Project duration
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Brief Description
The programme aims to raise the issue of women’s entrepreneurship in broader development plans. With women entrepreneurs concentrated in lower value-added sectors of the economy (typically in services), and women-led SMEs in Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries often confined to the informal sector of the economy, access to finance through formal institutions is a key challenge for women-led businesses in the region. The programme aims to improve access to finance for women-led SMEs, as well as supporting the development of business know-how through advisory services and training.
Countries covered: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine
Objectives
To promote women’s entrepreneurship and, more broadly, women’s participation in business by supporting women-led enterprises with access to funding, as well as providing business advisory services to women-led SMEs.
Actions in brief
- Supporting women’s SMEs in accessing finance for their sustainable growth and job creation
- Developing sustainable financial products suitable specifically for women-led SMEs
- Assisting women’s SMEs to access advice and know-how.
- Training in key entrepreneurial skills
- Mentoring and networking seminars
From 2015 till mid-2017, more than €36.3 million has been provided to six partner banks in the region under the Women in Business programme. More than 576 women have also benefited from access to know-how, including through 246 advisory projects in the region.
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