March 2, 2023 (ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research(UNITAR) yesterday closed a training workshop on entrepreneurship and financial literacy programme for women entrepreneurs from the continent.
This two-day workshop brought together women entrepreneurs from the IGAD, the Southern African Develop Community (SADC); the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) regions.
Its overall objective was to launch the second phase of an entrepreneurship and financial literacy training programme, strengthen capacity of women entrepreneurs to facilitate their strategic and practical engagement with key institutions and mentors. It is to be remembered that in October 2022, IGAD had launched the first phase of the Programme with an online training for the 25 women entrepreneurs attending this two-day in person training in Addis Ababa.
On behalf of IGAD Executive Secretary, the Director of Administration and Finance of the regional organisation in his opening remarks at the inauguration of the workshop stated: “I am delighted to see this remarkable group of 25 women who have taken the twin tools of financial literacy and enlightened social entrepreneurship, while putting them to good use to unlock the shackles of poverty and continue on the transformative journey towards economic emancipation. I am therefore encouraged by this Programme, and you the first cohort of graduates, in the pursuit of equality, justice and sustainable development to amplify the “financial voice” of women by empowering our mothers, sisters and daughters to control and manage their resources to become financially self-reliant and independent.”
As the training closed, the participants were awarded certificates of completion.
Background
The development of the training programme was informed by a continent-wide need assessment. The findings revealed that the training needs vary per region, sector and stage of maturity. The Programme is thus designed to
- equip women entrepreneurs with fundamental concepts of entrepreneurship, financial literacy;
- set up networks and tools to help them overcome gender-specific challenges and barriers to launching entrepreneurial initiatives/projects, expanding existing businesses; and
- take advantage of new opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The IGAD Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Programme for Women Entrepreneurs is supported from the Government of Canada.
