FORMAT OF PRESENTATION

• Background

• OVERVIEW: Concept; National & Provincial Consultation

• Establishment of SAWEN

• Policy; Mission & Vision

• Objectives

• Basket of Services

• Unique Selling Point

• Corporate Image of SAWEN

• Current Status and Way Forward

ECONOMIC ISSUES FACED BY WOMEN

• SAWEN

– Gender Discrimination

– Low representation In Business

– Business Issues not in the Economic Mainstream

– Economic Policies & Programmes not Gender Sensitive

– Poor access to various Economic Support & Resources

– High Interest low Response

ESTABLISHING SAWEN

• Namibian Women’s Trade Fair –2000

• Experience of DTI officials and those working with women generally.

• Reports confirming the need (NTSIKA & APDF).

• Proposal from the Gender Unit

• Presentation to DTI senior Management –Endorsement

• 1st Consultative Workshop – July 2001

• DTI Smme Strategy – Provincial Road Shows

• Recruitment of Strategic Partners

• National Launch – June 2002

WHAT SAWEN IS

• SAWEN

– A business NETWORKING organization

– Business Exchange FORUM

– An organised LINK to business opportunities

– Information CENTRE about women entrepreneurship

MISSION STATEMENT

• The South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN) is a national network organisation that facilitates and monitors the socio-economic advancement of women entrepreneurs and their positive impact on the country’s economy. SAWEN supports the success and growth of women-owned and managed enterprises (SMMES) by ensuring their access to relevant

– Business information and advice

– Business opportunities

– Appropriate skills and technology

– Mentorship and counselling

– Financial advice

– Decision and policy makers

VISION

• To establish a national forum for South African Women Entrepreneurs to support and strengthen women’s enterprises to engage each other and their strategic business partners, both locally and internationally.

CORPORATE IMAGE – LOGO & SLOGAN

• The collective power is embodied in the blue oval, cradled by the energy and success of the network and its members (symbolised by the golden “arms”).

• The golden “arms” signify strength, growth and prosperity in an ever-changing South Africa. Their shape and placement is indicative of movement and growth…a circle of energy!

• “YOUR LINK TO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES “

OBJECTIVES

• Main Objective

– To mobilise South African women entrepreneurs together to network, share and access information, skills and expertise with each other and other strategic business partners.

• Other Objectives

– Identify and recruit SMMEs– Create and co-ordinate a database– Encourage women to participate – Establish national strategic partnerships;– Establish international relationships.– Provide support;– Identify priority areas and mechanisms – Identify research issues.

BASKET OF SERVICES

• Reflect needs and best practice• Programmes would be monitored and evaluated• SAWEN’s members to provide:

– Business information and advice in; • Finance• Taxes• Business models and registration • Trade between countries – information on customs and excise• Tendering procedures and sources• Company legislation and empowerment policy• DTI & other enterprise development programs

 

 

• Business counselling

– Qualified counsellors will address gender specific issues

• Economic rights and Independence

• Domestic violence

• Aids

• Marriage contracts and legal issues

• Assertiveness

• Mentoring

 

– Trained mentors

BASKET OF SERVICES cont’d

• Training and Capacity Building

• Lobbying & Advocacy

• Access to Information and Opportunities

BASKET OF SERVICES cont’d

• SAWEN will offer the following revenue generating services to the market:

 

– Retailing information and research

– The sale of databases

– Development & gender consulting

– Project and study tour management

– Event management

– Investment brokerage and training

BASKET OF SERVICES cont’d

UNIQUE SELLING POINT• Eight factors make SAWEN a unique organization:

– Network and reach all women entrepreneurs;

– Capacity to mobilize

– Credibility and information management capacity

– Ability to measure the socio-economic impact

– Access to business information and opportunities

– Lobbying and advocacy;

– Pioneering of a gender balanced approach

 

POST LAUNCH PROCESS

• PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATION – Kwa-Zulu Natal; Gauteng; Western Cape; Eastern-Cape; Northern Cape; North West; Mpumalanga; and Limpopo.

• Hosting of Regional Workshop • Membership Recruitment Drive and Representatives• End of the year workshop • Launching of Provincial Chapters • Host of the 1st Official Annual General Meeting of SAWEN.