Winrock International joins Clinton Global Initiative, unveils major commitment to support vulnerable garment workers in Bangladesh
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Sept. 24, 2025 — Winrock International launched a bold new initiative — Enhancing Resilience for Garment Workers in Bangladesh — at today’s Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York City. The announcement marks Winrock’s first participation in CGI and is one of three new commitments Winrock debuted at the annual event, underscoring Winrock’s deepening global engagement and drive to build new partnerships across sectors.
The commitment comes at a critical moment for Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry, which employs approximately 4 million workers and accounts for nearly 85% of the country’s export earnings. Recent tariffs on Bangladeshi goods have triggered economic disruptions, with buyers demanding discounts or shifting orders to lower-cost exporters. These pressures are expected to result in layoffs, wage reductions and diminished worker protections — disproportionately affecting women, who make up 53% of the readymade garment workforce.
“The garment industry in Bangladesh is a lifeline for millions of families — and a powerful engine for women’s economic empowerment,” said Maqsoda Maqsodi, president and CEO of Winrock International. “But today, that engine is under threat. This commitment reflects Winrock’s deep belief in protecting human rights and promoting dignity, even in the face of global volatility. By working with local and international partners, we’re helping ensure that women and vulnerable workers are not left behind.”
Winrock’s commitment will support more than 1,600 garment workers in Dhaka and Chittagong’s Export Processing Zones through a phased, multi-sectoral approach that includes:
- Participatory research on the impacts of trade policy shifts on workers
- Multi-sectoral dialogue with government, civil society, and business leaders
- Strengthening abuse reporting channels, including expanding existing helplines
- Community-based outreach to connect workers with social protection and safe migration tools
- Psychological support and career counseling for affected individuals
- Skills training, job placement and entrepreneurship support in high-demand sectors
“This commitment is about more than economic recovery; it’s about safeguarding dignity, preventing exploitation, and ensuring that workers have real options that keep themselves, their families and their communities safe,” said Dipta Rakshit, director of the Ashshash II project implemented by Winrock and funded by Swiss Development for Cooperation in Bangladesh. “By linking affected individuals to psychological support, career counseling and decent work, we’re helping build pathways out of vulnerability.”
Winrock’s approach builds on decades of continuous presence in Bangladesh and deep experience implementing counter-trafficking, ethical recruitment and support for access to decent work and livelihood opportunities around the world. The organization has cultivated a robust network of local partners in Bangladesh — including government agencies, vocational training institutions, private sector partners and service providers — and maintains global partnerships with entities such as the Consumer Goods Forum, Better Work, and Business for Social Responsibility.
“This commitment is a proactive response to protect the rights and resilience of garment workers in Bangladesh — especially women — who are at heightened risk of exploitation,” said Stephanie Lillegard, portfolio director for Human Rights & Empowerment at Winrock. “As poverty rates in Bangladesh rise sharply — with nearly 28% of the population now living below the poverty line and extreme poverty affecting over 9% — the risks of exploitation are now severe. Through multi-sectoral collaboration and targeted support, we’re working to prevent economic hardship from deepening this crisis, especially for the most vulnerable workers.”
The initiative will be implemented in four phases over 30 months, beginning with research and service mapping, followed by training and job placement, economic reintegration and impact evaluation. Winrock will leverage existing projects — including Ashshash II and the U.S. Department of State-funded Fight Slavery and Trafficking in Persons project — to deliver trauma-informed support and connect workers to decent jobs in sectors such as telecommunications, IT, healthcare, hospitality and sustainable agriculture.
The Clinton Global Initiative brings together global leaders from business, government, philanthropy and civil society to forge solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Known for catalyzing high-impact partnerships and scalable innovations, CGI provides a powerful platform for collaborative learning and action. Winrock’s engagement with CGI through its three ambitious Commitments to Action reflects the organization’s drive to expand global reach, deepen cross-sector partnerships and attract new supporters and funders to advance its mission.
Contacts:
Stephanie Lillegard, portfolio director, Human Rights & Empowerment, Winrock International: Stephanie.Lillegard@Winrock.org
Timothy May, communications director, Winrock International: Tim.May@Winrock.org
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