thousands of women gain practical skills to start and grow businesses.

The brief yet significant signing ceremony at the Ministry’s Head Office underscored a shared commitment to creating lasting change for women seeking to move from classroom training to business ownership. Deputy Permanent Secretary, Arianna Beharry, who represented the Ministry, highlighted the strategic importance of this alliance.

“This Memorandum of Understanding will significantly empower participants of the WIIN programme, enabling them to further pursue and achieve their goals,” Beharry said. “We deeply value this partnership with IPED, as it complements the Ministry’s aim of economic empowerment.”

Under the agreement, IPED will offer a suite of services to WIIN participants, including business guidance, technical assistance, tailored training, and crucial access to financing — tools that are often out of reach for small-scale women entrepreneurs.

Jagdesh Haripershad, Chief Executive Officer of IPED, described the collaboration as a “natural and powerful” step forward. “This partnership aims to empower women by enhancing their entrepreneurial capacity and improving their livelihoods through targeted support and financial services,” he said. “IPED’s vision and mission align closely with that of the Ministry, making this collaboration essential to national development.”

The WIIN programme, launched by the Ministry in recent years, has been a catalyst for change in Guyana’s gender development landscape. It offers women practical training in a range of fields including garment construction, child and elderly care, design and decor, event management, and marketing.

But this new collaboration with IPED represents an evolution — a shift from simply training to empowering. It recognises that equipping women with skills is only the first step; providing access to capital, mentorship, and technical support is what drives real transformation.

Over the past four years, the Ministry has trained more than 17,000 women through WIIN. Nearly 1,000 have already launched their own ventures, and over 400 business plans have been completed by beneficiaries — each one representing a dream in the making.

With the added expertise and resources from IPED, these numbers are poised to grow, ensuring that more women not only receive the skills they need but also have the financial tools to build businesses, support their families, and contribute to national development.

In a country where women continue to push boundaries and reshape their roles in society, this partnership stands as a bold affirmation: when institutions collaborate to support women, everyone wins.