1. WE Objectives Overall Objectives : Contribute to reducing - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Enhancement of the Business Environment in the Southern Mediterranean (EBSEM)

“Women's Entrepreneurship & SME Development in MED Countries”

A project funded by the European Union

Overall Objectives: Contribute to reducing unemployment and poverty by enhancing policies to support women entrepreneurship development Specific Objectives:

• Identifying main obstacles and challenges faced by women to

initiate or develop their business

• Identifying success stories that could be used as models for good

practices

• Collecting empirical evidence on the impact of existing policies on

women setting up businesses to help improve existing policies

• Helping grassroots women and/or entrepreneurs associations

become vocal in advocating specific public polices

• 1. WE Objectives

EBESM Project 2

• 2. Survey: Coverage – Population

Coverage: Seven MED Countries covered: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia Targeted population: Women entrepreneurs responding to the following criteria:

• Non-university degree
• Should be in business
• Main owner and manager of the business
• Sample consistent to compare across countries
• Up to 25 interviews conducted (face-to-face) per country

EBESM Project 3

• 20

20 40 60 80 100

Morocco Tunisia Egypt, Arab Rep. Algeria MENA LMI Lebanon West Bank and Gaza Jordan EU

Literacy rate, adult female (% of females ages 15 and above)

2015 Gender Gap

• 3. Overview socio-economic

conditions in MED countries

EBESM Project 4

• 10

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

LMI MENA Morocco Egypt, Arab Rep. Tunisia Algeria West Bank and Gaza EU Jordan Lebanon

Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24)

2015 gender gap

• 3. Overview socio-economic

conditions in MED countries

EBESM Project 5

• 15
• 5

5 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115

Jordan Lebanon West Bank and Gaza Egypt, Arab Rep. Israel Tunisia Morocco Algeria

School enrollment, primary, secondary and tertiary, female (% gross)

Enrollment Primary Primary Gender Gap Enrollment Secondary Secondary Gender Gap Enrollment Tertiary Tertiary Gender Gap

• 3. Overview socio-economic

conditions in MED countries

EBESM Project 6

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Algeria Jordan West Bank and Gaza MENA Egypt, Arab Rep. Lebanon Tunisia Morocco LMI EU Israel

Labour force, female (% of total labour force)

• 3. Overview socio-economic

conditions in MED countries

EBESM Project 7

• 30
• 20
• 10

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Morocco (2012) Israel (2014) Egypt, Arab (2013) West Bank and Gaza (2013) Algeria (2011) Jordan (2014)

Employment by sector, female (% of female employment)

Agriculture Gender Gap in Agriculture Industry Gender Gap in Industry Service Gender Gap in Service

• 3. Overview socio-economic

conditions in MED countries

EBESM Project 8

• 40
• 20

20 40 60 80

Lebanon (2007) Jordan (2012) Tunisia (2012) Algeria (2014) Israel (2013) West Bank and Gaza (2013) Egypt, Arab

• Rep. (2013)

Morocco (2008)

Self-employed, female (% of female employment)

Self Employed Gender Gap

• 3. Overview socio-economic

conditions in MED countries

EBESM Project 9

20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Palestine (2012) Jordan (2016) Egypt (2016) Tunisia (2015) Algeria (2013) Lebanon (2016) Morocco (2016) Israel (2016)

Total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA)

Female/Male TEA Female/Male Opportunity-Driven TEA

• 3. Overview socio-economic

conditions in MED countries

EBESM Project 10

• 4. National Survey: Key findings

EBESM Project 11

Who are these women?

• 157 women entrepreneurs from Algeria, Jordan, Egypt,

Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia

• Age – chiefly over 35 to over 50 years
• Marital status - 73% are married
• Children – 84% have 1 or more children
• Education – 45% high school, 30% technical and

vocational, 25% primary or no education

• Mother’s activity – Almost 70% not working, 28%

employed and self-employed

• Father’s activity – 60% independent activity and business,

32% employed (private and public sector).

• 5. Economic section: Key findings

EBESM Project 12

Women entrepreneurs in the survey

• Are married, relatively young, with at least 2 children aged 18 or less, and no

business or practical experience

• Started from a situation of unemployment, with modest family income or wealth,

and little or no access to capital

• Decided nonetheless to take the risk of joining the labour force as independent

economic actors in the market Performance:

• Their activity mostly consists of elementary manufacturing of the handicraft

variety

• Family enterprises dominate; are small in terms of sales and employment
• Most are profitable (about one third) or just break even (about half)
• However, most do not account for own salary or costs of utilities when home
• peration

Future plans

• More than 80% have decided to stay in the business or even expand
• Decision to improve and persevere even in case of losses or just breaking even

• 6. National Survey: Key findings

EBESM Project 13

Assistance

• 6. National Survey: Key findings

EBESM Project 14

Support

• 7. National Survey: Success Stories

10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Improvement Stability Deterioration In the last 12 months, could you please tell us if your business has improved?

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Improvement Stability Deterioration In the last 12 months, could you please tell us if your business has improved? Maghreb Mashriq

EBESM Project 15

• 7. National Survey: Success Stories

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Opening a new branch Moving to the formal market/registering your business/moving out of the black market Expanding the business location Hiring new employee (s) Reduction in costs Productivity increases Increase in sales by expanding the range of products /services offered Increase in sales by expanding the consumers’ platform

In the last 12 months, could you please tell us how your business has improved?

EBESM Project 16

• 7. National Survey: Success Stories

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Opening a new branch Moving to the formal market/registering your business/moving out of the black market Expanding the business location Reduction in costs Hiring new employee(s) Productivity increases Increase in sales by expanding the range of products /services offered Increase in sales by expanding the consumers’ platform

In the last 12 months, could you please tell us how your business has improved?

Mashriq Region Maghreb Region

EBESM Project 17

• 7. National Survey: Success Stories

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

• b. Improvement in the political situation/general economic

environment

• c2. New technology adoption;
• c4. Better bargaining conditions with the suppliers
• c1. Improvement in your personal leadership skills thanks

to an education/mentoring programme;

• c3. Access to a new source of capital
• a. Improvement in infrastructure and/or public services;
• d1. better family relations
• d3. larger and stronger social network
• d2. better business reputation

Could you please tell us how the following factors have contributed to your business success?

EBESM Project 18

• 7. National Survey: Success Stories

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

• b. Improvement in the political situation/general economic

environment

• c4. Better bargaining conditions with the suppliers
• c2. New technology adoption;
• a3. Improvement in Water and electricity provision
• a1. improvement in Transport
• c1. Improvement in your personal leadership skills thanks to an

education/mentoring programme;

• a2. Improvement in Communication and ICT
• c3. Access to a new source of capital
• d1. better family relations
• d2. better business reputation
• d3. larger and stronger social network

Could you please tell us how the following factors have contributed to your business success?

Mashriq Region Maghreb Region

EBESM Project 19

• 8. National Survey:

Key Recommendations

EBESM Project 20

10 20 30 40 50

SUPPORT ARTISAN PRICE CONTROL TAXES SUPPORT/SPECIFIC SERVICE FOR WOMEN FINANCE/AID

Policy Recommendations to National Government: top 5 in MED region

5 10 15 20

IMPROVE POLICY BASIC SERVICE GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCY INFRASTRUCTURE LICENCE & REGISTRATION SUPPORT ARTISAN TRAINING/SKILLS TAXES PRICE CONTROL FINANCE/AID SUPPORT WOMEN

Policy Reccomandations: National Government in the Mashriq region

Palestine Lebanon Jordan Egypt

• 8. National Survey:

Key Recommendations

10 20 30 40

TRAINING MARKETING CO-WORKING SPACE/SMALL COMPANIES/COOP INFRASTRUCTURE EXHIBITION/FESTIVAL S/SHOPS

Top 5 Policy Recommendations: Municipalities in MED region

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

NETWORK TRAINING LOCAL MARKET/BUY DOMESTIC PRODUCTS REGISTRATION/LICENSES/INFORMATI ON INFRASTRUCTURE RAW MATERIAL PRICE & ENERGY WATER CO-WORKING SPACE/SMALL COMPANIES/COOP MARKETING EXHIBITION SPACE/FESTIVALS

Top 5 Policy Recommendations: Municipality in the Mashriq Region

Palestine Lebanon Jordan Egypt

EBESM Project 21

• 8. National Survey:

Key Recommendations

20 40 60

EXHIBITION/FESTI VALS/SHOPS MARKTING NETWORKING/SH ARE EXPERIENCE TRAINING GRANTS/FINANCI AL SUPPORT

Top 5 Policy Recommendations: NGOs in MED region

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

INFORMATION ON SERVICES CAPACITY BUILDING INPUTS/MACHINERY EXHIBITIONS TRAINING MARKTING NETWORKING/SHARE EXPERIENCE GRANTS/FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Top 5 Policy Recommendations: NGO in the Mashriq region

Palestine Lebanon Jordan Egypt

EBESM Project 22

• 9. National Survey:

Key Recommendations

EBESM Project 23

• Training – develop widespread training courses in cities and in rural

areas in specific skills and in business and management techniques

• Trainings should be adapted to women entrepreneurs’ needs
• Provide rural support to inform on existing initiatives, help on basic

needs such as filling applications, paying taxes, legal and financial advice and train on a regular basis

• Education from kindergarten to university – remove stereotypes

from text books and raise girls’ and boys’ interest for STEM careers

• Develop public-private partnerships to launch micro-franchising

systems at national level which can allow women to benefit from professional know-how and mentoring

• Follow up and list existing initiatives to maximize their potential and

evaluate their results.