Women’s Safety Accelerator Fund 2.0 Kicks Off to Empower Women and Youth in Tea Communities

In a step toward enhancing the safety and empowerment of women and youth in India’s tea sector, the Women’s Safety Accelerator Fund (WSAF) 2.0 was officially launched today at an event in Kolkata, India. Building on the significant progress achieved during the first phase of the program –which reached 321 tea estates across Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala – this new phase sets an ambitious goal to engage 550 tea estates, with an intensive focus on developing 150 model estates.

The first phase of WSAF brought about transformative shifts in addressing gender-based violence (GBV), empowering women and adolescent groups to raise their voices against domestic violence, child abuse, and harassment. This newfound agency has led to a rise in the reporting of GBV cases, amplifying these critical issues beyond the boundaries of tea estates. However, the initiative also highlighted the pressing need to engage male workers and family members, who are often central to these challenges.

Building on the learnings from phase 1, WSAF 2.0 aims to move beyond awareness, focusing on practical solutions to GBV. This includes setting up stronger redressal mechanisms within tea estates, promoting women’s health, safety, and economic independence, while working closely with government programs to create a safer, more equitable environment for women and youth.

The launch event underscored the need for stronger collaboration between government bodies, tea producers, and non-governmental organizations. Partners and stakeholders such as IDH, Hindustan Unilever, Twinings, Taylors of Harrogate, Ethical Tea Partnership, tea certification bodies like Trustea and Rainforest Alliance, and civil society groups came together to set the direction for this next phase. Government representatives from key departments—including Legal, Police, Women and Child Development, and Health and Livelihoods Missions—were also in attendance, signaling the broad-based commitment to this initiative.

Speaking at the launch, Jagjeet Singh Kandal, Country Director (India) – IDH, emphasized the importance of collective action: "WSAF 2.0 is more than just an expansion of our efforts – it’s a renewed commitment to turning awareness into action. By working hand-in-hand with government agencies, tea producers, and communities, we are creating practical, sustainable solutions that not only address gender-based violence but also empower women and youth to thrive in safer, more supportive environments."

The event also featured the release of WSAF’s endline evaluation, showcasing a significant shift in societal attitudes and a weakening of long-standing beliefs that normalize violence against women. The findings reinforce the urgency of expanding WSAF’s reach and impact.

WSAF 2.0 represents a crucial moment for the tea sector, with stakeholders across the spectrum committing to tackle GBV head-on and create safer, more inclusive communities. The collaboration between public and private entities will be key to ensuring that these efforts have a lasting impact.