Women’s Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Overview
Women are powerful agents of change. Women as leaders and decision-makers at all levels are crucial for economic and social development as well as for the advancement of gender equality. Empowering and encouraging more women to become entrepreneurs can have a significant and positive impact on the country’s economy, specifically on poverty reduction by creating more jobs, increasing gross domestic product, and lowering social exclusion.
By working with business and leadership skills service providers, GREAT through the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Leadership (WEL) Project will enable local women entrepreneurs, especially ethnic minority women entrepreneurs, in Lao Cai and Son La provinces to access and build their business and leadership skills. This will enhance their confidence and decision-making capabilities, increase income and job opportunities for both women entrepreneurs and women employees, and build their resilience against economic and other shocks.
Key interventions
The following intervention areas are designed to promote women entrepreneurship, with a focus on ethnic minority women:
Strengthening capacity of the provincial Women’s Union and provincial Cooperative Alliance in the implementation of Business Incubation, Acceleration, and Leadership Skills Programs
Establishing and strengthening capacity for Local Mentors to be able to provide quality mentorship programs in business and leadership to local women entrepreneurs, especially ethnic minority women entrepreneurs
Piloting incubation and acceleration training on leadership skills for local women entrepreneurs, especially ethnic minority women entrepreneurs
Expected outcomes
Local coordinating agencies such as provincial Women’s Union and provincial Cooperative Alliance have better management capabilities regarding gender-responsive and inclusive business incubation and acceleration program
Local Mentors provide business and leadership service packages collecting part of the fees from local women entrepreneurs, especially ethnic minority women entrepreneurs
The Local Mentors network is maintained, self-promotes their business and leadership mentoring and coaching services and continues to complement and diversify expertise to widely support local women entrepreneurs, especially ethnic minority women entrepreneurs
Provincial Women’s Union will engage the trained Local Mentors in the government-funded incubation, acceleration and leadership programs for women entrepreneurs, especially ethnic minority women entrepreneurs
Local women entrepreneurs, especially ethnic minority women entrepreneurs and their business members use business and leadership development services to increase their incomes, job opportunities, decision-making ability for business and capability to adapt to market changes
Partners
