E-COMMERCE FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND TRAINING BY THE GENDER NETWORKING ACADEMY

1. E-COMMERCE FOR AFRICAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND TRAINING BY THE GENDER NETWORKING ACADEMY ASAFE EXPERIENCE Presented by Gisèle YITAMBEN

2. BENEFICIARIES OF ASAFE’S PROGRAMMES • Women entrepreneurs engaged in: • Textile • Handicraft • Agro-processing • Services • Cross border trade • Manufacturing • Young degree holders or not, in research of employment.

3. E-COMMERCE FOR AFRICAN WOMEN Why ASAFE engaged in E-commerce • Evolution of the activities of beneficiaries • Turn over • Geographical expansion • Necessary evolution and adaptation of ASAFE with regard of women entrepreneurs and the environment

4. ASAFE before ITC Support services Export promotion Translation micro Enterprise Income generating activities ASAFE Support activities for members. Micro credit program Enterprise Incubator Information and Training

5. ASAFE AND THE USE OF ITCs Community Cyber café Exportation via Internet E-business Translation Income generating activities ASAFE Internet and ITC Trainings Support activities to members Market research Communication and Information Micro Credit Computerization

6. Physical Infrastructure

7. Wireless link ASAFECommunity Cyber Café 8 km 40 PCs 20 PCs 20 PCs 20 PCs ASAFE’s CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS

8. STRATEGIC PARTNERS • NID ( Networked Intelligence for Dev’t) • Experience with ITC • Diaspora-Africa Cooperation • Good knowledge of the African terrain • Commitment to support the African continent • Residence in North America which has helped to make ASAFE known in the area • Mentor • ITC (International Trade Center) • United Nations structure specialised in International Trade • Shift of ITC Policy, to work with civil society organization • ITC willing to work in synergy with ITU and ASAFE ASAFE • ITU (International Telecommunication Union) • United Nations structure specialised in telecommunication • Interest in gender and ITC • ITU helped Camtel (National Provider of Internet) adopt wireless technology • Technical and financial support to ASAFE Other Financial and Technical Partners Chell.com PNUD Japanese Government Private entrepreneurs

9. GENDER NETWORKING ACADEMY • Active approach for the promotion of women • Develop value added and remunerative jobs for women in ITC • Concern to see women move from traditional to more lucrative jobs • Necessity to put in place new training programmes for the existing demand (networking, word processing, trouble shooting, webmastering etc.)

10. NID • Technical support to implement dialogue between ASAFE and government organizations • Awareness raising of the government • Datamation • South-South cooperation • Shared vision • Exchanged visit • Coaching • Internship • CISCO • Web based educational content, online testing, student performance tracking, and instructor training and support, as well as hands-on labs • Participation of Cameroonian trainees to a global net work • Important job opportunities • UNDP • Training of trainers • Equipment ASAFE Others