Supporting the Integration of Women in MENA Economies, MENA-OECD Women s Business Network Conference Tunis, March 29, 2010 Lois Stevenson, IDRC

Transcription

1 Supporting the Integration of Women in MENA Economies, MENA-OECD Women s Business Network Conference Tunis, March 29, 2010 Lois Stevenson, IDRC

2 Economic independence is a requisite for individual freedom Business ownership as a vehicle for achieving this Improve opportunities for women to have their own businesses Result: greater personal, economic and societal empowerment

3 Political environment entrepreneurial activity more legitimized in market-led economies Size/role of government inverse relationship with entrepreneurship levels Level of economic development inverse relationship with self-employment levels (more women entrepreneurs in developing countries not true in MENA - but can t grow) Policy imperative in developed countries should be to encourage higher start-up rates (motivation, skills) Policy imperative in developing countries should be to create conditions for stronger start-ups; more favorable environment for women to grow their firms (opportunities and skills)

4 Legal environment women s access to property and economic resources Social attitudes towards women s role in society - women have more access to resources in countries that accord equal status to men and women Motivations necessity versus opportunity motives Government support women s entrepreneurship stronger when targeted policy and program measures exist Advocacy efforts of women support highest where this exists! Caution in transferring good practices context specificity

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6 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% AG SD MA TN TR LE EG YE SY IQ WB&G JO Male share of labor force Female participation rates Female share of labor force Male participation rates

7 % of total employment 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% SD MA TR TN YE EG LE WB&G IQ JO AG SY Female share of employment Male share of employment

8 Share of total employment 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% SD LE SY MA AG WB&G TR YE TN EG JO Male self-employment rate Female self-employment rate Male employer rate Female employer rate

9 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% EG AG SD TN TR WB&G MA LE YE SY JO Women's share of total self-employed Women's share of own-account self-employed Women's share of employers

10 % of adult population (M-F) % of entrepreneurial activity Rate of female entrepreneurial activity ranges from ~ 19% in YE to 2.4% in TR Male TEA rate 3-4 times higher than female rate in WB&G, SY, EG and TR; 1.5% in AG, MA and YE Women s share of TEA ranges from 35% to around 20% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% YE AG MA LE EG TN JO WB&G SY TR Female TEA rate Male TEA rate Female share of early-stage entrepreneurial activity 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Source: 2009 GEM-MENA APS Source: GEM APS 2008, 2009

11 Reduce unemployment rate of women Absorb increasing number of women expected to enter the labour market in the future Remove discriminatory hiring practices in private sector - make private sector employment more attractive (labour laws, incentives) Ensure women s property and credit rights Promote entrepreneurship and MSME development as an option

12 Limited data and research on women entrepreneurs and their enterprises No evident national policy frameworks for WED Some have targets for increasing women s participation as SME owners in SME policy (e.g. Egypt) Limited access to entrepreneurship training Low use/availability of BDS few women s business development centres/incubation facilities use mostly personal networks for advice, more so than men Low use of external financing mostly microenterprises, low growth potential Many women business associations, but generally small reach and weak capacity Few promoted female entrepreneurs as role models

13 Implement assessment-based policy framework for WED Promote the inclusion of women in MSE and entrepreneurial activity + role models Remove legal and regulatory barriers to women s participation Improve access to non-financial & financial MSE support & services Enhance access to MSE information through initiatives targeting women Enhance women s entrepreneurial skills through education & training Help women access markets Re-assess loan procedures at credit lending institutions & remove gender biases Build gender-sensitive capacity of MSE support providers and organizations Implement data/research program and studies to evaluate impact of programs and measures Develop forums for the exchange of good practice initiatives

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15 Integrated support for women s entrepreneurship good practice countries Government Office champion Legislative action Advocacy efforts Policy framework Research, data & status reports Women s Enterprise Centers Mentoring, counseling initiatives Stimulate higher startup and growth rates among women Promotion Women s online business resources Financing Networks & associations for women Gender sensitivity of mainstream support organizations Procurement set-asides

16 STRATEGIES FOR WED THE AfDB/ILO INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK: Growing Women s Enterprises Remove barriers to start-up & growth Improve access to markets Improve access to resources Strengthen social inclusion Foster supportive culture & climate 1. Policy leadership & coordination Situation Analysis 5. Access to credit & financial services 6. Access to BDS & info 2. Regulatory & legal 7. Focused networks 3. Promotion of women entrepreneurs 4. Access to enterprise education & training 10. Research 9. Access to markets 8. Access to premises Conducted within context of MSME policy framework and creation of a favourable environment for all MSEs Policies for WED Program support for WED Evaluate actions; share good practices OUTCOMES - Stronger start-ups - More growth enterprises - Poverty reduction - Social inclusion - Employment growth - Economic growth

17 AU CA ES DK FI IE IS NL NO SE TW UK US WE Policy FW ? 3 3 WE advisory network Advocacy office Promotion WECs, counseling WE training Micro-loans, VC ? 3 WEAs and networks Women s Website ? 1 3 Trade missions Procurement Research, data