Assessing the Enabling Environment for Women in Growth Enterprises: An AfDB/ILO Integrated Framework Assessment Guide, 2007

Description
This guide to assess the environment for Growth-Oriented Women Entrepreneurs (GOWEs) has been prepared jointly by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) for the purpose of identifying critical forms of support that can enable women to grow and expand their enterprises, and in the process to create jobs and income for themselves and others. The guide also aims to highlight critical areas where AfDB, ILO and other development partners can provide assistance and strategic tools to African countries to enable them to promote, nurture and develop women's entrepreneurship.

Following the introduction, Section Two of the guide outlines a methodology for assessing the enabling environment for GOWEs. Section three assesses ten key, interlinked components of the business environment, and presents them as an Integrated Framework. These components are as follows:

1. Policy leadership and coordination
2. Legal and regulatory issues
3. Promotion of women as entrepreneurs
4. Access to enterprise education and training
5. Access to credit and financial services
6. Access to Business Development Services and business information
7. Access to women entrepreneurs' associations and networks
8. Access to business premises
9. Access to markets
10. Research on women entrepreneurs and their enterprises

The guide also includes several templates and matrices included as annexes, to assist in the design of an action plan to minimise barriers and maximise opportunities for the growth of women's enterprises:

Annex 1: List of recommended field visit contacts
Annex 2: Examples of economic indicators (with sources) for country under review
Annex 3: Recommended questions for the ten core components of the Integrated Framework
Annex 4: Matrix for mapping of organizations supporting the growth of women entrepreneurs
Annex 5: Format for mapping the enabling environment for women entrepreneurs and scoring the policy/programme provision/gaps
Annex 6: Menu of potential recommended actions for each of the ten core areas
Annex 7: Sample terms of reference for country assessment of the enabling environment for growth-oriented women's enterprises (GOWEs)
Annex 8: Sample terms of reference for preliminary country scoping document
Annex 9: Standard country assessment final report: Suggested table of contents



Please note: The DCED now has a dedicated Women's Entrepreneurship Development section on its website www.Entrepreneurship-Development.org, containing selected publications and links on this theme. It can be accessed here.