Network for Economic Empowerment

of Women of the South

(N.E.E.W.S.)

Presentation by:

Inyang Ebong-Harstrup,

Deputy Director

United Nations Office For South-South Cooperation

WHAT IS N.E.E.W.S.Network for the Economic Empowerment of Women of the South

A network of successful/ iconic entrepreneurs, mainly women, who will commit to grow women-owned businesses into major enterprises.

A system for business acceleration

The focus will include the following areas:

Science & Technology Agriculture & Food Security Energy & Energy Security

Culture & Design

A Regional Approach in the global South

Africa

Arab States

Caribbean

Central America

South America

The Regions of the global South

The global South comprises 132 countries

Project Goal

“To build a Network to further opportunities for

women’s economic empowerment through establishment of an Accelerator to underpin the growth of business women of the global

South”

Why NEEWS? - The Background:

Women in Public Service Project:

Their Request:

The capacity to link

theoretical dimensions of

Women’s Economic

Agency to the practical

application within their respective national

environments

A forum to exchange

knowledge with each

other on a number of issues to support

women with entrepreneurship (not just finance), as well as on-

going programmes

Knowledge of how women

from different regions are

able to overcome

obstacles to manage

businesses (laws, policies

etc. )

5

Peer-to-peer interaction as the preferred

from of interaction

Objectives of NEEWS:

Develop an Accelerator to strengthen productive partnerships to deal with financing and other issues facing women entrepreneurs.

Showcase experiences among successful southern women entrepreneurs in order to create investment and business partnership opportunities. (UN partners as well as Private institutions will be invited to participate in this activity).

Facilitate on-going capacity development to accelerate women-owned business enterprises (Mentorship and Networking through existing organizations/ companies).

Foster the formation of lasting South-South and triangular cooperation and global partnerships and networks to support programmes for women in business.

How NEEWS will work:

Identification of successful/ iconic business women in different

fields

Identification of business women who want to accelerate their

businesses

Establish the Business Accelerator

Confirmation of UN and non-UN partners

Resource Mobilization among interested partners

Include additional regions as resources permit

Partnerships among business women agreed

Data monitoring via UN organizations

Next Step:Project implementation in Trinidad and Tobago:

Directory of women who have been successful

in businessDirectory of business women who will want to grow their business

Idea generation

Outreach via social & other media

Resource mobilization

Teaming partners

Thank you

Inyang Ebong-HarstrupDeputy DirectorUnited Nations Office for South-South Cooperation

Email: inyang.ebong-harstrup@undp.org