Enterprise Development Programme

Ente

rpris

e D

eve

lop

me

nt P

rog

ram

me

AboutThe economic potential of women entrepreneurs remains largely untapped in developing and emerging markets, with many still lacking the skills, access to capital and access to markets they need to be successful small and growing business owners.

The Enterprise Development Programme addresses these needs by delivering tailored business training, facilitating business registration and enhancing access to capital and markets. We focus on women who have achieved some success but need extra support to take their business to the next level. Our goal over the next three years is to transform the lives of over 3,500 women and their communities.

Working in partnership with non-profit, public and private sector organisations internationally, we focus on supporting the expansion of existing micro, small and growing enterprises.

ImpactOur projects have made a tangible difference to over 700 women entrepreneurs across India, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, and Palestine. As a result of our work, women’s profits have increased, jobs have been created and confidence levels have risen.

In Lebanon’s fragile economy, Sahar is making real progress with her honey production business. Prior to joining our project, Sahar struggled with access to capital and business management. With the support of advisors within the programme, Sahar has secured a loan to buy packaging materials and to expand to meet increasing demand. She has already seen a 60% increase in profit, which she will use to repay her loan and reinvest in the business.

In India, we tackle gender discrimination through support to women entrepreneurs like Bala. Bala has set up her own company to train and recruit graduates into engineering and IT positions. She started off relying on family contacts and struggled to generate a steady revenue. Since taking part in the programme, Bala has reworked her business strategy to tap into new markets. This dramatically increased her customer base by 40% and revenue by nearly 500%.

What programme participants say:“I was a total novice who just came up with an idea. It was the programme that encouraged me to pursue it and guided me through the entire process. It has been the driving force behind my startup.” Aswin Yogesh, Chennai, India

“I am really looking forward to developing my marketing and branding skills as well as forming new linkages with possible clients, suppliers and partners. I hope to use these new network connections to attract more clients and expand my guesthouse.” Louisa Musa, Kenema, Sierra Leone

“Through my training, I was able to identify networks for the sale of my accessories and strongly define my business strategy. The training helped me to strengthen my existing business skills and to fill in the gaps where I was less informed, such as in marketing/branding, IT and the English language.” Houwayda Aharaf Al Dine, Tripoli, Lebanon “The courses in the programme gave me the support and tools I needed to build up my headscarf business from scratch and now I feel that the concept of entrepreneurship has become a part of me.” Reut Bublil, Akko, Israel

What supporters say:“J.P. Morgan is delighted to be a part of the Lebanon project, supporting a new generation of women entrepreneurs in Lebanon with the essential tools to develop their businesses.”

Rafia Qureshi, Corporate Philanthropy & Sponsorship, EMEA, J.P. Morgan

Case studyWhen Ikhlas’s husband lost his job, she decided to set up a business selling handmade soap. The business started off very small, providing enough income for Ikhlas to support her family. Five years in, Ikhlas had enough savings set aside to expand but didn’t have the marketing expertise necessary to take her business to the next level.

Our Business Development Centre for Women in Ramallah introduced Ikhlas to new networks, including consultants who provided advice at a discounted rate on marketing, packaging and branding. With the new branding and wider networks, Ikhlas increased the number of orders for her soap, creating employment opportunities in her community in the process. Ikhlas now has big plans for her company and is working to secure a contract with a local hotel chain.

Ikhlas SawalhaFounder & CEO, Siba Soaps

Get involved

ProjectsSierra Leone Women EntrepreneursTogether with the African Foundation for Development in Sierra Leone, we are establishing a national network for women entrepreneurs that will offer tailored business services, peer support, networking opportunities, and access to markets and capital to facilitate the growth of their businesses.

Nablus Women EntrepreneursIn partnership with Tomorrow’s YouthOrganization, we are supporting womenentrepreneurs to develop sustainablebusinesses through product developmentsupport, access to new markets, networks,mentoring and business skills training.

Lebanon Women EntrepreneursFollowing from the first phase of theNablus Women Entrepreneurs project,we are replicating the project in Lebanonin partnership with Tomorrow’s YouthOrganization, the René Moawad Foundationand J.P. Morgan.

Fostering Young Israeli Women EntrepreneursIn partnership with Western Galilee College,we are supporting young women in NorthernIsrael through an academic degree programme aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills andincreasing socio-economic opportunities.

Business Development Centre, PalestineWe are supporting a one-stop shop inRamallah, set up in partnership with theBusiness Women Forum to provide integrated business support for women entrepreneurs to start and expand their businesses. The centre provides a range of services, including but not limited to: feasibility studies, marketing evaluation, legal consulting, and ongoing skills training.

India Mentor Development ProgrammeWe are working to develop a group ofhighly effective, accessible mentors for women entrepreneurs across India in partnership with the National EntrepreneurshipNetwork.

Self Worth Foundation Fostering Women Entrepreneurs ProjectWe have joined forces with Economic Empowerment for Women and Koret Israel Economic Development Fund to support Jewish and Arab women entrepreneurs in developing and expanding their micro-enterprises through business incubation services, access to capital and a peer-to-peer network.

The facts

• A World Bank study shows that key barriers faced by women entrepreneurs include limited access to business skills training, markets, finance, networks and technology.

• Worldwide, women are three times more likely to operate in the informal economy due to legal and cultural constraints, which restricts the potential for their businesses to grow.

• Female labour force participation is lowest in the Middle East and North Africa at 27%. In South Asia it is 35%.

• In countries we work in, research shows that women entrepreneurs tend to confine themselves to local markets which, as a result, limit the growth of their businesses.

Programme:Enterprise Development

In brief: Developing women’s

enterprise by providing tailored business support through

strategic partnerships

www.cherieblairfoundation.org/enterpriseenquiries@cherieblairfoundation.org

The Foundation needs partners to help us support passionate women like Sahar, Bala and Ikhlas to achieve their ambitions and make a difference in their communities. Join us to drive the Enterprise Development Programme forward.

Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

PO Box 60519, London W2 7JURegistered Charity No. 1125751Registered Office:66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LH

+44 (0)20 7724 3109enquiries@cherieblairfoundation.orgwww.cherieblairfoundation.org

© Cherie Blair Foundation for Women 2012BSP-V1.0

About the Foundation We invest in women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging markets so they can build and expand their businesses – and in doing so benefit not only themselves but also their families and communities. As a charitable foundation, we take a hands-on collaborative approach, working in partnership with non-profit organisations, corporations and governments. We develop projects with sustainable solutions to the challenges women entrepreneurs face, providing business skills, technology, networks and access to finance through three programmes: Enterprise Development, Mentoring, and Mobile Technology.

“Giving women the chance to become financiallyindependent and make the most of their talents is the key to higher living standards and stronger economies.”

Cherie Blair, Founder