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* Atleast Project Title is Required.
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Project No. |
GFPN 02 2011A
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Project Title |
Women's Micro-enterprise Trade Network Pilot Project
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Project Status |
Completed Project
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Publication (if any) |
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Fund Account |
APEC Support Fund
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Sub-fund |
ASF: General Fund
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Project Year |
2011
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Project Session |
Session 1
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APEC Funding |
100,000
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Co-funding Amount |
73,500
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Total Project Value |
173,500
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Sponsoring Forum |
Gender Focal Point Network (GFPN)
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Topics |
Gender
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Committee |
SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE)
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Other Fora Involved |
Not Applicable / Other
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Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved |
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Proposing Economy(ies) |
Chinese Taipei
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Co-Sponsoring Economies |
Canada; Peru; Viet Nam
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Expected Start Date |
20/04/2011
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Expected Completion Date |
31/12/2012
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Project Proponent Name 1 |
Ms. Pi-Hsia Huang (F)
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Job Title 1 |
Director / Gender Focal Point of Chinese Taipei
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Organization 1 |
Department of Social Affairs, Ministry of the Interior
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Postal Address 1 |
Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion and Development, 9F, No. 15, Sec. 1, Hangshou S. Rd., Shongzheng District, Taipei City 100
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Telephone 1 |
+886-2-23212100 ext. 127 Ms. Rene Wu
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Fax 1 |
886-2-23212120
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Email 1 |
rene@wrp.org.tw
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Project Proponent Name 2 |
Not Applicable
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Job Title 2 |
Not Applicable
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Organization 2 |
Not Applicable
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Postal Address 2 |
Not Applicable
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Telephone 2 |
Not Applicable
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Fax 2 |
Not Applicable
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Email 2 |
Not Applicable
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Declaration |
Pi-Hsia Huang
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Project Summary |
This proposed project examines how free and open markets work as economic integration occurs, and builds on previous work undertaken in Phases 1 to IV of the APEC Models for Supporting Women’s Micro-Enterprises Project to establish an innovative micro-enterprise trade network in the APEC region by exploring the building blocks that are crucial to a Free Trade Area. An APEC contribution of $100,000 US toward the total cost of $173,500 is requested to support the activities to develop, pilot and test the ability of micro-enterprises to aggregate, ship and export products. Starting in April 2011 to December 2011, 5 economies: Chinese Taipei, Peru, Chile, Vietnam and Canada will undertake 3 major activities to:
· Examine supply-chain connectivity issues by identifying and establishing
market access opportunities and solutions to facilitate product entry;
· Establish the coordination activity, links, supports and strategies for
integrating micro-enterprises approaches; and
· Undertake product matching for a selection of products to realize distribution
opportunities. Lessons learned highlighting a minimum of 4 case studies will report a narrative of the products/women that successfully launched new products, and the innovations and features that enabled it. |
Relevance |
· The statement from the 18th APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS’ MEETING, Yokohama, Japan “THE YOKOHAMA VISION – BOGOR AND BEYOND”, the Leaders stated ‘that the full potential of women to contribute to the regional economy remains untapped, and we will improve women’s access to finance, education, training, technology, and health systems by promoting entrepreneurship and greater leadership for women in business and government.
· In The Report on APEC’s 2010 Economies’ Progress Towards the Bogor Goals, it was stated that ‘Furthermore, based on the significant progress of the LAISR, APEC decided in 2010 to extend the range of the structural reform agenda and implement, under the leadership of Senior Officials, the “APEC New Strategy for Structural Reform (ANSSR)” which encompass the following areas: … labor market opportunities, training and education; sustained SME development and enhanced opportunities for women and for vulnerable populations;’. · In The APEC Leaders’ Growth Strategy, 14 November 2010, it was stated, ‘It is also crucial to improve the business environment for our small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), increase access to finance for the most vulnerable sectors such as microenterprises (MEs), and create sufficient opportunities for potentially disadvantaged and marginalized groups, including youth, elderly and women, through better education, training, and employment programs…Going forward, APEC will focus its efforts to promote inclusive growth in the following actions: · Promote job creation, human resource development, and active labor market policies. APEC economies will exchange ideas to improve the quality of education and to increase employment opportunities for women, youth, elderly workers, and vulnerable groups · Create new economic opportunities for women, elderly, and vulnerable groups. APEC economies will work to increase economic opportunities for women, elderly, and vulnerable populations through focused employment, enhanced business opportunities, training, skill development, and life-long learning opportunities. · APEC’s forward agenda in this area will make a practical contribution to achieving the MDGs. This will help to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and youth.
In the 22nd APEC Ministerial Meeting, Yokohama, Japan, 10-11, November 2010, Joint Statement under: Women’s Empowerment
‘We cannot achieve economic growth and prosperity without the full partnership and participation of women around the region. Enhancing women’s economic opportunities and entrepreneurship also spreads the benefits of growth more widely. In this regard, we welcomed the recommendations from the 8th Gender Focal Point Network Meeting, held in September in Ranzan, Japan. We welcomed the recommendations from the 15th APEC Women Leaders Network Meeting, held in September in Tokyo, Japan, consisting of three pillars: career development of women in organization, realization of women’s entrepreneurship, and creating new economic opportunities for women. · APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting, Gifu, Japan, 2-3 October 2010, Joint Ministerial Statement, ‘Strategy for Reinvigorating Economic Growth with Dual Engine: SME and Asia-Pacific Economy:
‘We noted the recommendations of the 8th GFPN Meeting and the 15th WLN Meeting that emphasised the need to include measures that … develop skills programmes for women entrepreneurs; foster networking opportunities; strengthen educational and vocational training programmes; and promote gender mainstreaming based on the recognition that women are important economic contributors.’
· The APEC Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit October 1, 2010 in Gifu, Japan,‘ We ask APEC Leaders to champion women’s participation in the workforce, in particular by promoting entrepreneurship, and greater leadership for women in business and government throughout the region.’…’Panelists emphasized networking is a key mechanism for companies to unite diverse views and meet market needs to build a virtuous cycle of innovation and business growth. …. Networking is important to enterprises of every size and can take the form of new business models or mentoring. They agreed the potential for building new networks throughout the Asia-Pacific region has never been greater.’ 15th Meeting of the APEC Women Leaders Network, Recommendations to APEC Leaders and Ministers, Tokyo, Japan, 9-21 September 2010, WLN recommended that Leaders, ‘Facilitate women’s access to corporate, government and international markets, and global value chains by creating awareness and providing training on procurement opportunities.’… ‘Recognize the role and talents of women, including indigenous women, in responding to the recent financial crisis and natural disasters, turning adversity into opportunity. |
Objectives |
This proposed pilot project addresses activities and supports essential to the furtherance of the goal of economic integration via free and open trade and investment. The project has 3 key objectives:
· Create a set of best practices to support export activities of women entrepreneurs by building the knowledge base women need to get their products to new export markets. This knowledge will help women to overcome market saturation in their local areas and highlight successful approaches necessary to identifying new market access opportunities in export and assist governments in understanding what needs to be done to support microenterprise export programs and develop their own programs.
· Create a case study of success stories of women (including those in indigenous, rural and remote areas), addressing the market entry obstacles, and market intelligence and skills gaps faced in developing new markets. This knowledge will help APEC economies to understand and augment government and NGOs supports for women trying to enter new markets. · Build on previous work in linking women producers by creating a network of women traders in order to identify and document innovations in creating market access opportunities to improve the environment for women-owned micro-enterprises. The results of this activity will support the APEC-wide goal to make it faster and easier to do business within APEC economies by 2015 in one of the five priority areas under the Ease of Doing Business Action Plan .
Women have built some capacity through their previous participation and work with their respective government(s) in building the Trade Network. Women will continue to learn from each other through their participation in the Network and, and continue to work with their respective governments to build capacity. The Women’s Trade Network and the businesses that participate are intended to become sustainable as businesses are linked to export activity and opportunities. |
Alignment |
The project supports all key objectives of the APEC Growth Strategy: · Inclusiveness: The project responds directly to APEC’s stated goal of providing all citizens with opportunities for growth. It has promoted “inclusiveness” as a goal since its inception by addressing the severe challenges faced by women (particularly rural, remote and indigenous) in getting market access for their products and micro-enterprises. It also matches inclusive growth strategy that the 8th GFPN meeting mentioned to provide SME assistance, human resource development, social safety net improvement, and creation of opportunities for women. · Sustainable and balanced growth, innovative Growth: The 15th WLN meeting addressed the importance to recognize the role and talents of women, including indigenous women. This project puts efforts on how can women micro-enterprise offer eco- friendly products for branding “green” trade and investment and how to make uniqueness of those products for sustainable operation. This project connects developing economies and developed economies to meet the balanced growth strategy of APEC. · Supply Chain Connectivity: This project gives participants the knowledge they need for growth by addressing investment, services, rules of origin, quality and standards that are driven by economic integration of activities. Facilitate women’s access to corporate, government and international markets, and global value chains by creating awareness and providing training on procurement opportunities.
In addition, the project supports the continual integration of women in the APEC process, as well as builds on and complements other GFPN activities such as the APEC Workshop on Microfinance and MicroCredit: Aim: Best Practices on Strategic Policy Development Workshop on Microenterprise Financing (3 – 6 August 2009, Singapore); the project “Public policies to promote women entrepreneurs” with a workshop held in May 2010 in Lima and the guidelines on public policies for supporting the access and increase of women’s participation in e-commerce; the objectives of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Summit 2010 and 2011. |
TILF/ASF Justification |
Virtually all APEC economies include rural and indigenous women who can be isolated for a variety of economic, geographic and cultural reasons as confirmed in previous research and projects undertaken by APEC in the GFPN, WLN and SMEWG. All economies, especially developing, are keen to support programs that will build the capacity of rural and indigenous peoples and integrate them into economic activities of their own economy but more importantly assist in creating trade opportunities resulting in real economic development, job creation and growth which also feeds back to community development at all levels. The focus of this project is on rural and indigenous women in developing economies: Chile, Peru and Vietnam as well as vulnerable rural and indigenous women in two developed economies: Canada and Chinese Taipei. Building on APEC Supply Movement Framework and Tools (Phase IV of Models for Supporting Women’s Micro-Enterprise Development), the project will continue to work with partners in each economy who are already engaged and/or have signed MOU’s in each of the economies. This ensures ‘buy-in’ and cooperation at the local level and encourages local investment (whether in time, resources or financially to the limit that they can afford) that contributes to the success of the project. The local partners in each developing economy provide the local knowledge, links and coordination essential to success. |
Beneficiaries and Outputs |
Since the project’s inception the knowledge gained (tools, criteria, best practices, and lessons learned) has been documented. The resulting model to support export activities of women entrepreneurs by building the knowledge base women need to get their products to new export markets is transferable across APEC economies. Reports have been distributed widely throughout APEC and are still available on the APEC Secretariat website.
The workshop results, and the case studies highlighting how women in a trade network developed solutions to address market access issues is of interest to micro-enterprise in all developing economies. Additionally, the linkages women make to new markets and buyers, and the knowledge of how this can be done has APEC-wide application, particularly in developing economies, disaster areas of developed economies which are trying to rebuild economies (most recently, Indonesia, Chile, Chinese Taipei and Japan) and remote regions of all economies.. Different beneficiaries can use the information and process:
· Other micro-enterprise owners in the APEC region looking for new markets can apply the information to develop their own network and database of products by using information, criteria and experiences from the project
· The model and framework for this project can inform GFPN focal points and participants as well as SME working group and trade working group participants
· Indigenous and rural women in micro-enterprise owners in the Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Chile, Peru and Canada can continue to develop partnerships
· Small NGO’s, can strengthen their process based on best practices proven in this project
· Project partners including governments trying to assist micro-enterprises by identifying viable and replicable approaches
· Corporate partners that want more Corporate Social Responsibility programs but do not have the experience working with the micro-enterprises
· APEC secretariat
· Human Resources Development Departments interested in skill development will understand the potential of the value chain in creating jobs.
· ABAC may be interested as the private sector champions of APEC to assist in promoting and developing the trade network through their own networks
· Much research has been done and many programs have been developed to address the challenges women exporters face, but little has been done to test and document how effective these programs are, if they work or why micro enterprises are still not growing into export markets when the desire, potential and opportunity clearly exists. |
Dissemination |
Dissemination of the Final Report case studies and lessons learned shall be disseminated according to APEC guidelines and to service providers for support programs for micro-enterprises from the public, private, civil society and academic sectors, as well as micro-enterprises with a strong interest in exporting their products. This will be done through the Women Leaders Network, the GFPN and through uploading the final documentation on the APEC Secretariat website. The form will be in compliance with APEC Guidelines. Internet up-loading, and hard copies will be in compliance with APEC regulations and guidelines as laid out in the APEC Guidelines on APEC Projects. Copies of the reports will be made available for all of the APEC stakeholders involved (approx. 5 stakeholders per economy including local partners, NGO’s government partners, women’s groups and individual participants), as well as for the APEC Secretariat, and the SME Working Group, WLN and GFPN.
Both the public sector and civil society organizations participating in each economy will help develop and implement a publicity campaign to help launch the information and CD’s as well as the links to the APEC website. This will include, but not be restricted to, press releases, demonstration workshops, an outreach campaign and the posting of the APEC website link where the report is published on their institutional websites. The Whiteduck Group, Lever Enterprises and partners would also make presentations about the project at the 2011 WLN Meeting in USA and provide a follow-up demonstration at the 2011 WLN Meeting in USA.
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The target audience for this information are: · Women’s organization working in trade · Government departments working with women in trade · Micro-enterprise forums · The WLN · Other civil society participants and trade organizations · Indigenous and rural communities · GFPN · Micro finance organizations
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There will be no sale of project outputs arising from this project. However, women who have been able to identify and develop a market opportunity as a result of the efforts in the proof of concept phase will retain the benefits made from the sale of any of their products. |
Gender |
This project is specifically focussed on women. However, the project does not distinguish between family involvement which often includes or can include men who assist with the operation of small enterprises. In addition the lessons learned and proof of concept can be applied to both women and men as a model for export. By focussing on the groups that have the greatest challenges, the experiences that are learned and developed can more easily be applied to those that are less challenged. The project will involve both male and female expertise in reaching out to women. |
Work Plan |
To address the common challenges practical solutions will be tested, documented and shared within the WLN, GFPN, WES and other relevant APEC fora. The pilot project will undertake 4 key activities:
(Activity 1)- Examine supply-chain connectivity issues by observing, documenting, and learning how women from APEC Vietnam, Chile, Chinese Taipei and Peru, can develop markets access opportunities in Canada and elsewhere. There are 2 steps involved.
· Facilitators will work with potential buyers in Canada to finalize a market order that will be made with micro-enterprises from developing economies. A database of producers and products completed in the previous phases and activity will be used. A preliminary list of potential products buyers from women identified during the last phase of this work requires additional planning and confirmation. A listing of the products of interest will be produced.
· Fact sheets on the import requirements in Canada will be provided to coordinators (already identified) in Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Peru and Chile. Initial export pricing lists will be obtained. Communication with coordinators will be ongoing, and the questions and on-going discussion around delivery of the products will help to identify the issues related to capacity and the knowledge base.
(Time-line: April - June 2011)
(Activity 2) - Establish coordination activity and links. Facilitators will travel to the
sites and undertake activities hat will include:
· Finalizing product assessments using previously developed and tested criteria from earlier phases, and developing a schedule of activity for product orders with the participating economies.
· Conducting a workshop with: facilitators and coordinators and women producers from each economy, including, NGOS, government representatives to provide information and assistance with pricing and other business challenges women may face on product assessment and address other challenges that women may have in product development such as pricing, export labelling, samples delivery.
(Time-line: July - September 2011)
(Activity 3) - Micro-enterprise and Product Matching: A selection of products will be matched for “distribution opportunities” in Canada using a listing of products identified in the previous phase with MOU partners including Peru, Vietnam, Chile and Chinese Taipei and the new information gathered and finalized in Activity 1 and 2. To complete this activity the Facilitators will work with micro-enterprise producers to address the gaps identified in previous phases. These include:
· Process for communication, standards and quality · Process for order aggregation · Process for order and delivery as follows: o Forms and Specification Requirements for Orders (practice by enterprise) o Confirm order by micro-enterprise (procedure used by enterprise)
o Organize Delivery of Product Order includes, packaging, payment procedures, shipping, handling, and other export requirements) ( enterprise) o Confirmation of Product Order Delivered (by buyer) The project on-the-ground coordinators from each economy will assist women to move through these stages. (Time-line: September - December 2011)
(Activity 4) Final Report - 4 Case Studies: Lessons Learned from the Women’s
Micro-enterprise Trade Network Pilot Project -a narrative of the products/women
that successfully launched new products in the market place, and the
innovations features that enabled it. (Time-Line: December 2011 to April 2012) ------------------------------
The following outputs will result from each of the activities to realize the project objectives. 1. To examine supply-chain connectivity issues the project will identify markets access opportunities in Canada and elsewhere , the following outputs will be: a. Project plan and schedule b. Participant contract agreement on deliverables \ c. Identification of the potential partners, distributors, and projects to link micro
-enterprise products to buyers. Outputs from this activity include 1) a product
order(s) (2) Market assessment of product label requirements (3) time schedule for
delivery (4) Package and label information. 2. Establish the coordination activity, links, supports and strategies for integrating
micro-enterprises approaches, including highlighting the jobs and skills
requirements associated with these tasks will produce these outputs: a. Agenda b. Workshop and meeting with participants to provide the knowledge they need for
growth by addressing investment, services, rules of origin, quality and standards
that are driven by economic integration of activities. c. Presentations from private sector trade houses, shipping companies, other
experts 3. Micro-enterprise and product matching will require these product outputs: a. Listing of products for buyers b. Update on initial product descriptions (in previous work) c. Price lists 4. Product specifications and export requirements a. A product order
b. Product order placement c. Confirmation of product(s) orders and following through the export/import
process d. Confirmation of product arrival
5. Final report
a. Case study – 5 to 7 page description on 4 products
b. Lessons Learned summary
c. Conclusions from practical exercise capable of being expanded to other
economies.
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Risks |
· Some partners may have different goals. This has been managed through the identification and negotiation process and by working with the core group of partners already identified which have indicated that they are interested in working collaboratively to support this project.
· Inclusion in the database already assembled, a large number of micro-enterprises that do not have the production capacity or quality of goods that could potentially be scaled up with program support and increased access to markets. This would be managed by ensuring that the selection criteria be applied as well as an in-depth understanding of what may be saleable in other markets and focusing on a select few micro-enterprises that either are or can be made export ready quickly in order to apply the proof of concept. · The increasing cost of oil may push up the distribution costs of products beyond a level at which they are marketable internationally and it is precisely this type of factor that the distribution analysis will be taking into account. The related assessment tools would be posted on the information website and be designed to assist micro-enterprises and related service providers make this kind of assessment. · Partner organizations may delay in providing support or payment to micro-enterprises in their home economies. This would be managed by asking each partner to sign a contribution agreement committing their organization to promote a minimum number of micro-enterprises in participating in a trade network and ensuring that proper administration is in order prior to working together. · Pricing of products may become too high to be competitive in another market. Pricing of labour intensive products can be out of synch with what the market will pay. While the team implementing the project intend to apply Fair Trade standards and also apply product criteria, it may mean that some micro-enterprises with good products will not be practical to export. However, they may still be affordable in a local trade network or to the domestic tourism market.
Strategies for Mitigating Risks
· Relationships have been built with partners who are familiar and knowledgeable with the Trading Network. Sufficient activity and preparation has been completed to undertake the activities identified during this phase.
· A step by step process is being used to engage women. Women are asked to deliver small orders as these are micro-enterprises with limited production capabilities. Project facilitators have prepared and educated potential buyers about the challenges, and if women are not able to deliver, the impact will be minimal. If women succeed, the potential will be huge.
· On-the-ground coordinators will assist with the coordination activity as women take these steps.
· The project is designed to address issues that have arisen and the procedures and confirmation activity is designed to deal with the potential delays.
· Establish a longer time period for project finalization leaving ample time to address issues that may arise. |
Monitoring and Evaluation |
Activity will be monitored as follows: To measure the project success, key design and delivery elements the project organization will be monitored and serve as indicators of success. This includes:
· Changes in the plan - the problem/challenge encountered and the action
taken.
· Partner agreements · Number of forms, procedures, and responses established and
implemented with women will be an indicator · Orders generated for products · Total product sales generated · Tracking the number of women attending sessions · Tracking the number of women helped with specific project activities · Evaluation forms provided by women
The Project Plan and Schedule will be the tool to guide the project. The project plan will monitor the activity progress and also serve as a monitoring tool to form part of the documentation of best practices.
These are the indicators of success:
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Project Organization |
· Contract deliverables on schedule · Feedback on results reported by participants from the sessions
· 4 sessions and record of attendance |
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Activity 1
Supply Chain Links |
· Minimum of 40 product assessments completed with women
· Minimum of10 women identifying and researching new niche or unique market |
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Activity 2
Coordination activity and links, supports and strategies |
· Minimum of 80 to 100 participants engaged · 5 Experts consulted
· Minimum of 15 women able to provide appropriate package labelling for orders |
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Activity 3
Micro-enterprise and product matching |
· Minimum of 12 markets developed · Minimum of 10 products potentially ready to ship · Minimum of 40 product profiles · Minimum of10 women providing price lists · Minimum of 12 Product orders completed · At least 30 Number of women assisted
· Export and sales achieved in Value of $10,000 |
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Activity 4
Product specifications and export requirements |
· Final report completed highlighting the success of 5 to 10 women detailing the experience at all stages as well as product details and export requirements, feedback and potential for future export. | |
Linkages |
This project cuts across several priorities as indicated above in section 1 (Relevance) of several APEC fora including the GFPN, the SME WG, WES and WLN. Other international fora such as the World Bank, IFC, and ITC are interested in the outcomes of this pilot and how it can be applied in other countries. While APEC is the focus for this project, all APEC economies can benefit internally by implementing and supporting programs that will apply the positive results of the concept of proof developed in this project.
Other Linkages to APEC include:
This project relates to the SMEWG Action Plan 2009-2012 by addressing 5 of the 6 priorities:
A. business environment - facilitating market access
B. building management capability and promoting entrepreneurship - by increasing opportunities for business owners to learn new skills and encouraging more startups
C. market access and internationalization - increasing access to information on market opportunities, enhancing market development and promotion skills and addressing barriers to full participation in trade
D. innovation - promoting innovation as a key advantage and educating and facilitating awareness for micro enterprises
F. raise awareness of sustainable business practices - empowering microentrprises to recognize the value of and taking advantage of business opportunities provided by sustainable business development and promoting sustainable business practices that will improve growth.
It also addressed the cross cutting theme of youth, women and minorities by supporting youth, women and minorities to start-up, develop and strengthen their own businesses and promotes the creation of entrepreneur networks for youth, women and minorities business owners.
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Due to the timing of the project, results of this phase will not be ready to present at the APEC SME Ministerial 2011 but it does address the issues that the US discussions will focus on including the sub-themes of Resolving Impediments to Increase SME Exports;
Finally the project supports the recommendation of the 15th Meeting of the APEC Women Leaders Network to APEC Leaders and Ministers, Tokyo, Japan, 19-21 September 2010 supporting the “Creation of New Global Economic Activities by Women-Realization through People, Nature and Culture.” It addresses WLN’s call upon APEC Leaders and Ministers to recognize women’s significant economic and trade contributions to the Asia Pacific region and promote dynamic and inclusive growth through implementing policy recommendations based on three pillars: Career Development of Women in Organizations; Realization of Women’s Entrepreneurship through People, Nature, and Culture; and, Creating New Economic Opportunities for Women, including creating enabling environments that promote the Women’s Empowerment Principles
Linkages to Other Fora
This project will contribute knowledge and build on current bilateral donor work. For example, The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Rural Enterprise Development Project aims to improve the enabling environment for Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in selected rural areas. Activities focus on building capacity of the Vietnam Women's Union and Vietnam Co-operative Alliance to establish and manage sustainable business development centres. Project objectives include fostering growth of rural micro/small enterprise, mainstreaming women in business, and furthering dialogue and policy promoting women and micro/small enterprises. Results as of May 2009 include: The business skills of owners and employees of 1,120 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in three rural provinces of Vietnam have increased. Entrepreneurs have improved their ability to plan their business, obtain finance and market their products. These skills are contributing to increased productivity and profitability for the enterprises, thereby increasing employment and incomes in their communities. The Women’s Micro-Enterprise Trade Network Pilot project can contribute knowledge and transfer practical application of the best practices developed in APEC to establish new market access opportunities women, particularly as we are working with the same partner.
The Women’s Micro-Enterprise Trade Network supported by APEC has focus on the strengthening women’s skill and enterprises and the lessons learned , best practices and case studies resulting from this effort is a model that can be promoted and shared with other multilateral organizations. An example is The ILO which is actively involved in promoting small enterprise development as a means of job creation and poverty reduction in Vietnam. It works closely with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on a wide range of small enterprise development strategies, including value chain upgrading, public private partnerships and business development service delivery. The ILO in Vietnam promotes women's economic empowerment and supports the implementation of the Gender Equality Law (2007) within the framework of the “One UN” approach. It has introduced a number of gender equality tools, including the training package on GET Ahead for Women in Enterprise, and provided training for many women and community leaders.
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This project builds on the findings, research and reports of the previous four phase project: Models for Supporting Women’s Micro Enterprise Development undertaken in conjunction with the SMEWG, WLN and the economies of Chile, Canada, Peru, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei since 2006. It also takes into consideration and builds upon the previous GFPN projects APEC Workshop on Microfinance and Micro Credit: Aim: Best Practices on Strategic Policy Development Workshop on Microenterprise Financing (3 – 6 August 2009, Singapore); the project “Public policies to promote women entrepreneurs” with a workshop held in May 2010 in Lima and the guidelines on public policies for supporting the access and increase of women’s participation in e-commerce; and previous research such as the ‘Supporting Women Exporters Report to APEC, 2004. There has been considerable research about challenges and barriers that women face with respect to micro enterprise development, and the effect of disasters on women, as well as support programs available to assist women, however, to date there has not been a real project which tests these challenges and barriers and attempts to implement a proof of concept based on work and attempting to export at the grass roots level. The project directly addresses Leaders concerns about the economic integration of women, indigenous and vulnerable people in the region.
This work builds on previous work.
Phase I (2006) : assessed program and policy support models for micro-enterprises owned by women and indigenous people through conducting an extensive review of existing programs (other than microfinance) to identify a set of best practices with regard to policy and program support for micro-enterprise development. This phase was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) with matching contributions from Whiteduck Resources, Kartini International and Lever Enterprises.
Phase II (2007): involved a consultative process to obtain feedback from women’s micro-enterprises about which of the best practices identified in Phase I would most effectively meet their needs. It also assessed the fundamental criteria that need to be in place to enable women’s micro-enterprises to become sustainable, to shift from domestic to international production or to become suppliers to larger-scale exporters within their own economies. These models also examined different stages of micro-enterprise development and ways to build on raw products and enhance their supply chain value within both the domestic and international economies. This phase was funded by Industry Canada with matching contributions from Whiteduck Resources, Kartini International and Lever Enterprises.
Phase III (2008/2009): focused on conducting feasibility studies to assess the support model identified in more depth. Additional consultative workshops, training sessions and site visits were held in three APEC economies (Chile, Canada and Vietnam), complemented by interviews with Trade Show participants, site visits, meetings with NGO’s, field missions, and presentations to the 2008 Women in Export and 2008 WLN meetings in Peru. Government institutions, civil society organizations, indigenous and rural women and the private sector collaborated in all four economies. The main findings of the workshops were consistent across both the developed and developing economies with rural and indigenous women, micro-enterprises and other stakeholders such as NGO’s and government agencies in all economies confirming that women’s micro-enterprises face multiple challenges related to the size and location of their businesses, the nature of their products, various types of gender discrimination, and the dual role of women as family providers and caregivers in most APEC economies. The consultations highlighted a particular need for programs that address these challenges in specific ways and which would:
· Result in actual trade activity and trading partnerships · Focus on assisting small producers in finding and accessing opportunities
to promote products through enhancing their position in the economic
value chain · Foster collaboration between the private and civil society sectors, with
the public sector or an NGO playing a critical facilitation role as a cross
-sector coordinator · Provide a continuum of services and training that take into account the
different stages of growth of micro-enterprises and the gender issues
involved · Recognize the need for and impact of networking · Facilitate product pooling at the local, regional, and economy-wide levels,
and provide access to product pooling venues · Increase access to expertise in product design, business development
advice and training, information on potential markets, market information
and new technologies, and product distribution · Provide legal and professional advice · Address intellectual property issues and their impact on indigenous
women · Make links with affordable credit programs.
The feasibility studies also confirmed that targeted supports for women-owned micro-enterprises need to meet minimum product, producer and program criteria. Through the consultations and feasibility studies, the research team developed and refined these criteria and formulated specific guidelines and recommendations for micro-enterprise support programs. The criteria, guidelines and recommendations constituted Phase III of this project and are the result of a careful review and analysis the key elements required to ensure a successful micro-enterprise development and support program. Phase III was supported by funding from the APEC Secretariat with contributions from Whiteduck Resources, Kartini International and Lever Enterprises. More than 450 copies of the report/guidelines were distributed and also posted online at the APEC website.
Phase IV (2009/2010): built upon the three previous phases to develop the supports and provide training in APEC economies where there are significant rural and indigenous populations and women’s micro-enterprises. By closely implementing the assessment component of the guidelines, and criteria, and through building partnerships among the public and private sectors, civil society, indigenous communities and academic institutions, the project has prepared enterprises to overcome barriers and access opportunities as women learned skills to facilitate business activity and address the barriers to access markets. The outcomes of this phase are training, and lessons knowledge lessons learned summarized in a final report to assist women’s access new markets. The results are available to APEC for a. Most importantly, the challenges facing small micro-enterprises in getting products to buyers were identified and included: Cost of samples, banking and money transfer issues, communication, language barriers, and product gaps in knowledge of product order processes, and delivery.
The outcome of each of these phases has prepared women to participate in a micro-enterprise trading network, but more training and practice is necessary for to achieve success to deliver products to buyers. The model’s utility will be an innovation created in APEC that can be transferred to other economies inside and outside APEC as the final phase proves its feasibility through actual application, and the realization of sales for women. The networks of business organizations, participants and relationships established through the annual meetings of the WLN since 1996 have created a valuable network to assist with product distribution.
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. APEC is the best source of funds for this project for the following reasons:
. APEC is about trade and economic integration
. APEC members include the three largest economies in the world
. APEC has includes both developed and developing economies
. All APEC economies have rural and indigenous populations
. The APEC Bogor Goals set out targets for free and open trade among all economies
by 2020
. Indigenous peoples are the largest landholders in the world
. The developing economies of APEC are supporting this project with some matching
funds as well as contributions in time, resources and capabilities.
. The outcomes can be applied to all APEC economies
. Various APEC Ministerial, Leaders and other statements have repeatedly recognized
the importance of supporting women and economic and entrepreneurial
development
APEC has supported the previous phases of this project and enabled it to get to this
stage of development, this stage is necessary to apply and prove everything that
has been done before and to test the concept to make it a practical realty
Nobody else is doing this. |
Sustainability |
The results of the project and success of women will be profiled. Both the case studies and project success and the Trade Network will be promoted at the WLN and other conferences including UN Women’s Conferences on women’s empowerment, and WLN website. Links to other women’s organizations will be made with the objective to highlight the work of women in their economy. It is expected that women micro-enterprise owners in their respective economies will work with their government officials, partners and NGOs to continue to develop trade opportunities with their partnership. The skills, and models used in this project will demonstrate micro-enterprise success and opportunities and how to create success for others. The Facilitators will continue to match women to interested buyers. Women will develop their own Networks respectively in their own economies apply the framework and models identified, the tools and best practices developed over the course of this project to support export activities. Going forward, as each economy hosts APEC and continues to promote trade and export, trade missions and trade fairs, particularly those focussed on women, there will be the opportunity for these and more microenterprises to participate and be highlighted. Findings and outcomes of this project will provide strong practical information to APEC governments as to how to actually help microenterprises succeed and export built on actually following every step of the process thereby enabling them to identify their own weaknesses and opportunities in supporting microenterprise development and export. While NGO’s often have an important role to play in this process as facilitators, governments have a more important role to play by understanding the key issues and not inadvertently creating barriers or increased costs.
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Participating economies in the project will provide support and carry out other activity and measures as they deem to be appropriate. The contractors will be available and maintain links in the Canadian economy, providing support and linkages for micro-enterprise owner who have made in-roads with market opportunities .
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Next steps will be the on-going development of market linkages. It is anticipated sales opportunities will have resulted from this phase of the project. To build on these outcomes, the Trade Network and benefits should be promoted with other women invited to participate and make their projects known. By this time at least two of the economies, possibly 3 will have built profiles and databases of some of the women-owned micro-enterprises. There is potential for these economies to continue working with buyers.
The original APEC-funded project started with the goal of assisting women micro-enterprises to access markets, to improve their income potential, leading toward self-sustainability. This final proof of concept phase begins the process and it will be up to the participating economies to invest in their women for further start-ups and opportunities. Contractors/facilitators will continue to establish linkages with women in Canada and other communities seeking products for their distribution. Other economies can become involved if they are willing to provide support and resources within their own economies to broaden the network and engage their own micro enterprises. There has been significant interest in other economies to do this. |
Project Overseers |
PI-HSIA HUANG, Project Overseer
Ms. Pi-Hsia Huang has been the director of Department of Social Affairs from Ministry of the Interior since 2009. She is also the Gender Focal Point of Chinese Taipei and has participated in APEC Gender Focal Point Network meeting in 2009 and 2010. Ms. Huang will be the main coordinator, facilitator and supervisor of this project and focus on reaching and communicating with regard to cross-departmental issues. She has focused on the fields of women welfare, children protection, anti-poverty, immigration and long-term care for more than twenty years and stood for rights of vulnerable groups. She puts all the attention on promoting women’s rights and serves as the bridge between different government agencies regarding to gender mainstreaming. She was the deputy director-general of National Immigration Agency in 2008. Before that, she was the director of Child Welfare Bureau from 2002 to 2008.
FRANCINE WHITEDUCK, Whiteduck Resources
Francine is founder of Whiteduck Resources Inc, a research and evaluation firm that has worked with Aboriginal communities across Canada, and with numerous indigenous organizations. Francine has worked with the Women Leaders Network focusing on the needs of Indigenous women in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and is currently working on an international trade initiative to connect international indigenous women with a focus on the value chain to increase women’s participation in trade opportunities in import and export distribution. She has developed community-based businesses, and is a keen supporter and promoter of small business development.
ANDRINA LEVER, Lever Enterprises
Andrina is the founder of Lever Enterprises a Canadian-based consulting firm specializing in international trade. A Barrister and Solicitor by profession, she has worked in more than 60 countries in assisting with developing trade policies, advising governments on trade policies and developing and training women in export. Her work has been recognized internationally with awards, she is widely published and her experience with APEC is extensive. She was a co-founder of the WLN in 1996 and is a previous Chair and focal point. From 1998-2007, she represented Canada on the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) where she chaired the SME Task Force, the Disaster Response Task Force and represented ABAC to the SMEWG and MM and both Women’s Ministerial Meetings. Mrs. Lever also acts as in-house legal counsel and chief of global development for her family company which is a substantial import and distribution business with 45 franchise operations and 1500 client retail outlets. |
Cost Efficiency |
The project offers value for money by pairing facilitators (contract personnel) who are positioned as on-the-ground linkages in Canada to women micro-enterprise owners from emerging economies. The cost associated with doing this activity would likely be ten-fold or more if APEC had to cover the entire costs. This brings a significant value to the process.
In addition to this added value, efficiency is realized because work being done with rural women in Canada is integrated into this process, with supports from the private, volunteer and public sector. This activity provides a benefit that women from the emerging economies would not be able to access on their own or as robustly if they APEC had to underwrite these activities alone. |
Drawdown Timetable |
|
Direct Labour |
APEC Budget
Professional Fees (APEC Funded)
|
Activity |
Canada |
Chile |
Peru |
Vietnam |
Chinese Taipei |
Total |
|
Project Organization |
32 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
128 |
|
Activity 1:
Connections with buyers, product profiles, research pricing, imports information |
128 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
328 |
|
Activity 2:
preparation, training, expertise |
48 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
112 |
|
Packaging and product readiness |
80 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
176 |
|
Activity 3:
Product matching |
96 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
192 |
|
Activity 4:
Order confirmation test and final report |
80 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
240 |
|
Total Hours |
464 |
186 |
186 |
186 |
186 |
1,208 |
|
Rates |
$80 |
$300 |
$300 |
$300 |
$300 |
|
|
Total |
$37,120 |
$6,975 |
$6,975 |
$6,975 |
$6,975 |
$65,020 |
Professional Fees (Self Funded)
|
Activity |
Canada |
Chile |
Peru |
Vietnam |
Chinese Taipei |
Total |
|
Project Organization |
22 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
38 |
|
Activity 1:
connections, product profiles |
32 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
72 |
|
Activity 2:
preparation, training, expertise |
16 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
44 |
|
Packaging and product readiness |
24 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
52 |
|
Activity 3:
Product matching |
32 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
64 |
|
Activity 4:
Order confirmation test and final report |
24 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
52 |
|
Total Hours |
150 |
46.5 |
46.5 |
46.5 |
46.5 |
336 |
|
Rates |
$80 |
$37.5 |
$37.5 |
$37.5 |
$37.5 |
|
|
Total |
$12,000 |
$1,743.75 |
$1,743.75 |
$1,743.75 |
$1,743.75 |
$18,975 | |
Waivers |
The project overseer requests a waiver from tendering requirements as this project is the continuation of a previously funded APEC funded project and it is necessary for the successful implementation and completion of this phase that the original contractors remain in place. As they have already produced the previous reports, this team shall consist of Francine Whiteduck of Whiteduck Resources and Andrina Lever of Lever Enterprises.
· To achieve the objective of establishing a network, the contractors have trained and built a network of potential women distributors and identified businesses interested in working with women from developing economies to get their product into the Canadian market. The contractors have facilitated efforts, training, and investment to support the activities that will benefit micro-enterprises of women in the developing economies. Their continuing role in meeting the objectives will be critical to the achieving the objectives, the conclusion of this project, and the on-going establishment of the trade network. This project is directly built on the knowledge and innovative tools developed by Whiteduck Resources, the lead agency for this three-firm consortium and the project requires considerable knowledge of the tools developed in the guidelines as well as of conditions affecting micro-enterprises women owners and by rural indigenous women and peoples.
· The Whiteduck Resources team (Whiteduck Group) has extensive experience and unique knowledge of the partners as a result of their previous work and are in a position to immediately continue with this phase without any lost time to establish local support and partners. They have identified the potential links to buyers in Canada and have built the trust and credibility necessary to complete the project, and bringing in new players would distrupt this process, significantly.
· The members of the Whiteduck Group have invested a considerable amount of their own time and funds developing the partnerships and relationships required to implement this project effectively.
· The partners in the target economies have developed a trust relationship with the Whiteduck Group and expressed considerable willingness to collaborate with them on this project. Much of the success of the project is dependent on the personal relationships developed during the first three phases as well as through the WLN.
· The bidding process for Phase III of the Models for Supporting Women’s Micro-Enterprise Development: Best Practices and Guidelines Assessment and Recommendations project took considerable time to oversee which led to a delay in the project’s implementation. The RFP also only generated two bids, one of which was from Whiteduck Resources, with the other from a firm whose proposal did not demonstrate the relevant experience or a good understanding of the work required. This follow-up project requires an even more specialized knowledge of the issues facing micro-enterprises owned by women and indigenous peoples in APEC economies and there is little probability that a bidding process will identify another group with the same depth of experience in this area or which has gained the same degree of confidence with all of the proposed partners. Considerable momentum has built up among the proposed partners in Peru, Chile Canada and Vietnam based on the results from the Models project and the delay caused by a bidding process could slow down and possibly this process.
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Are there any supporting document attached? |
No
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Attachments
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