Fostering Gender Equality: Meeting the Entrepreneurship and Microfinance Challenge 

Objectives

More microentrepreneurs or self-employed women in the European Union will have access to microcredit, as well as training and support activities, in order to further develop or create their own business at the local level, thanks to a reinforced network of microfinance providers better prepared to work with them.

In order to reach this overall objective the project has defined the following specific objectives:

  • Objective 1: To better understand the external environment affecting women’s entrepreneurship, as well as the specific issues related to gender equality in entrepreneurship and female entrepreneurship initiatives in the 8 participating countries.
  • Objective  2:  To develop and exchange microfinance providers’ experience and best practice on concrete actions specifically tailored to positively impact women microentrepreneurs and self-employed, as well as analysing the impact of these actions.
  • Objective 3: To develop the capacity of microfinance providers in Europe to promote gender equality through the dissemination of information, research studies, best practice and pilot projects’ results.

Methodology

The programme will combine background research on the policy environment and existing microfinance provider practice, combined with action research via pilot projects, as well as information dissemination through networking activities. Two research organizations will conduct the environmental analysis and identify gender equality initiatives, assist in the evaluation of the pilot projects, prepare reports and support the dissemination efforts of this project.

Activities

  • Pilot projects to test new methodologies will be implemented including: access to markets consulting and training, social impact monitoring systems, testing of peer lending and non-peer lending models, new communication tools.
  • There will be 2 exchange visits to learn about new strategies. The 1st took place in the UK in February. For more information click here. The second exchange took place on 13th ad 14th of September 2007 in Slovakia. or more information on the Slovakia exchange visit, click here.
  • A Gender Score Card and country environmental analysis has been done. The eight National Country Reports as well as the European Report are finalised. For more details and to download the documents, please click here.
  • A Transnational Conference took place in Madrid, Spain in cooperation with Women's World Banking Spain. For more information on the Conference sessions, please click here.
  • A film called "Microfinance and female entrepreneurs in Europe" has been realised.