Brac -Maya partnership launched their enhanced website and mobile app on Tuesday at an official ceremony in Dhaka.

They launched the web portal (www.maya.com.bd) is the website in Bangladesh with an aim to connect women with the information they are looking for.

With the support of Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and UK Aid from the British Government, Brac embarked on its collaborative work with Maya, it said at a press release on Tuesday.

BRAC-Maya partnership showcases a unique public-private initiative, working with the common goal of women's empowerment and gender justice, the release added. 

The Australian High Commissioner Greg Wilcock hosted the launching ceremony at his Gulshan residence alongside Brac’s other strategic partner, the UK.  

At the event, Brac-Maya presented two of its products - the newly revamped Brac-Maya site with localised content on women's workplace environment, health, legal and social issues and mobile platform based question-answer app, ‘Maya Apa’, the first of its kind in Bangladesh.  

At the launching ceremony Greg Wilcock said, ‘Australia is a strong supporter of innovative ways of addressing poverty and empowering poor men and women.  We are very proud to be associated with the Maya app, and the potential it has to help women and girls make more informed choices on health, legal and psychosocial issues.’

Brac gender justice and diversity director Sheepa Hafiza said, ‘We expect this ground breaking project will bring rapid changes in bridging digital divide in Bangladesh between classes, locality and sex. By leveraging the power of information through web and the app , it will help women to take their own decision about the issues which are mostly untold and hidden like an ice berg, but extremely important for survival and to be powerful.’

Maya, a Bangladesh-based technology company dedicated to connecting women with the information they are looking for, when they are looking for it, founder Ivy H Russell added, ‘Our mission is to connect women to the knowledge they are looking for through easily available technology when they are looking for it. Our website and app aim to bridge the digital divide by providing information to women and empowering women of all walks of life in Bangladesh.  May Apa app is available on Google Play Store for immediate download and usage’.