Regional Workshop on Gender, Trade

1
Regional Workshop on Gender, Trade Marketing in
MEDA Region

• Profile of Women Entrepreneurs Their NGO
  Partners
• Nadia Hijab

2
Outline

• Socio-economic characteristics
• Entrepreneurs products, issues support
  received
• Issues NGO Partners Face
• Next Steps

3
Some characteristics

• Socially Conservative
• Most need income to cover their own expenses,
  contribute to family
• NGOs help to broaden horizons
• More open when they see more revenue

4
Entrepreneurs products

• Embroidery, sewing, handicrafts
• Small-scale food processing
• Costume jewellery
• Lebanon computer repair, hairdressing, hair gel
• Egypt metal, porcelain, medical products -
  shoes, blood pressure monitors

5
Issue 1 Market awareness

• Unwilling to move beyond comfort zone - family,
  neighbourhood
• Fear risk-taking
• Some NGO partners
• Invest in training
• Encourage participation in fairs
• Address community stereotypes

6
Issue 2 Market Saturation

• Selling sand in the desert supply-driven
  products
• Little info on market demand
• Some NGO partners
• Commission studies
• Seek export markets
• Identify niche markets

7
Issue 3 Competition

• Flood of cheap, good quality imports due to
  trade agreements
• Cost of raw materials
• Need unique design or quality
• Some NGO partners
• Commission analyses of market
• Support branching into new areas

8
Issue 4 Quality

• Low quality, poor packaging
• Some partners invest in
• Product quality and packaging
• Use integrated approach
• Seek export markets

9
Issue 5 Market Access

• Reliance on family, neighbours
• Little use of market information
• Some NGO partners
• Link to retailers
• Help set up stands, vending points
• Strengthen sales skills, confidence
• Provide funding for transport
• Introduce to Internet

10
Issue 6 Intermediaries

• Buy low, sell high
• Dominate markets
• Some NGO partners
• Try to hook producer to trader
• Invest in sales skills, confidence
• Transport is an issue

11
Issue 7 Access to Credit

• Major problem across the board
• Most have never used credit
• Family primary source
• Some NGO partners
• Provide loans technical assistance
• Tap foreign sources
• Difficulty in funds for major projects

12
Less frequently mentioned

• Policy environment
• Institutional support
• Legal framework
• Appropriate technology

13
Issues NGO Partners Face

• Market analysis
• Information technology
• Setting baselines, conducting evaluations
• Sensitivity to human rights
• Exit strategies
• Scaling Up

14
Questions for Workshop

• Best ways to encourage women to move beyond their
  immediate circle
• How do we move our partners beyond selling sand
  in the desert?
• Do we have enough evidence of what the market
  wants, whether local, national, or especially
  international?
• When are export markets the best answer to market
  saturation and competition?

15
Questions for Workshop, Contd.

• Can we better hook producers with clients and
  other actors involved in the market?
• Are NGOs performing roles that would be better
  undertaken by market actors?
• Should they also invest in advocacy to push
  these actors to take up these roles?

16
Questions for Workshop, Contd.

• Are there less costly ways to analyze the market
  and identify opportunities?
• How can partners make better use of information
  technology?
• How can partners ensure activities are
  rights-based - and are sustainable after they
  exit?
• Are there ways to expand the work to reach larger
  numbers more effectively?

17
Next Steps (final session)

• Replicating the workshop
• Establishing knowledge networks