WITH ♀ PROGRAM (2023-2027)

This project is presented within the framework of the Memorandum Of Understanding between “The United Nations Entity For Gender Equality And The Empowerment Of Women” and “BPW International”.

It corresponds to the phase 1 activity described in Annex 1 of the MoU. Creation of an ecosystem, including the creation of inclusive incubators where appropriate. To enable more women to become successful entrepreneurs in trade at the regional level and beyond, UN Women and BPW International propose to capitalise on multi-donor partnerships to offer specific support solutions, including incubation programmes, that focus on improving the export capacity of formal and informal service providers, with a particular focus on women’s micro, small and medium enterprises to support their participation in inclusive trade. In fact, the umbrella organisation for women entrepreneurs and managers worldwide, BPW International, has noted that the support offered to women entrepreneurs is often not optimal for them, as these activities are poorly adapted to their specific constraints. Women entrepreneurs are sometimes prevented from participating in business development programmes for a range of reasons. For example, the difficulty lies in the incubator support structures, which do not fully understand the specific needs of women entrepreneurs. In this sense, there is a need for more inclusive programmes, tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs and aimed at strengthening their capacity to launch and develop businesses. It’s time to get up to speed and act as a catalyst for women’s potential. This is a key point of synergy and complementarity between the strategies of BPW and UN Women.