08, Jul 2026
Engaging Men to Champion Women's Economic Empowerment
Creating lasting opportunities for women's economic empowerment requires the active engagement of men as partners in change. Recognizing this, the RISE Project, with the technical collaboration of Chrysalis Advisory Services, conducted a series of five one-day district-level workshops across its project locations to strengthen men's understanding of gender equality and their role in creating more inclusive communities.
Designed as highly interactive learning experiences, the workshops encouraged participants to reflect on gender roles, social norms, masculinity, power, and shared responsibility through discussions, group activities, role-playing exercises, and personal reflection. Rather than simply raising awareness, the sessions focused on helping participants understand how everyday attitudes and behaviours can either enable or limit women's participation in economic life, while identifying practical ways to become allies in supporting women within their households, businesses, and communities.
The workshops reached a total of 170 men across five districts, including Monaragala, Badulla, Kandy, Matale, and Nuwara Eliya. Bringing together participants from diverse communities created valuable opportunities for open dialogue, shared learning, and meaningful reflection, fostering greater awareness of the positive role men can play in advancing women's economic participation and leadership.
A key highlight of the workshops was the level of engagement demonstrated by participants. Through interactive exercises and open conversations, many challenged long-held assumptions, shared personal experiences, and reflected on how they could contribute to more equitable relationships at home and within their communities. The sessions concluded with participants making personal commitments to take positive action in support of women's economic empowerment, reinforcing the importance of collective responsibility in driving sustainable change.
By engaging men as advocates and champions of change, the RISE Project continues to strengthen community support for women's leadership and economic participation, contributing to more inclusive households, resilient communities, and equitable local economies.
The RISE Project, also known as Strengthening Women and Civil Society Engagement to Combat Poverty and Hunger in Sri Lanka, is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, and is jointly implemented by CARE Deutschland e.V. and Chrysalis.
Other Events
Discover past events and key moments from Chrysalis’ journey — national dialogues, capacity-building sessions, and community gatherings that continue to strengthen our mission of advancing equality and resilience across Sri Lanka.
