RANAU: The Sewing and Empowerment of Women Programme held at the Kampung Lohan Skim Dua Community Hall here is a high-impact initiative aimed at strengthening the economic capabilities of rural women through sewing and entrepreneurship training.
The programme, organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG), was implemented with the support of Yayasan Hasanah and the Ministry of Finance, and was officiated by Ranau Member of Parliament Datuk Jonathan Yasin.
In his speech, Jonathan thanked APPGM-SDG for its continued commitment to implementing community development initiatives that emphasise grassroots empowerment.
He described the programme as a targeted intervention aligned with localisation efforts under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
He said the programme was carried out under the Special Intervention for Local Coordinator APPGM-SDG Ranau District initiative, which included the donation of four sewing machines and the organisation of a three-day sewing and entrepreneurship course, with G1FT as the implementing partner.
According to him, the programme’s implementation was guided by clear Terms of Reference (TOR) to ensure good governance, transparency in fund management and phased impact monitoring, in line with accountability principles in community development projects.
Jonathan also emphasised the important role of the APPGM-SDG Local Coordinator in monitoring programme implementation at the field level, including coordination with implementing partners, preparation of reports to the secretariat and evaluation of programme outcomes.
He said a follow-up meeting with village leadership would be held to draft a one-year community action plan to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the programme.
Jonathan expressed full support for a community development approach based on accountability, multi-stakeholder cooperation and genuine grassroots empowerment before officiating the closing of the programme and announcing a contribution of funds from the Ranau Parliament to assist participants in further launching their entrepreneurial activities.
Also present were Ranau District Officer Tinus Manggam, Sabah Regional APPGM-SDG Chief Executive Mc Jeanet Lempisik, representatives of G1FT implementing partners, and Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) Chairman Jusrie Sahidin.
