Advancing women’s

entrepreneurship training

policy and practice –

challenges and

developments

MOLDOVA

Emilia Cebotari

SBA Coordinator (replacing person),

Ministry of Economy

Association Agreement and DCFTA with EU

(June 27th, 2014)

According to art.32 of the AA with EU, we have committed to ensure

equal opportunities, aiming at enhancing gender equality and ensuring

equal opportunities between women and men, as well as combating

discrimination on all grounds.

Strategic vision for Business environment priority: Creating new

businesses will be encouraged by promoting entrepreneurship success stories,

by supporting entrepreneurship, especially among women, as these are

currently only 27.5% of entrepreneurs. Existing mechanisms by which SMEs

benefit from training, and financial and logistical support will be expanded

and diversified.

National Development Strategy „Moldova 2020”

Policy framework containing some provisions

in regard to women’s entrepreneurship

• Law no.5 from 09.02.2006 ensuring equal opportunities for women and

men

• National Program for Ensuring Gender Equality for 2010-2015 approved

by Government Decision no.933 from 31.12.2009

• Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Sector Development Strategy 2012-

2020 approved by Government Decision no.685 from 13.09.2012 and its

new action plan for 2015-2017

• Government Commission for Equality between Men and Women

established according to Government Decision no.350 from 07.04.2006

Promoting and encouraging women entrepreneurship

SMEs Sector Development

Strategy 2012-2020

and

its action plan for

implementation 2015-2017

Lessons learnt from the first Small

Business Act Assessment

Priority II: Improving access to finance

Developing

innovative schemes

of financing SMEs

Attracting technical and financial assistance

programs for stimulating the creation of new

businesses by young people and women

Priority III: Developing human capital by promoting entrepreneurial skills and culture

Developing and promoting

entrepreneurial culture and

education

Promoting and encouraging women

to launch/develop business

Implementing national Program on

„Efficient business management”

Organizing trainings under the

National Program for Economic

Empowerment of Young people

On-going programs and projects on advancing women’s

entrepreneurship

• Pilot program for attracting remittances in the economy PARE 1+1

• Loan Security Fund

• National program for Economic Empowerment of Young People

• Eficient business management program

• SMEs Support and Development program funded by the Japanese Government

• „Women in business” Program, EBRD Business Advisory Service (BAS) Moldova

• Project „Women Entrepreneurship – A Job Creation Engine for South Eastern

Europe”, implemented by the South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial

Learning (SEECEL)

• „Economic empowerment of women through increasing the employment

opportunities in the Republic of Moldova”, UN Women (2010-2013)

• „Better opportunities for Youth and Women”, UNDP

• Moldovan Employment and Entrepreneurship Education and Training Activity

(MEEETA ), (2009-2013) Winrock Moldova

• Network of Business Women Association, created in 2009 comprises 15

organizations

On-going programs and projects on advancing women’s

entrepreneurship

Establishing the „Platform of the development of

Women entrepreneurship” , SEECEL and GTF

The main goal of the Platform is the advancement of women entrepreneurship in

Moldova through the partnership of private and state sectors.

• Allows to take into account interests of all participants of civil society, interested

in the development of women entrepreneurship in Moldova, developing and

realizing complex actions for the improvement of the conditions for it’s initiation

and development,

• Builds a basis for the development of the private-state dialogue and partnership,

• Provides reduction of the barriers in the face of women entrepreneurship and

improvement of the business climate;

• Promotes stable and qualitative economy growth and life quality growth of

citizens.

Women Entrepreneurs Platform in Moldova „At a

cup of tea” (ODIMM in partnership with the

European Commission), launched in 2013

The objectives of the platform are:

(i) to encourage entrepreneurial spirit of

women;

(ii) to facilitate communication by

creating partnerships and networks of

women entrepreneurs;

(iii) to contribute to the professional and

personal development and

(iv) to serve as a tool to promote products

and services of the companies

managed by women entrepreneurs.

1. To promote state structures in the development of legislation and economic

policy documents aimed to create equal conditions for the women

entrepreneurship development and to elaborate formal policy framework

specifically focused upon women entrepreneurship in Moldova.

2. To encourage economic independence of women as a condition of further

development of women entrepreneurship through financial and credit support

for business women, creating a system of guarantee funds and access of

women to all kinds of resources.

Main directions and challenges in promoting women

entrepreneurship in Moldova:

3. To promote training of women on business skills, new technologies, work

with Internet and enhance qualifications of women entrepreneurs through the

development of the training and consulting services with the help of state and

non-governmental organizations.

4. To develop entrepreneurship networks and Network of women business

associations and their partnership with other state and private institutions.

5. To develop a systematic statistical data collection mechanism on women’s

entrepreneurship.

Main directions and challenges in promoting women

entrepreneurship in Moldova:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!