Enabling for Growth (UNDP)
Project / Programme Summary
I. Basic data
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II. Project / program description
The project will assist Women entrepreneurs in the food sector to improve their productivity by exposing them to growth oriented management and technical skills, enhancing the quality of their products and promoting competitive marketing. The project will also promote networking and joint partnership with NGOs and technical institutes. The project aims to advance and implement the Framework for Action and recommendations emanating from consultations between Africa and Asia Women entrepreneurs, in Bangkok, July 1997, and in Accra in September 1997 in one area:
Access to food processing technology and export market through South/South cooperation;
The project will build on the June 1998 study tour of African women entrepreneurs, representatives from technological institutes and NGOs from 15 countries to India and Sri Lanka. The training tour was organized by UNDP/Africa and the Economic Commission for Africa. It will evolve from the lessons learnt and feed back from participants.
- Objectives
To enable growth of women entrepreneurs in the food sector through strengthening their technological and business capacities.
To add value in preserving and processing agricultural and horticultural produce locally, and to generate better incomes and employment for women.
To establish a technology-sharing network for women entrepreneurs in the food sector in the sub-regions within Africa and with other continents and regions, Asia in particular. - Activities / contents
Business Incubators
(Production cum Training Centres)
To set up in each of the participating country a business incubator in food processing which provide both processing and enterprise support facilities to enterprises in embryonic stage in the models of the Indian and related model.
Grassroots Food technologists
Trainers Training to be organised with Asian co-operation. Continued training in Africa using the incubators created to develop grassroots food technologists with entrepreneurship development competencies in the processing of quality food products.
Strengthening tech-transfer institutes and tech training centres
Development/and/or packaging of information packages, technical compendiums for training on food technologies. Adding food engineering, nutrition and creating special cells for women entrepreneurs.
Micro and small enterprise Tech-Fair
Tech-Fair to be held in Africa for display and sale of small processing and manufacturing, packaging, quality control and other equipment from Asia to enable growth and to create new opportunities for women (donors determined).
Support for local production and strengthening of the manufacturing base in selected countries.
Establishing a network of support agencies and food technologists
Development Support Communication
Identifying and networking with suitable technical, managerial agencies and trained food technologists within the Africa region both in Public Institutions and private businesses including multi-nationals to support the entrepreneurs. - Expected outcomes / impacts
The project would have provided technical services to a minimum of 100 Women entrepreneurs, 10 NGOs and 6 technological institutions in the food sector and contribute to the following:
(i) Diversification of products and markets by participating women entrepreneurs in 15 countries
(ii) Value addition (quality and quantity of products)
(iii) Expansion of products and markets (at least 15 joint Asia/Africa business ventures established)
(iv) Increase in investment and employment, and
(v) A vision for growth through Asia / Africa partnership (advocacy/media programme developed by women on South South cooperation in at least 5 countries.
The project would facilitate growth through incentives, awards and rewards for the participant entrepreneurs/managers. These Incentives would include:
(i) Support to expansion / diversification
(ii) Support to 10 show cases of new products in expositions
(iii) Access to technology, equipment. - Features in line with the Agenda for Action
Promoting the Advancement of Women and Gender Mainstreaming through South-South cooperation and entrepreneurship development. Implementation of the Framework for Action: Asia/Africa Forum on Women's Economic Enpowerment.
III. Contact point:
Viola Morgan
Gender Programme Co-ordinator
UNDP Africa
Tel: 212-906-5980
Fax: 212-906-5830
serge.snrech@oecd.org
(End)
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