I. Introduction /Background

The Project’s main objective is to promote women entrepreneurship development through various support programs that are aimed at the creation of decent work for women by enabling them to engage in income generating small business activities.
 

1. Immediate objectives

The immediate objectives of the WEDGE-Ethiopia project are as follows:

• Awareness among women entrepreneurs, policy makers and other stakeholders created through dissemination of good and best practices to enhance job opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

• Capacities of women entrepreneurial associations and other key partners strengthened to provide demand-driven Business Development Services (BDS) to women entrepreneurs.

2. Earlier Activities:

• Study: Factors Affecting Women Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia (2002)
  Preliminary report

• Video film on women entrepreneurs role models

II. Components of WEGE-Ethiopia Project:

• Pilot Programmes to support women workers affected by privatization and restructuring

  •  i. Laid off women workers (Rehabilitation)

  •  ii. Potentially retrenched women workers (Prevention) and provide them with BDS, credit access, linkages with bigger enterprises

• Preparation of profile of women workers: Survey on already retrenched workers and potentially to be retrenched and identify those women who are interested to start their own businesses

• Capacity building of Women Entrepreneurs (WEs), their Associations and other key partners, through:

  •  Providing training materials

  •  Training on Entrepreneurship (IYB, SIYB, EYB) and skills counseling.

  •  Study tours

  •  Market access- exhibitions, fairs…

  •  Support for cooperatives

• Launching a Radio Programme and news letter for MSE operators in general and WEs in particular

  • Awareness creation on the MSE sector and WED

  • Provision of BDS

• Impact Assessment

  • On WEs, their Enterprises, partners…

  • Draw lessons

Partners and Stakeholders:

The WEDGE-Ethiopia Project is assisted by an advisory committee (Steering Committee) chaired by the State Minister for Industry and comprising members from:

• Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs (MoLSA)

• Ethiopian Employers Federation (EEF)

• Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU)

• Federation of Peoples with Disabilities

• ILO- Sub Regional Office of Addis Ababa, and

• Ministry of Trade and Industry (Women’s Affair Department)

The project is closely working with government, private sector and NGOs/Donor organizations working on the promotion of women entrepreneurs.  The project partners include:

• ILO social partners, MoLSA, EEF, CETU

• WAD/MTI

• EPA, WEA, Chambers, FeMSEDA, ReMSEDAs, NGOs/Donor programs, MEDF, GTZ-MSE, UNIDO-MSE project, EU-MSE project, SNV-MSE, World Bank- Private Sector Development…

Contact Address:

Head Quarter:

Mr. Gerry Finnegan
Senior Specialist: WEDGE Programme
(Women Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality), IFP/SEED -
Boosting Employment for women and men through small enterprise development
IFP/SEED, Room 11-33 - ILO/BTI, 4 route des Morillons - Geneva 22 Switzerland
Tel: 41.22.799.8495, Fax: 41.22.799.7978
E-mail: Finnegan@ilo.org - www.ilo.org/seed

Ethiopia:

Dereje Alemu
National WED Expert
WEDGE-Ethiopia Project
ILO-Sub Regional Office of Addis Ababa
Tel: 44.42.32, Fax: 51.36.33
E-mail: dereje@ilo.org

Wro. Nigest Haile
Head, Women’s Affairs Department
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Tel: 52.85.81, Fax: 51.42.88
E-mail: nigesthaile@yahoo.com