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Initiative to Stimulate Private Investment for Resource Efficiency (InSPIRE)

The InSPIRE project empowers small and medium RMG factories in Bangladesh to adopt renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions for sustainable, competitive, and inclusive sector that secures decent jobs and fosters gender equity advance compliance with global ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) standards. 
invalid
dhaka
23.804093
90.4152376
Bangladesh
Project duration
2025 - 2028
Financed by
  • Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

The InSPIRE project addresses critical challenges in Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector, particularly in small and medium sized factories that lack resources and capacity to adopt sustainable practices. Despite being a cornerstone of the economy and a major source of employment, the sector faces high energy dependency on fossil fuels, mounting environmental pressures, and increasing demands for compliance with global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards. Smaller factories struggle with limited technical expertise, financial constraints, and inadequate access to green technologies, making it difficult to transition to energy-efficient and renewable solutions. These challenges threaten the sector’s global competitiveness and sustainability while disproportionately impacting vulnerable workers, particularly women.

By fostering systemic change, InSPIRE aims to create a greener, more inclusive, and resilient RMG sector that secures decent jobs and meets global sustainability benchmarks.

The Project

InSPIRE is a four-year initiative designed to accelerate the green transformation of Bangladesh's Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector, specifically targeting small and medium sized factories. Implemented by Swisscontact and funded by the Embassy of Sweden, the project seeks to drive the adoption of energy-efficient and renewable energy solutions, aligning these factories with global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.

The programme focuses on addressing financial, technical, and capacity gaps that hinder smaller factories from transitioning to sustainable practices. By providing tailored grants, technical assistance, and capacity-building initiatives, InSPIRE empowers factories and Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to implement scalable green energy solutions. A critical innovation is its comprehensive Knowledge Exchange and Learning component, which produces and shares best practices, fostering systemic change across the sector.

Key activities include energy audits, the development of energy transition roadmaps, and training to build long-term technical capacity. The programme also emphasizes partnerships between factories, brands, industry associations and financial institutions, ensuring collaborative progress.

The primary beneficiaries are small and medium sized factories and their workforce, especially women, who gain better job security and working conditions. Broader stakeholders, including ESCOs, global brands, and policymakers, play pivotal roles in driving and sustaining the sector's green transition. Through these interventions, InSPIRE envisions a competitive, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable RMG sector that thrives in the global market.