"A year after the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, women in
most countries continue to suffer hardships due to the double burden of
their reproductive and productive roles," says Fannette Modek, director of
The Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center (MCTC) in Haifa,
Israel. "At Beijing, many governments pledged to take positive action, in
order to facilitate 'women's equal access to credit and capital on
appropriate terms equal to those of men, through the scaling-up of
institutions dedicated to promoting women's entrepreneurship.' Here at
MCTC, our training programs are designed to promote women's involvement in
the process of development. Thus we considered it appropriate to convene
our 20th International Symposium on the theme Economic Development,
Entrepreneurship and Gender."
The symposium took place from October 20th to 25th, 1996 and was conducted
in English, with simultaneous translation into Spanish and French.
Participants included 44 women and two men from 31 countries of Asia,
Africa, Europe and Latin America. All are active in public life, holding
policy-making positions in governmental or non-governmental organizations,
or in international agencies involved in economic development.
The objectives of the symposium were to analyze the contribution of
entrepreneurship to economic development and to identify the factors that
hinder or enhance the success of women's entrepreneurial activities, to
examine government policies, as well as programs of international agencies
and NGOs which bear on gender parity for economic development, and to
identify ways in which NGOs can influence government policies and
strategies for promoting gender equality in economic life.
The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Avishay Braverman, President of the
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheva. Referring to the basic
economic models of centrally planned, government-controlled economies and
laissez-faire market economies, he pointed out that both have led to
poverty and environmental deterioration. "We must compete," he said, "but
we must also cooperate. We refer to this as 'coopetition.' The formula for
success consists of the creation of a literate workforce, together with
motivated, quality labor and management."
The symposium lecturers representing regional and international agencies
outlined their organizations' policies and programs with gender-sensitive
focus. All admitted the need for a "gender mainstreaming" approach, as well
as specific programs for women.
Gloria Almeyda, Consultant, Women Micro-Enterprise, of the Interamerican
Development Bank (IDB), discussed sources of credit and the role of NGOs
vis-a-vis financial services, in relation to poverty and entrepreneurship
development. "One part of our Women in Development program is called Gender
on the Agenda," she explained. "This stands for bringing the issue of
gender equality into the mainstream of public debate and strengthening the
voices of women in public-decision making. Although women are very active
in NGOs and even in political parties, all too often they are absent from
the realms of power. Improving the participation of women has three
dimensions: First, women as beneficiaries of the projects; second, women as
contributors; and third, women in decision-making. Rather than improving
women in comparison to man, we want both women and men to contribute to and
to benefit from this policy."
Luesette Simpson-Howell, Technical Cooperation Official of the Bureau for
Employers' Activities, International Labour Organization (ILO), spoke about
the ILO, the oldest of the specialized agencies of the United Nations.
Representatives of employers, workers and governments take part in
decision-making forums for industrial relations, training, working
conditions, social safety nets, workers' rights and other aspects of
employment policy, research and action.
Tezer Usulay De Groot, of the Unit for Integration of Women into Industrial
Development, UNIDO, reported on her organization's policy for the
integration of women into entrepreneurial activities. Assistance is
provided in the design and effective management of programs for creating a
supportive environment for entrepreneurs, as well as training in
specialized fields. Emphasis is put on promoting centralized support
services and the use of local expertise.
Networks are created to facilitate coordination and to ensure a flow of
information and exchange of experiences and views. Efforts are made to link
enterprises, institutions, policy and decision makers in both the public
and the private sector and also with other international development
organizations, in order to complement the activities rather than to
duplicate efforts.
MYRADA is an NGO in southern India involved in programs with the poor of
rural India. Director Dr. A. Fernandez reported on a program where groups
of villagers were encouraged to form loan societies. Although many of the
loans were used for consumption (e.g., for travel, household expenditures,
jewelry or even repaying money lenders) the repayment rate was extremely
high and the accumulated interest remained in the group. Neomi Leeran,
Coordinator of the Small Business Authority of Israel, discussed how the
SBAI assists entrepreneurs and small business owners through 69
professional centres throughout Israel.
Uri Scharf then talked about one of the first such centres, the Jerusalem
Business Development Centre (JBDC), of which he is director. The JBDC
supplies help in drawing up business plans, tackling problems of financing,
marketing, licensing, taxes and employment. It also helps the entrepreneurs
find local partners, investors, employees and service providers.
"The best tools for attracting women to the world of entrepreneurship and
business," said Mr. Scharf, "are symposia, workshops, courses and events
that offer prospective candidates an opportunity to meet with other women
who have already taken the 'big step' and are eager to share their personal
experiences, to consult with female professionals with whom they may speak
freely and openly and to discover that their 'dreams' are tangible goals
that can be attained by 'getting down to business.' If a woman can handle
the logistics of running a family with six or eight children, then she can
easily run a small business."
On a study visit to Karmiel, a development city in the northern Galilee
area of Israel, the group toured Think Industry! (Ta'asiyeda), an
educational program for Israeli pupils, designed to teach them the values
on which modern competitive industry is based. Then at MAOF Karmiel, they
heard how this Entrepreneurial Encouragement Centre has created 194
start-up businesses and spawned over 700 new jobs in the five years since
its establishment.
During a brief stop at Kibbutz Tsora, the group received explanations on
how the collective settlement utilized its natural setting, its
agricultural activities and human resources to develop microenterprises
aimed at the tourist market, several of which are managed by women.
The visit to Jerusalem included a meeting at the Knesset (Israel's
parliament), with Mrs. Yael Dayan, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on
the Status of Women, as well as a reception by Mrs. Reuma Weizman, wife of
Israeli President Mr. Ezer Weizman.
The next day, the participants visited Saphirim, a jewellery-making
enterprise on Kibbutz Revadim. There, gold and silvery jewellery is set
with iridescent, 2000-year-old glass fragments or semi-precious stones.
Managing Director Nadine Avrahami addressed the group, telling how she
began her career as a schoolteacher, then served as general manager of her
kibbutz. Four years ago, she was brought in to revive the jewellery
factory, which was failing. Today the business is a million-dollar export
operation and Ms. Avrahami was honored as Woman of the Year in Industry in
1996.
Dr. Francoise Mulfinger, Expert on Human Resources and Education Science of
the European Union, summed up the symposium by saying, "We learned that we
encounter many of the same phenomena in our different countries, but at the
same time, there is something to be learned from the unique experience in
each country. I believe that experience has more force than theory.
Although I noticed a certain fatigue in the face of poverty, conflict and
war, despite this, I saw a deep determination. This can have a reenergizing
effect, and a symposium like this can be a source of inspiration and
action."
Aminata M. Ndaye, Minister of Women, Children and the Family of Senegal,
add that today, everyone understands that investing in women is no longer a
luxu necessity for world development. During our discussions we spoke about
inves women's projects such as water, health, education and credit. Today
these sh priorities of both NGOs and also governmental organizations. And I
think that has been said here is in perfect harmony with the conclusions of
the Beijing conference."
"The most creative and effective way of working is to participate together
with other women," said Rosa Acosta, Coordinator of the Women's Department
of the Municipality of Rosario, Argentina. "Community life implies the need
to live up to new challenges, achieving maximum leadership, representation
and decision-making by women in all possible spheres, in order to
strengthen the exercise of full citizenship, and advance the process of
constructing a just and equal society. Only if the different social actors
are articulated, can reality be transformed. To me the sense of this
symposium is: "Feel completely, be yourself and create love, while
confronting life's challenges. Just as night follows day, we grow in order
to change, and to build together for all women."
Conclusions and Recommendations of the Symposium:
To governments, that:
- a favourable environment be created for women to progress in the area
of economic development and entrepreneurship
- women be assured equal access to existing training and educational
programs
- new training programs be organized, especially for women, with
emphasis on financial management, use of appropriate and new technology,
general professional advancement and assertivity/entrepreneurial
qualities
- gender focal points be created in all sections of government
and state bodies, for the purpose of an exchange of information and
coordination of action, e.g., simplification of the administrative
system pertaining to loan applications to banks; introducing flexibility
in procedures of lending institutions - criteria for guarantees, etc. As
pertaining to women, public information campaigns should be held, on the
roles of men and women in the economy, and these should be aimed at
creating more cooperative relationships, creating points of recourse for
women who feel they have been discriminated against, or for follow-up of
human rights legislation, especially innovative clauses intended to give
women greater choices
- the study of entrepreneurship be included in elementary school
curricula and girls' participation be made compulsory
- taxation be reduced on enterprises where women employees form at least
30% of the workforce
- a quota mechanism be set to assure gender parity in decision-making
positions in government bodies
- special attention be given to social security benefits for elderly
women, who often remain with little sustenance
- economic development of rural areas be given priority
- a Small Business Authority be set up, to coordinate, support and
influence actions for business development, especially among women
To non-governmental organizations, that:
- a practical system be established to actively and continuously monitor
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action
- bonds of solidarity be forged among women, by creating a network of
women's groups throughout the country - both in rural and urban areas
- solidarity savings groups be developed to serve as guarantors for
their members vis-a-vis lending institutions
- the influence of religious organizations be harnessed to support
normative and legislative changes, in order to improve the situation of
women at all stages of her life
- channels of communication be opened to government agencies, in order
to formulate common policies and develop joint programs to implement in
high priority areas. These programs can be in the realm of public
information, training, support services such as day care centers,
infrastructure development or health and credit programs which answer
women's practical needs
- NGOs be proactive and initiate program planning and advocacy campaigns
in favor of women, whose needs are best known to NGOs
- networks on a regional basis be extended and reinforced (Africa, Asia,
Latin America)
To international organizations, that:
- while integrating women in their programs, as a priority, they should
combine international expertise with local knowledge and resources
- these organizations coordinate programs among themselves, to avoid
duplication and serve more women in the targeted population
To mass media, that:
- the programs chosen, be it on the radio, TV or in the press, promote
the concept of "gender mainstreaming" by projecting men and women
together in all situations and activities
- these programs highlight "women's success stories," in order to
change existing stereotypes of women
To universities and research centers, that:
- Studies on gender be initiated; that data be collected on the present
situation of women, their positions in the family, at work, community
and political life; and that conclusions be drawn on where the leverage
for change exists.