devnetinternational.org - Winner training

Local government units support women’s economic empowerment, small business start-ups

devnet — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 08:19:58 +0000

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The Philippines, July 2014 - The participation of local government in the economic empowerment of women, particularly in developing their capacity to engage in livelihood activities, is an important factor in building sustainable and transformative communities.

Women have embraced the triple bottomline concept in nurturing their small business start-ups, at the local level, and linking up with other like-minded individuals to introduce their products to larger markets. These women form associations to improve their negotiating skills in dealing with financiers, buyers and suppliers.

In the training courses for women, WINNER has emphasized not just the financial benefits from business, but also their social and environmental responsibilities, which together characterize a transformative business venture.

WINNER-Philippines has conducted over fifty training sessions in various localities around the country, in partnership with selected local government units. These directly benefited thousands of women in rural and depressed urban communities.

The local government plays an important role in these training programs as they provide the logistical resources, physical venue and facilities and even resources for mobilizing, and sponsoring qualified women to participate in the capacity-building exercises on such subject as enterprise-creation, availing themselves of trade opportunities and reaching markets as well as e-commerce tools.

Some of the local government units that joined hands with WINNER along with local people’s organizations of women are: Meycauyan (Bulacan), Buhi ( Camarines Sur), La Trinidad (Benguet), Sta Barbara (Iloilo), Kabacan (N. Cotabato), Sorsogon City (Sorsogon), San Pablo (Laguna), Batangas City (Batangas), Las Pinas (National Capital Region) Tagbilaran (Bohol), Santiago (Isabela), among others.

From the start of WINNER in 2000 up to present, more than 12,000 women from Asian and African countries participating in the program received technical assistance and guidance in developing their enterprises as well as in gaining access to trade opportunities. Some 10,000 women’s products are currently promoted through web portals.

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Nepalese women entrepreneurs engage in product analysis to improve market edge

Lydia — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 13:22:25 +0000

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Nepal, December 2013 - A two-part training program on product analysis and market development was recently launched by WINNER-Nepal in collaboration with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Women Entrepreneurs Development Council. The purpose of the year-ender activity was to help women producers strategically position their products in the larger market.

By defining product advantages and other factors, women entrepreneurs that cater to large-scale buyers can deepen their hold on the segment of market where their products have competitiveness and edge over others.

The women members of WINNER were joined by twenty-three women from various groups and organizations around Nepal.

The training program had Water Aid-Nepal Country Director Ashutosh Tiwari as sole resource person-trainor. He is the co-founder of Entrepreneurs for Nepal, an online business network that helps producers and exporters take advantage of the Internet to promote their businesses and products to wider audience and public.

The format and conduct of the training program were tapered to the nuances of women producers. Prior to the start of the program, a needs survey was taken by WINNER-Nepal to come up with the profile of preferences, problems and issues, sentiments and expectations of the participants.

The participants are in the production and export of products made from silk, silver, beads, herbs, wool, honey, which are widely available in Nepal.

Representatives of women advocacy groups such as Entire Power in Women, Trade and Export Promotion Center, Fair Trade, among others, also joined the training.

According to WINNER-Nepal Director Nibedita Shrestha, the approach developed for this training resonated well with the participants. In fact, the participants, were very much excited to join the next stage of the program, which involves more in depth product critique and idea sharing on how to develop the best results in product packaging and marketing promotion.

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Zimbabwean women’s SMEs cut cost in product promotion, expand market reach

Lydia — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 09:52:25 +0000

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Zimbabwe, July 2013 - Producing locally and marketing globally are proving to be a cost-effective way of moving one’s products to consumers everywhere. The Internet provides the platform for small and medium-sized enterprises to reach distant markets. Such was the experience of women entrepreneurs who are participating in the WINNER project in Zimbabwe.

After having gone through training on the various ways of using the Internet to advance the growth and sustainability of their businesses, these Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs pursue business leads using social media networks and engage in collaborative efforts to improve their capacity to meet demand in the marketplace.

TIPS-WINNER Zimbabwe National Bureau Director Ambrose Kavu reported that the training course for Zimbabwean women included a range of topics, but with emphasis on: product advertising in virtual space, various platforms for product marketing, business networks and social media. “After their training, the women immediately buckled down to work, by signing up into marketing lists, posting their products on Internet marketing sites and pursuing business leads by answering e-mailed queries on their products,” he said.

“The training on Internet and e-commerce has dramatically enhanced the capacity of women’s SMEs to reach markets beyond the national borders. More importantly, it benefited them with reduced cost for promoting and marketing their products as well as enabled them to target specific segments of the global market with ease and speed,” he further said.

The training of Zimbabwean women is part of the package of services and assistance provided by TIPS/WINNER-Zimbabwe to existing and start-up women’s enterprises.

The women who took part in the training are: Elizabeth Muyambo (Malwatte Enterprises); Viola Makichi (Malwatte CraftCenter); Mattie Godfrey (Ottie’s Beauty Therapy); Miriam Muregerera (Rose Designs); Proxedes Mudyanadzo (Oyster Mushroom Production Enterprise); Jade Miyambo (Organic Herbs and Spices); Spiwe Chidemo; Angeline Mujeyi (Honey Production); Emmaculate Mupfumi (Tich Chemicals); Theresina Chimombe (Chisanzu Herbals); and Mary Hapadziwi. The training was conducted and facilitated by the TIPS-Zimbabwe staff, namely: Ruvimbo Sagonda, Linda Mhaka, Tsitsi Spargo and Jane Mudzamiri.

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Zimbabwean women’s enterprises upbeat on business prospects with e-commerce

Lydia — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:44:48 +0000

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Zimbabwe, March 2013 - Women from across Zimbabwe joined a series of training sessions on basic computer literacy, entrepreneurship and Internet/e-commerce. These training sessions, which were held in different locations around the country, focused on improving the business skills of women and adding new tools to their business. Building the capacity of women in managing their businesses helps ensure market competitiveness and sustainability

Although access to information and communication technology tools in Zimbabwe presents a major challenge, the women have managed to work together in gaining access to information and communication technology tools, thereby opening possibilities to gain entry to larger markets. Through WINNER partner organizations which host computer-equipped Help Desks, the women in micro/small/medium enterprises are able to develop competitive advantage by using the Internet to react to and act fast on inquiries about their products, from local buyers and from outside the country.

WINNER-Zimbabwe has trained hundreds of women entrepreneurs, most of them are first-time users of personal computers. With knowledge of Internet/e-commerce and assistance provided by the Help Desks, these women have started to discover the awesome market potentials of their various products. Majority of these women are engaged in garment production, including protective clothing, industrial garments, woolen rugs, tie dye houseware and décor.

The unique indigenous African designs and raw materials used in the production have already attracted foreign buyers such that some of these Zimbabwean women producers were invited to showcase their products at international product shows such as the Ema-Invest Fair in Geneva, Switzerland.

Some of the women who took part in the WINNER training programs consisted of the core members of the Zimbabwe Women in Business and Development under the leadership of Mrs. D. Mpofu.

To facilitate the implementation of various capacity-building activities, WINNER-Zimbabwe entered into cooperation agreement with partners around the country. Some of these institutions include: Bonda Art Center Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Business Association, Rodwell Foundation, Women in Business, Matebeleland Women and Child Development, Gweru Women’s Aids Prevention Association, Association of Women’s Clubs, Zuwa Weaving Co-op Society, Wadzanai Home Industries, Young Women Christian Association, National Association of Disabled Persons, Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau, among others.

Of Zimbabwe’s estimated population of 11.3 million, 60 percent are considered poor. Majority of these women assume the bulk of unpaid homework. To start them off on entrepreneurial activities is a path to recognizing the potential of women in contributing to family income and to the national economy.

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Fair Trade – Finding the Balance

Lydia — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 08:40:42 +0000

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August 2012 Nepal - A half-day interaction program on Fair Trade- Finding the Balance was held at FNCCI on 20^th August, 2012 for the benefit of SMEs. Mr. Chitra B. K.C was the main resource person. The program was attended by twenty-nine participants, a majority of who were women entrepreneurs. Mr. K.C is Executive Director of New Sadle and Secretary of Fair Trade Group, Nepal. The program was organized after some entrepreneurs complained that the importers and buyers, while insisting that the products be Fair Trade, were reluctant to pay the higher price which came as a direct result of practicing Fair Trade. They said they were losing business on this account and wanted to know how they could address the problem without compromising on the Fair Practices.

Mr. K.C presented the rules that organizations, big or small, had to practice to be considered Fair Trade and went on to show that despite higher prices, consumers were becoming aware of fair practices prevalent in manufacturing countries and wanted to show support by only buying Fair Trade products. Fair Trade tag is a useful one for exporters since it verifies that no exploitation, either to producers or to nature was done while making the product. This certification is considered important while exporting but some entrepreneurs said it was a two-edged sword. Higher prices deterred potential importers since they could buy the same products at a less price from non-members of Fair Trade, putting them at a disadvantage. Mr. K.C was of the opinion that this could be countered in the long-term through aggressive awareness campaign focused on the right practices adopted by Fair Trade that not only manufactured the product but also contributed towards the overall development of the nation by sharing skills, protecting environment and promoting entrepreneurship. At the end of the program, the women entrepreneurs requested to hold a program on how they could become members of Fair Trade. WINNER Nepal plans to hold a one-day program on the same with a resource person from Fair Trade Group, Nepal.

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Bangladeshi women rediscover market opportunities for business sustainability

Lydia — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 06:46:28 +0000

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Bangladesh - Regional cooperation through business exchange and sharing of economic benefits has surged in some parts of the world, particularly in South Asia. This has deepened the spirit of cooperation and interdependence among players in filling consumer needs where supply is short from one country but substantial from a neighboring country.

Recently, a major trade fair sponsored by SAARC (South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation), an economic forum of the countries in the South Asia region, drew producers, suppliers, wholesalers and retailers and various industry leaders to a common venue for starting direct contact and negotiation with their counterparts for business relations. Women entrepreneurs from Bangladesh were among the exhibitors in the fair.

Women who belong to the WINNER-Bangladesh network took advantage of the opportunity to reinvigorate business relations with markets closer to home, even as their traditional markets overseas are shrinking due to economic troubles spawned by the global economic crisis.

The women leaders who participated in the 9^th SAARC Trade Fair in Lyonpo Khandu Mangchuk, Bhutan are: Tahmina Khan, Sharmin Ahmed, Rabiya Mahfuj, Parveen Hossain, Alfroza Sultana, Barnaly Chowdhury Lopa, Sonia Hoque, Latifa Akter Lata, Mazeda Khatun and Naharih Chowdhury. These women are makers and exporters of home textiles, imitation jewelry, jute products, handicrafts and garments, among others.

WINNER-Bangladesh has been conducting various training courses for existing women’s businesses as well as women who are planning to go into business.

The training curriculum covers various aspects of improving business sustainability as well as modern business practices and information and communication technology tools.

According to WINNER-Bangladesh Director Dil Alfroze, the WINNER project has provided new skills to women and strengthened their capacities to sustain their businesses.

“Our training courses for these women have prepared them to compete in the marketplace and equipped them with the tools to sustain the growth of their businesses. Many of these women have contributed to the improvement of the conditions of life, for themselves and their employees, as they have attained financial independence,” she said.

“While ever increasing numbers of women are entering the labor force, particularly in the micro and small-scale enterprises and informal sectors, women continue to face discrimination and dominate low-paying jobs. Nevertheless, women’s initiatives in the production and trade fields have been recognized as these represent a vital economic resource.”

WINNER Project was launched in Bangladesh in 2001. The training cycles included basic computer skills, Internet/e-commerce, entrepreneurial management, fair trade practices business documentation, export procedures, among others. The women who are participating in the project have produced impressive results. Women home workers have become formal business women, obtaining trade licenses and certificates.

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Nepalese women in MSMEs sharpen business tools for innovation and leadership

Lydia — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 09:32:22 +0000

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Kathmandu, Nepal - To manage risks and enhance quality business decision-making Nepalese women who are engaged in micro, small and medium enterprises recently participated in a series of training programs designed to prepare them for greater challenges in the field of business.

Co-organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and WINNER-Nepal, the short skills-upgrading courses provided the women entrepreneurs preparation to deal with issues and problems associated with the dynamics in the workplace, disruptive situations in the industry and uncertainties in the changing conditions of markets. The training programs included: negotiation skills in crisis situations; aim-oriented performance appraisal; strategic planning; and leadership development.

Recent political turbulence and industrial disruptions, as Nepal transitioned from monarchy to republican democracy, have impacted the nature of business and harmony between business owners and workers. To provide valuable lessons from the experiences during the transition period, the organizers of the training program on negotiation and crisis management invited experts and leaders in the business community, to share their insight and expertise as resource persons: Sanu Raja Shilpakar of the Lalitpur Chamber Commerce and Raja Dharubhadel of Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce as well as Dharma Shakya of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal.

Productivity has been a continuing challenge to business organization, particularly in light of trends in the emerging markets overseas. To cope with keeping financially healthy businesses, and improving productive capacities, a short-term training course was conducted to provide women entrepreneurs the basic tools in assessing performance, measuring results and using the insight from such evidence-based data for strategic planning and development of business. For this, the organizers invited a resource person from the academe, namely Prof. Timila Yani Thapa of the Institute of Engineering, University of Tribhuvan, who showed the participants the practical applications of metrics and insights from data and information as basis for plotting a course of action for business.

Harmony in the workplace is vital to business growth and development. Achieving harmony can best be enhanced by two-way communication. Motivating people to work together is also a challenge to leadership in a business organization. Invited to handle the training session on innovation and business leadership was Dr. Niti Rama, director of the New Era Career Development Academy.

Some sixty women from micro, small and medium enterprises across the country attended the training programs, with majority of them representing various industry sectors.

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Leadership Development

Lydia — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 09:57:43 +0000

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Kathmandu, May 2012 - A two-day training program on Leadership Development through Communication, Team Work and Motivation was held on the 3-4May, 2012 at FNCCI by WINNER Nepal in coordination with Women Entrepreneurship Development Committee/FNCCI. The main resource person for the program was Dr. Niti Rama, director of New Era Career Development Academy and a sought after motivational speaker. The program was attended by twenty women entrepreneurs from various business interests such as education, co-operative, handicrafts, social organizations and so on.

The programs discussed some of the major issues concerning today’s business environment such as Professional and Personal Image, Improving Communication and Listening Skills, Team Work and Motivation Skills and Exemplary Examples of a Good Motivator. There was a practical session at each of the four sittings and the participants were divided into groups for the practical games.

The women entrepreneurs participated in the program and in particular the practical games with much spirit and were taken in by the unusual methods employed by Dr. Rana to get her points across. Dr. Rana is also a motivational speaker and her words found favor with the participants who later reported they had never been in a program that was as enlightening as it was entertaining. Laughter rang throughout the program as Dr. Rana’s witty remarks made their way through the participants’ hearts and minds, ensuring not only full attention to her speeches but also keeping the atmosphere light and pleasurable. The program ended with the participants distributing certificates to each other and not through a formal authority.

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Performance Appraisal and Strategy Development

Lydia — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 09:54:51 +0000

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Kathmandu, April 2012 - A one-day workshop on Performance Appraisal and Strategy Development was held on the 27^th of April, 2012 by WINNER Nepal in coordination with Women Entrepreneurship Development Committee/FNCCI. The main resource person for the program was Prof. Timila Yami Thapa, Assistant Dean at the Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University.

Ms. Thapa explained to the women entrepreneurs how to measure the performance of their organizations through short-term and long-term goals in the first part of the program and how to recognize sectors where weaknesses were most prevalent in the second part. It was in the second part that she also explained ways to develop strategies to overcome these weaknesses that are bringing the overall performance of the organization down.

Participants came from diverse backgrounds, with education, handicrafts, pashmina, silver jewellery, natural fiber, cosmetics, herbal medicines, beads as their main businesses. Ms. Thapa cited several examples from foreign countries where Performance Appraisal were applied for the benefit of the organization and explained how it could be applied in Nepali businesses. The topic was new to many entrepreneurs and there was a mixed response to the program. Many found it highly useful but some said they were unclear about a few of the terms used. A total of twenty-three small and micro-scale women entrepreneurs participated in the training which also consisted of representatives from social organizations such as SABAH (home-based women entrepreneurs), Women for Human Rights ( single women’s group) and Entire Power for Social Action (special women’s group).

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Exhibitions and Trade Fairs – Getting the most out of them

Lydia — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 09:51:30 +0000

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Kathmandu, Nepal - A one-day workshop on Exhibitions and Trade Fairs – Getting the most of them was at FNCCI by WINNER Nepal in coordination with Women Entrepreneurship Development Committee/FNCCI. The program had two sessions – the first session conveyed the importance of participating in Trade Fairs as a means to generate more business and attract short-term and long-term customers while the second session was dedicated to explaining the importance of proper decoration and styling of the stalls so that they speak out to the customers and “pull them in”. The first session was headed by Mr. Sanu Raja Shilpakar, Senior Trainer with Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries while the second session was headed by Ms. Ameeta Shilpakar, active member of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal.

The second session had plenty of examples to its credit and the participants found it simple to understand. Several pictures of the stalls from Nepal and abroad were displayed by Ms. Shilpakar to explain her points and this effort was appreciated by the participants who said they found the session vibrant and exciting while being highly useful. A total of twenty-two women entrepreneurs as well as members of social organizations such as SABAH participated in the workshop. SABAH is known to participate in trade fairs staunchly and their representatives said the program had been of great importance to them.

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