Creat ing strategic partnerships and programs to support Afr ican women entrepreneurs in internat ional trade

The Canadian and African Business

Women’s Alliance, CAABWA

2012 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

University of Toronto, Scarborough

February 4th , 2012

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Workshop Lead

Beverley Rodrigues, Consultant, CAABWA

Presenters

Beverley Rodrigues

Belen S. Mulugeta, ABW Connected, Project Coordinator

WHO WE

ARE

The Canadian and African Business Women’s Alliance (CAABWA) is a Canadian non-profit organization with the mandate to support African women entrepreneurs in their efforts to participate in international trade.

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WE ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES 

By building an African women's network through strategic alliances with women's business organizations in sub-Saharan African countries.

By facilitating access to training and resource information to support export capacity building.

By providing internships for young Canadian women interested in working with women's business organizations in Africa. 

By fostering business linkages between Canada and African countries.

  By pursuing donor agency / private funded projects which will

fulfill our mandate.

  

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WHERE WE WORK

A F R I C A

C A N A D A

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SERVICE PHILOSOPHY

WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORK Respecting the diverse skills, experiences

and backgrounds of all with integrity Integrating the best gender equality

practices Within an anti-racism framework Meeting standards of superior quality With a client centered approach

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OUR PROGRAMS/ PROJECTS (cont’d)

On-going Internship Program

• Programs are designed to strengthen women’s trade organizations and businesses in Africa.

• Provides Training opportunities and work experience for Canadian students in development.

32 internships jointly managed by CAABWA and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), funded by CIDA (2008)

Sponsorship and partnership with the University of Toronto

Sponsorship and partnership with York University Sponsorship and partnership with Trade Facilitation

Office of Canada

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In Africa

Program development - Self

Employment Training and Mentoring for Immigrant Women

Mobile workshops for women in business Business Start-up information and training Trade facilitation at festivals and marketplaces

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OUR PROGRAMS/PROJECTS

In Canada

OUR PROGRAMS/ PROJECTS (cont’d)

Partnership Development - York Region and GTA funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation

Current and on-going

Past Business Training and Mentorship for

newcomer women (2008-2010) – Funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation

Echoes of Africa Festival (2009) – Funded by Ontario Trillium

http://www.caabwa.com/node/32

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OUR PROGRAMS/ PROJECTS (cont’d)

OUR PROGRAMS/ PROJECTS (cont’d)

In Canada

OUR PROGRAMS/ PROJECTS (cont’d)

ON-GOING ABW CONNECTED PROGRAM (2010-2013)

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International

Our objective is to enhance economic performance on the African continent in the three largest export sectors for women: craft/textiles, agribusiness, services.  ABW intends to unite these already successful African business women from ALL 54 countries in Africa to each other.

OUR PROGRAMS/ PROJECTS (cont’d)

International INTERNSHIP PROGRAM funded by TFOC, CIDA and CMA

POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

ACCESS PROGRAM

Funded by the Government of Canada under the Canada Fund for Africa.

Conducted Research and compiled baseline information on the trade and gender

specific situation in the selected African countries, on priority needs in terms of

support to women exporters for the Program Building Capacity for Trade (PACT)

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OUR PROGRAMS/ PROJECTS (cont’d)

Past

Federation of National Association of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM)

Center for African Women Economic Empowerment (CAWEE)

The International Alliance for Women (TIAW)

Centre de services au dévelopment international des affaires (CEDIAF)

Gone Rural Bomake

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OUR NETWORK (INTERNATIONAL)

OUR NETWORK (con’t)

OUR NETWORK

CANADA BASED

Immigrant Women in Business in the GTA Volunteers in development Vaughan Welcome Centre Somali Immigrant Women’s Association Community MicroSkills Development

Centre Afghan Women’s Organisation Women’s Creative Craft International University of Toronto York University Trade Facilitation Office (TFO)

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DEVELOPING STRATEGIC

PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS

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THE COMMON GROUND

Shared Vision - supporting women’s enterprise in Africa

Equal ownership and shared responsibility – maintaining a relationship even when there are no active programs on the ground 

Working together, cooperatively – open to change , sharing ideas  

Working together flexibly – keeping discussions open Sharing and learning – communicating plans and

experiences relating to partner and other projects Reviewing the partnership – reviewing work at

agreed times Developing a sustainability plan

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WORKING TOGETHER

THE ACCESS!

PROGRAM

ACCESS! A regional program for African Businesswomen in International Trade

Baseline study - Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda

Data collection – 82 SMEs with 89% women owned

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WORKING TOGETHER

WORKING TOGETHER THE ACCESS PROGRAM

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CAABWA conducts research on trade and gender specific priority needs to support women entrepreneurs in Africa

ITC/TFOC

Implementing partner CAAWEE

Implementing partner

SIDO

CAABWA Internship Program

African women

entrepreneurs in

international trade

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SOME FINDINGS

ACCESS! BASELINE

STUDY

SOME FINDINGS ACCESS! BASELINE STUDY

African women are more than capable of being successful global entrepreneurs

Women tend to work with women. They choose them as employees, suppliers and clients.

Increasingly, businesswomen are using the Internet for email and to access business information.

The businesswomen surveyed were well-educated with 63% having completed some form of post-secondary education.

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THE STEPS WITH DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, CAWEE AND THE ACCESS PROGRAM (AN EXAMPLE)

Step 1 – CAABWA conducts baseline study for ACCESS program

Step 2 – CAWEE embarks on ACCESS Program

Step 3 – CAABWA and CAWEE discuss needs

Step 4 – Needs and solutions highlighted

Step 5 – Agreed work plan for interns

Step 6 – Exit strategy agreed on

Step 7 – 5 CAABWA interns placed with CAWEE for 3-6 months placement

Step 8 – Learning shared

Step 9 – CAABWA and CAWEE continue to work flexibly

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OUTCOMES OF THE ACCESS PROGRAM

The ACCESS! Program was very instrumental in: Building institutional capacities like – CAWEE ,SIDO, TWCC and

capacities of other Stakeholders/Partners

Developing national human resource, in training trainers in international trade

Developing company capacities in international trade, with a very special focus designed to women exporters

The Regional programs were good grounds for experience sharing ,networking and exposures

Web portal www.womenexporters.com

Source: Nigest Haile, Founder and Director, CAWEE

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ACCESS!

OTHER PROGRAMS

AND PARTNERSHIPS

Design Africa

Positive Partnerships & Gone Rural Bomake

ABW Connected

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AN INTERN’S EXPERIENCEIN PARTNERSHIP

DESIGN AFRICA

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GHANA 2007 - 2008

Aid to Artisans Ghana (ATAG)Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC)

INTERNSHIP OBJECTIVES Internship Development Objectives: consistent with CIDA’s

mandate and priorities by contributing directly to private sector development in Ghana

Design Africa – development platform through design

ACCESS! - regional technical assistance programme includes 3 main components - training, mentoring and a web portal

Intern’s objective: make contribution to Sustainable Development, working to implement the assessment of and trade training activities for African businesswomen

Objective of the internship: Develop of skills in the area of project management, association management, event management, market development, web development and training

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multi country African initiative which has garnered worldwide recognition as an innovative global brand showcasing Africa’s best talent in the craft, textile & furniture sectors.

Design Africa’s mission is twofold: help today’s distinctive African design emerge accelerate the economic development of the

communities and countries involved through the positive impact of exports.

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Bob Denis, Master weaver ATMEK

ATMEK & ECO YARNS

(Right) Jimmy, Master weaver ATMEK

(Left) Monica Odonkor, Distributor, Eco Yarns

THE PROCESS

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(Left) Cheik Diallo, Architect and DesignerJosephine & Kweku, Desiners and owners of TEKURA

Kafui, Master Carver

TEKURA

THE PROCESS

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KPANDO POTTERY

Nii Noi, Designer/Owner, Kpando Pottery

THE PROCESS

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(Left) Reggie, Master Carpenter, (Middle) Angela, ABSOLUTE Furnishings Owner(Right) Cheick Diallo, Architect/ Designer and *Design Africa Consultant

ABSOLUTE FURNISHINGS

THE PROCESS

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DESIGN AFRICA STUDENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Sherifatu Abas , and David Agyekum Bimpong

- Both BA’s in Integrated Rural Arts and Industry at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

THE PROCESS

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REPORTS

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REPORTS

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THE PHOTOSHOOT

Cheik Kathleen Belen

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THE PRODUCT SHOTS

ABSOLUTE FURNISHINGS KPANDO POTTERY TEKURAATMEK & ECO YARNS

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MODIFIED ESTABLISHED NEWLY CREATED

NEWLY CREATED

BRANDING

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MARKETING COLLATERALBROCHURE INSERTS

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MARKETING COLLATERALBROCHURE INSERTS

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IT ALL FINALLY COMES TOGETHERDESIGN AFRICA UNITED AT SIDIMIN MONTREAL

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IT ALL FINALLY COMES TOGETHERDESIGN AFRICA UNITED AT SIDIMIN MONTREAL

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ABW CONNECTEDTHE CAABWA/CAWEE

PARTNERSHIP

WORKING TOGETHER

WORKING TOGETHER – ABW CONNECTED THE CAABWA/CAWEE PARTNERSHIP

the commo

n ground

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Shared vision

Working together, cooperatively

Developing a sustainability plan

Research

Programming

Program Delivery

Post Program Activities

ABW CONNECTED

BENEFITS TO AFRICAN WOMENENTRE-

PRENEURS

Increased capacity of African women organizations to work with local women in business training; direct links with government and decision makers

Increased capacity of African women entrepreneurs through leadership initiatives

Sharing of best practices Sustainable employment and income

generation for women suppliers to women led SMEs in Africa

African women entrepreneurs could benefit from this initiative Increase regional and international trade

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VOICES OF AFRICAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND LEADERS

A video of work done by Gone Rural

http://www.designafrica.ca/video_en.html

Stevens , founder of wisdomexchangetv.com interviews Katherine Ichoya, Excecutive Director, FEMCOM (a COMESA institution) http://www.wisdomexchangetv.com/katherine-ichoya/

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African Business Women (ABW) Connected is an innovative, pioneering initiative to enhance the economic performance of women-led businesses throughout Africa.  It is the first initiative of its kind to unite and connect leading African business women from all 54 countries in Africa in the three largest export sectors for women: agribusiness, services and craft/textiles. CAABWA has partnered with Ignite Excellence to create a platform where African women leaders are heard.

How do you think African women entrepreneurs could benefit

from this initiative Is this form of media effective in development?

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Case Study 1

Case Study 2

"Social enterprises are businesses operated by non-profits with the dual purpose of generating income by selling a product or service in the marketplace and creating a social, environmental or cultural value. ..Source: ttp://www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca/about_social_enterprise/definitions

Some organizations have partnered with businesses to support them in market expansion. “Ten thousand Villages” is an example of one type of social enterprise.

Do you think that CAABWA could develop a social enterprise model to support African women entrepreneurs to expand their markets in North America?

What are some pros to such an initiative?

What are the likely cons ?

Would you consider social enterprise of this nature effective development action?

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QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK

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Thank You

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Presentation Design by Belen S. Mulugeta