Opening window of business opportunities for rural women

The Philippines, May 2012 - Thousands of women in rural communities in the Philippines have already gained access to opportunities in the global marketplace through the Internet, after having participated in the WINNER seminars-workshops on Internet e-commerce, international trade practices and enterprise management.  These women are engaged in micro and small enterprises, producing various goods and products that are slowly gaining exposure to international buyers.

In the Philippines, the Technological Information Promotion System (TIPS) /Devnet implements the WINNER program (Women into the New Network for Entrepreneurial Reinforcement) and has already conducted a number of roving seminars/workshops in selected local communities around the country. This is done in collaboration with non-government organizations and local government units, thereby directly benefiting over 10,000 women micro/small entrepreneurs since the start of the program in 2000.

In the micro/small enterprises sector, women account for 90 percent of home-based livelihoods and business start-ups.  The competitiveness of these women’s enterprises depends on the conditions over which they have no control.  Thus, to address this need, networking for sharing knowledge and information on market opportunities improves their sustainability. Through the WINNER program, the products of these women’s enterprises are promoted online through various websites, thereby providing these enterprises exposure to markets and opportunity to be contacted for orders or sub-contracting by large exporters.

Partner organizations of WINNER host Help Desks, consisting of computer with Internet connection to provide follow-up activities to the training conducted in local communities.  Some of these Help Desks are located in: La Trinidad, Benguet; Buhi, Camarines Sur; Santa Barbara, Iloilo; Surigao City, Las Piñas City, Baguio City; and Kabacan, North Cotabato.

     With the training on Internet/e-commerce conducted by WINNER for women in rural communities, a window of opportunity has been opened to these women.  Through the use of computer with Internet connection, these women are able to learn new skills and to manage social relations as well as improve work productivity. Tess Roseus, one of the participants in the WINNER training held in Tagaytay City, said: “With knowledge of Internet, I was able to network with women producers and buyers.  In fact, through the Internet, I received an order from one of the agencies of the government for conference bags to be used in an international conference.  I hope more companies get to know about us through the WINNER network”.