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Micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have the unique potential to provide both #livelihoods and a pathway to business growth. Women are active players in this space – they own a third of all small, medium, and large enterprises, are likely to employ more women in their enterprises than male peers, and are likely to significantly contribute to employment worldwide. 🏢 Despite this, women-owned and -led enterprise growth is challenged by structural and gendered barriers. 🚧 Published in 2023, this multi-country study by UN Women and Value For Women Ltd. highlights the role that Business Development Services (BDS) is playing, and has the potential to play in helping women-led microenterprises overcoming key challenges, and increasing their growth. 📈 Look out for the voices and lived experiences of women micro-entrepreneurs and key stakeholders from #China, #Indonesia, #Rwanda, #Thailand, and #Uganda!🇨🇳🇮🇩🇷🇼🇹🇭🇺🇬 In our study you’ll find: 🔹Three priority areas where BDS can support women’s entrepreneurship 🔹Challenges faced by women-led MSMEs in the five countries we studied, and solutions that can enhance women’s access 🔹Barriers to utilizing BDS for growth 🔹A practical framework for action, capturing core design principles of BDS to address gender constraints This study is a part of UN Women and Ant Foundation’s Together Digital Programme. Read the entire report here: https://lnkd.in/dP6eKeeN Estefania Grijalva Liu Di Pertiwi Triwidiahening Gao Tao Xiaerbati Daositeke Birat Lekhak Dr. Seema Bhatia - Panthaki Mara Bolis Trina Roy Luis Marquez Shoshana Grossman-Crist Gerardo Mejía Enciso Rebecca Fries Aparajita Agrawal #MSMEs #genderinclusion #genderlens #womenentrepreneurs #businessuccess #framework

The #MSMEs sector is one of the largest sources of livelihoods, business ownership, innovation, and capital growth for women. However, women face #structural barriers when participating in this sector. Trina Roy, Luis Marquez, and I looked at business development services, or BDS, as key means to address challenges to women's to access to capital, markets, and digital solutions in 5 countries: #China #Indonesia #Thailand #Rwanda and #Uganda. The report contains a practical toolkit to support women in seeking livelihoods and growing their businesses through BDS provisioning. If you have been applying any of these practices in your programmes, please share your experiences here. https://lnkd.in/dkvfnBmH #UNWOMEN Value For Women Ltd.

❓💰What is the investment gender gap? The investment gender gap refers to the disparity between male and female entrepreneurs in terms of access to investment opportunities and funding. 📈Closing the gender investment gap is vital. Efforts like the FEM-UP project aim to close this gap by empowering young women through education, entrepreneurship support, and promoting innovation.💪 #FEMUp #InvestmentGenderGap #Femaleentrepreneurship #STEMSkills #Erasmus+

🌟 Empowering Women in Pakistan: A Journey of Progress and Possibility 🌟 In Pakistan, the narrative of women empowerment is evolving with inspiring momentum. From breaking barriers in education and entrepreneurship to making strides in politics and STEM, Pakistani women are showcasing resilience, talent, and leadership. 🎓 Education: Education is a powerful catalyst for change. Initiatives like the Malala Fund and various local scholarships are ensuring that more girls have access to quality education, paving the way for an empowered future generation. 💼 Entrepreneurship: Women-led startups and enterprises are thriving. Platforms like SheMeansBusiness by Facebook and various incubators are providing the necessary support, mentorship, and resources for women to turn their innovative ideas into successful businesses. 🏛️ Politics: Women in politics are making significant contributions, advocating for policies that support gender equality and social justice. The increasing representation of women in government is a testament to their growing influence and determination to drive change. 🔬 STEM: Pakistani women are excelling in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Initiatives such as CodeGirls and WomenInTechPK are crucial in providing opportunities and breaking the glass ceiling in these traditionally male-dominated fields. 🌍 Community Support: Grassroots movements and NGOs are playing a vital role in empowering women at the community level. Organizations like Aurat Foundation and UN Women Pakistan are working tirelessly to address issues such as gender-based violence, legal rights, and economic empowerment. 🚀 The Road Ahead: The journey towards gender equality is ongoing, but the progress is undeniable. Every step taken by these trailblazing women and supportive allies brings us closer to a future where every woman in Pakistan has the freedom and opportunity to pursue her dreams. Let's celebrate these achievements and continue to support and uplift each other. Together, we can build a more equitable and empowered Pakistan. #WomenEmpowerment #Pakistan #GenderEquality #WomenInLeadership #STEM #Education #Entrepreneurship #CommunitySupport #Progress #Inspiration

The latest edition of The Gender Index report provides an in-depth analysis of female entrepreneurship across the UK, highlighting trends and challenges. This year's report covers over 8.8 million officers from nearly five million active companies, focusing on access to investment capital, import/export activity, and ethnic minority-led companies. Key insights include: ☑️Increased representation of women in technical and professional roles. ☑️Persistent gaps in economic participation and political empowerment. ☑️Notable improvements in educational attainment and health survival rates. Check out the full report to explore these trends and see how they can shape future policies and business strategies for a more gender-inclusive economy. 📊 Read more: https://lnkd.in/etZbDeGR #GenderIndex2024 #GenderEquality #FemaleEntrepreneurship #EconomicParticipation

GENDER MAKES BUSINESS SENSE Gender considerations do improve businesses because when women are empowered, businesses in Africa will grow. If businesses grow, there will be more job positions available. Africa is the only region in the world where more women (58%) than men (42%) become entrepreneurs. Still, the typical male-owned firm has over six times the capital investment of female-owned enterprises. Most women-owned businesses stay stuck at micro-level. Women-owned small and medium companies represent a third (30%) of all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on the African continent and because of this, women are a source of untapped economic potential. That is why African companies should care about addressing gender constraints in entrepreneurship and apply a “gender lens” to analyse and address existing constraints and barriers. African Companies should learn about doing business differently and change from doing "business as usual" to achieve transformative change for entrepreneurs and their communities. Source: Le Monde/World Bank (2018): “Female Entrepreneurs: the Future of the African Continent" #GenderEquality #BusinessCaseForGender #WomenInBusiness #EqualOpportunities #WomenLeadership #EmpowerWomen #EqualityForAll #BreakTheGlassCeiling #WomenEmpowerment #EqualityInBusiness

If you educate a woman, you educate a nation. The empowerment of women across the world has become the accurate strategy for national growth. Empowerment According to the Cambridge dictionary is" the process of gaining freedom and power to do what you want or to control what happens to you".The empowerment of Muslim women is the path to a successful nation and the role of Muslim women can not be overemphasized. One important way in which Muslim women can make a global impact is through empowerment. Few women are duly represented in all ways but empowerment of many could lead to a great achievement. There are several ways Muslim women can be empowered. It includes education, training, and social interaction. Significance of empowering Muslim women towards a global impact. Over the years, there has been the old belief that Muslim women do not have access to work, interact, and network. Surah Al-Nisa verse 3 Allah says "For men is what they have earned. Likewise for women is that they have earned".This is contrary to different practices of ethnic groups around the world. The significance of empowering Muslim women includes: A. ROLE MODEL: Most Muslim women will be a great mirror and role model to the female youth of Islam. Few women who found themselves empowered have been role models to lead young Muslims and impact wisely. B.SUSTAINABLE COUNTRY: The empowerment of Muslim women in trading, farming, technology, and business will boost the country's economic growth and it will give opportunity for all citizens to participate in the development of the country including Muslim women. C. CONFIDENCE: The empowerment of women will build confidence in their ways and the country at large. Women's confidence will be impacted globally and women will see the world as an equal center and place that accommodates them without segregation. The empowerment of Muslim women will impact globally. Training a woman is equal to training a whole country. With women now representing 40 percent of the global labor force and more than half the world's university students, overall productivity will increase if their skills and talents are used more fully. Discrimination should not be stopped from their education, business ideas, and improving skills are ways Muslim women can impact globally. #itsday14ofmywritingchallenge #globalimpact #muslimwomenladiesandgirls

Women make up nearly half of the global population, yet they hold only a small percentage of power and influence in key sectors. Despite efforts like the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women, progress toward true gender equity has been slow and, in some cases, has even regressed. Data reveals that while women’s representation in leadership has increased, it remains far from equal. Only 26% of elected officials are women, and in influential industries like finance and energy, women hold less than 10% of leadership roles. Even in sectors where women are the majority, like healthcare and education, significant pay gaps persist. The economic impact of excluding women from leadership is profound. Limiting women's access to capital, education, and resources stifles innovation and economic growth. In countries like Pakistan, women face systemic barriers to entrepreneurship, but programs like CARE’s Ignite Program are working to change that by providing capital and support to women-owned businesses. True equity will only be achieved when the long-standing policies that suppress women’s economic and social progress are dismantled. How can we further support the advancement of women in leadership and entrepreneurship? #WomensEquality #EconomicGrowth #GenderEquity #WomenInLeadership #WomenInBusiness #InclusiveGrowth

Women Entrepreneurship in Africa Women in Africa are rewriting the narrative of business ownership on the continent. A staggering 25% of businesses in Africa are either launched or led by women, dwarfing the 5.7% observed in Europe. This upsurge in female entrepreneurship makes Africa a global leader in this arena, according to Toni Weis, a financial specialist at the World Bank’s Gender Innovation Lab. “When it comes to entrepreneurship,” says Weis, “Africa stands out on the global stage. It’s the only region with gender parity in self-employment and entrepreneurship, which is quite remarkable, especially compared to neighboring regions like the Middle East and North Africa.” view full article here: https://lnkd.in/diZGz9Xx

I strongly believe that genuine inclusion of women in the workforce in Pakistan is the need of the hour to counter economic challenges that the country is facing. At an organization level, a simple endeavor as day care facility on premises will encourage women to pursue their careers. Global data says many women stop working, especially after having two kids. These are not unimaginable achievements. The policy recommendations and the benefits are enormous for a country like Pakistan where there is so much untapped potential. The country has to get out of crisis, and women’s participation in the workforce is one of the best ways to do it. https://lnkd.in/danPU7Df