The African Women Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) is a special program affiliated to AGOA. The program also gets women more involved in learning how to succeed in business leadership. Prior to AWEP, women entrepreneurs were associated directly with either the Private Sector and/or the Civil Society stakeholders of export trade market(s). With the introduction of AWEP, women are proud to embrace this much needed and sought after platform to showcase their efforts, their work and also successes in trade. In this case AWEP is comprised of accomplished Africa women entrepreneurs that are owners and leaders of small and medium sized businesses. The women are also community leaders and members of business women’s associations in their countries. A number of their companies are already exporting to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), while others are working to increase their export capacity and establish business relationships with US based partners. Some of the members of AWEP are also taking advantage of Regional trading arrangement (RTAs) to export goods and have demonstrated potential to export regionally, as a prelude to exporting to the United States. The AWEP members and women entrepreneurs in general however, face a number of constraints such as access to high value market due to lack of access in skills, knowledge, information and financial resources. The AGOA was enacted on 18 May 2000 by Bill Clinton to offer tangible incentives for Sub-Sahara African countries to upgrade their efforts to open their economies and build free markets with the USA. Through this legislation, eligible African countries can stimulate their economies, promote high levels of dialogue on trade and investment issues, encourage economic integration and facilitate sub-Sahara Africa’s integration into the global economy. The AGOA brings together senior US administration officials, African government ministers as well as US and African civil society and business stakeholders on a platform that ensures equal and mutually beneficial deliverables. In 2010 at AGOA meeting apart from promoting high levels of dialogue on trade and invest with senior US administration officials, African Government minister as well as US and African Civil society and business stakeholders AWEP forum was launched. The launch of AWEP forum specifically aimed at enhancing US - Africa Trade relationship by expanding African women business opportunities and increasing economic growth to their countries. At this juncture a MoU was signed between AGOA and African eligible countries. This created a platform for opportunities for women entrepreneurs from across sub-Saharan Africa to increase participation of women entrepreneurs in the economy; by playing a role in good governance; developing co- operation and promoting trade through partnership meetings and trade missions; and, develop a capacity-building program through training and transfer of technology and expertise. As highlighted by Her Excellence Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, during the launch of AWEP Forum at the 2010 AGOA Forum on U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation, Washington, DC, August 3, 2010: “These are talented, creative women who are leading businesses, making jobs available, seizing economic opportunities. The State Department is sponsoring this program because we know from experience across the world that women-run small- and medium-sized enterprises that are in the formal economy provide a major boost to a country’s GDP. Women can drive social and economic progress, and in the process, lift up themselves, their families, and their communities if they have the opportunity and the tools to participate…So we are working to help more women entrepreneurs participate in international markets and take advantage of AGOA’s benefits”. Outlined AWEP Program goals include: (1) Accelerating the growth of women-owned businesses; (2) Fostering leadership for women’s business organizations; and, (3) Supporting advocacy for women’s economic empowerment (to become “voices of change”). It is therefore, expected that through AWEP programme implementation African women entrepreneurs will manage to exchange knowledge and experiences with their American counterparts as well as the other eligible African counterparts both at international and national levels. AWEP Partners include; Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Chad; Comoros; Djibouti; Ethiopia; Gabon; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Swaziland; Tanzania; Togo; Uganda; Zambia. AWEP TANZANIA CHAPTER Tanzania has experienced high growth of women involvement in different entrepreneual activities. Women in Tanzania are represented in small firm segment in different productive sectors. Majority of women entrepreneurs engage in trading, food processing, textile and clothing, and provide services for businesses (Rutashobya, 1995). Women tend to undertake activities that are in harmony with their traditional roles. Women’s businesses tend to be informal, micro, home-based and dependent on local markets (Rutashobya, 1995; Shayo, 1998). Despite the increased participation of women in the micro and small enterprise (MSE) sector over the past few years, though some progress has been achieved women entrepreneurs in Tanzania still face a lot of challenges in supporting their businesses. Some challenges faced include, technology, capacity and market accesses constrain and lack of capital which results in lower production and lower earnings. Tanzania being among African AGOA countries and partner to AWEP forum launched 2010. Tanzania women entrepreneurs also plan to utilize the opportunities offered by AWEP Internationally by setting up AWEP Tanzania Chapter in pursuit of promoting Tanzanian women entrepreneurs economic empowerment. This will be achieved by Tanzania involvement in attaining AWEP goals and other opportunities at country level. It has been noted by a growing body of research that women’s economic empowerment is positively correlated with improved family welfare and nutrition, higher education levels for girls leading to improved economic growth and poverty reduction for the society and nation as a whole. AWEP TANZANIA’S VISION (Draft) Vision To empower women entrepreneurs in Tanzania to grow effectively with positive impact both economic and governance issues at local, national, regional and internationally level. Mission To empower women entrepreneurs in Tanzania to grow effectively with positive impact both economic and governance issues at local, national, regional and internationally level. AWEP TANZANIA PURPOSE i. AWEP Tanzania Chapter aims to bring Tanzania women entrepreneurs together to learn from each other and build strong networks. The network will bring together intelligence, leadership and a passion for business. As such, an International Labour Organization (ILO) study (Support for Growth – Oriented Women Entrepreneurs In Tanzania 2005) recommended the formation of a National Network to bring together Women Entrepreneur associations in the country to help promote a common voice. The study emphasized the importance of such a National Network to take into consideration the different needs of different groups of women entrepreneurs (e.g. at different levels of development, in different sectors and with different levels of education and experience. ii. AWEP Tanzania will work together with other partners (government, donors, financial institutions, and business service providers, civil society) to ensure that the full potential of Tanzanian women is leveraged for the benefit of their families and Tanzania’s economic growth. iii. AWEP Tanzania Chapter recognizes the direct correlation between investment in women and girls and poverty alleviation, a lessening of government corruption, and greater general prosperity. We believe in investment in leadership and skills’ training for entrepreneurs and leaders in business is a necessary action as women are powerful engines of economic growth and social change. iv. The Chapter will support efforts to empower Tanzania women entrepreneurs. The chapter shall design initiatives to address the challenges unique to its social, political and economic environment. Ultimately, members of our Chapter are promoting women’s leadership while passing on a culture of mentorship to the next generation. v. The AWEP Tanzania Chapter’s target audience will encompass entrepreneurs ranging from the most successful and established, down to the emerging and SME and last but not least the grassroots level and vulnerable women in rural areas wishing, striving or potentially identifying to have the capacity to enter into trade or the developed supply chains within the Chapter but who may not be certain or knowledgeable about how to go about it. Use of a multiplier effect of supply chain mechanisms shall be encouraged and implemented. Pilot projects will be developed to support women entrepreneurs and micro projects, both in urban and rural areas. vi. Women’s leadership accelerates development. The World Bank’s 2012 World Development Report endorses this view, and studies from the World Economic Forum further confirm a strong correlation between an increase in gender equality and an increase in gross domestic product per capita. vii. This global recognition must be met with serious financial commitment. We need public and private investment in the scaling up of tested initiatives and practical solutions. Financial stability will lead to political stability; economic development will lead to social development. The Tanzanian Businesswomen’s Network is one solution. The women of this powerful collective body know what needs to be done to move the country forward - they are already leading the charge. PROGRAMMES i) Public Sector In Tanzania a request will be sought for the participation of various technocrats, from the Ministries of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Gender children and development and other government agencies which have some relevance to the women entrepreneurship programmes. The AWEP Tanzania Chapter Business Forum and Exhibition will draw a plethora of government leaders from the various African countries and their agencies which have some relevance to African Women’ Entrepreneurs. ii) Private Sector The meeting will invite and seek support from the private sector leaders and decision makers such as chairpersons of local chambers of commerce, associations, local community development specialists, and various Tanzania businesses. One of the main interventions of the programme is the introduction and implementation of a Business Incubator. The Business incubator program shall be designed to accelerate the successful development of entrepreneurial companies through an array of business support resources and services, developed and orchestrated by incubator management and offered both in the incubator and through its network of contacts. With the results of business incubator in mind, the Chapter has identified three inter-related strategic interventions namely: (i) Data base program It will support the establishment of a suitable environment for fair decision-making, strengthening the capacity to improve the availability of company data, establish AWEP office and establish contacts within the country. Indicators and studies showing how Tanzanian Women are working to drive Economic Growth in today’s Global economy as well as integrating regional trade, This database will work to identify the opportunities and networks with other African countries into its sector programmes. Public information on gender issues and women’s socio-economic rights will be promoted through partnerships with media, with private sector, with the Civil Society organizations, with the government, with embassies and other bodies with whom the Chapter shall engage into partnerships. (ii) Training programs A practical implementation will be made in the crucial area of women’s access to information relating to export business opportunities, to choosing the right sector that works for them in their sector, conforming to standards and quality by supporting already existing mechanisms and by developing pilot projects. We have identified that ICT is a great tool needed for businesswomen. Business management, Market readiness and exports coaching so that they can be able to tackle the opportunities within AWEP. (iii) AWEP business plan In this period of one year, the business plan for AWEP will be created to suit the needs of Women Entrepreneurs in the Country in collaboration with other stakeholders. MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE The Chapter shall run through elected Secretariat with Chairperson and Vice, Secretary and Vice, Treasury and Vice that work for the Steering Committee who’s Head Office shall be situated in Dar es Salaam, with Focal points in all zones. The Steering Committee will meet quarterly. Sub-committees are formed and will be organized by the cluster as it prepares for the Forum include: (NB: monthly updates from sub-committee activities will be shared, reviewed and deliberated on at each meeting and recorded in minutes). Finance committee In order to implement AWEP programs, the financial resources are required. The Finance Committee is formed to manage , process, monitor and control funds for activities that will be implemented. Anticipated Outcomes i. AWEP members will get access to a wide variety of tailor-made benefits designed to help them grow their business and become better leaders. ii. AWEP members will access the connections, tools and resources they need to reach the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. iii. Membership Benefits will include but not limited to: a) Joint marketing of products b) Group buying of input materials or services c) Joint tendering or bidding on contracts d) Sharing of information on new markets and opportunities e) Sharing of containers when exporting f) Using members of the network as suppliers or distributors Support/Budget Urgently there is no fund set aside for AWEP Tanzania Chapter. Members contribution fees are used to cuter for small issues. AWEP expect to have collaboration between the Tanzania Government and U.S Government and partners during and after launching. A Strategic Plan will be prepared to show a one year and Five years plan. NB: Other women Entrepreneurs not present/ aware that need to be contacted and included in the cluster may be identified from MIT export databases. These firms/ bodies have been identified as key institutions that can assist in the identification of existing women entrepreneurs not already contacted and participating in the forum for complete representation of Tanzania and the “we” theme we wish to convey with regards success stories. Initiative shall also be made to create a website/face book page alongside a website of the Chapter including all the AWEP Entrepreneurs who are aimi
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:05:28 +0000
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