In a significant recognition of efforts to empower women in the readymade garment (RMG) sector, 25 PVH supplier factories have received the Thrive Champions Awards for their achievements in implementing the Personal Advancement and Career Enhancement (PACE) training program.

The awards ceremony, organised by USAID’s Women Thrive in Bangladesh Activity, was held on Thursday at a city hotel.

The event served as a platform to share lessons and best practices from the implementation of the activity while celebrating the efforts of factories providing life and professional skills training to women workers.

The PACE program equips women with essential soft skills such as negotiation and communication, fostering their career growth and helping them overcome societal and gender-based challenges.

USAID’s Women Thrive in Bangladesh Activity, implemented by CARE Bangladesh, collaborates with the global brand PVH to enhance the skills and leadership capabilities of women in the RMG sector.

The awards aim to inspire other factories, promote positive competition, and strengthen accountability in implementing the PACE program.

Blair King, Deputy Director of USAID’s Office of Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, attended the event as the chief guest. Special guests included Najeeb Sayed, Senior Director and Country Manager of PVH Bangladesh, and Ram Das, Country Director of CARE Bangladesh.

Other speakers included Bushra Binte Baten, Corporate Responsibility Manager at PVH Corp; Sazzad Kamal, Project Management Specialist at USAID; and Aamanur Rahman, Chief of Party for USAID’s Thrive Activity.

The initiative aims to train over one lakh women workers in RMG factories and nearby communities by 2026.

Through professional and leadership development training, it seeks to address skill gaps and empower women to advance their careers within PVH’s supply chain factories and beyond.

This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of USAID, PVH, and CARE Bangladesh to fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace in the garment sector, driving both social and economic progress.