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Enhancing Women's Entrepreneurship in the UNECE Region

Workshop on the economic potential of women entrepreneurs in the UNECE region, focusing on their impact on growth, innovation, and competitiveness. Explore barriers, policies, and opportunities for women-led businesses.

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Enhancing Women's Entrepreneurship in the UNECE Region

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  1. Developing woman’s entrepreneurship in the UNECE region Dr. Ewa Ruminska - Zimny, Warsaw School of Economics Workshop on Enhancing Women’s Entrepreneurship in SEE Sarajevo 1 October 2009

  2. Women’s economic potential • Entrepreneurship is part of women’s economic potential –a key factor behind economic growth in UNECE region • Women are a major source of new labour in ageing Europe • Increasingly well educated they bring new ideas and management styles in developing products and services • Mobilizing this potential is even more important now to overcome economic crisis

  3. Major source of new labour (EU-27)

  4. Women’s share in labour force (age 15 +) Source: UNECE Gender Statistics Databases, 2005-2006

  5. Women have over 50% share in total tertiary education in most UNECE member countries and up to 62 % (Albania, Latvia) Inclusion of womenin teams designingnew cars pushed up sales at Ford (1999) –now a standard human resource policy More women in company management, better resistance to the financial crisis based on research in France CAC40 : PNB-Paribas (39% women -20% drop in shares versus Credit Agricole 1% women -50 % drop): value of gender diversity in management Innovation and competitiveness

  6. Female Share of Researchers Source: UNECE Gender Statistics Database

  7. Diversity and growth of women entrepreneurs Employers and own-account workers, % employed selected countries Source: UNECE Gender Statistics Databases

  8. Untapped potential: education vs. job level 2005 Source: Worldbank Edstats, ILO Laborsta

  9. Financing: lack of wealth or property ownership (biased privatization, traditional norms), smaller size of women’s businesses Information and training: less time due to family responsibilities and resources Markets and networks: limited access to traditional business networks (“old boys”) Gender specific barriers

  10. Some interest at policy level, good initiatives driven by WBA, local authorities and international organizations Rationale based on job creation/poverty for women’s empowerment (microcredit and start-ups -handicraft, hairdresser) Missing “growth” rationale and systemic solutions to boost women’s entrepreneurship at national level Policy response

  11. US and Canada --Gender- sensitive legislation and institutional framework (role of WBAs) US – Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974), Office for women’s businesses at SME Federal Administration, Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (1994), support centers etc. In 1997-2004 number of women run businesses grew by 42%, now about 40 % all business in US Policies matter

  12. Setting norms, standards and commitments such as EU (equal opportunities in Lisbon Strategy or in accession process) United Nations: Beijing, MDGs and Financing for Development Regional dimension: UNECE, Regional Coordination Council, IFIs Role of international players

  13. Using women’s potential is vital for growth (gender equalty as economic versus human rights concept) Support to women entrepreneurs as part of gender –sensitive economic policy addressing systemic barriers; opportunities of the crisis Role of government and new actors – market institutions (chambers of commerce but also banks and financial institutions, Patent Offices, Stock Exchanges) Muliti-stakeholder partnerships at national, regional and global levels Conclusions

  14. Thank you ewa.erz@orange.fr

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