GENDER

1
2007

• GENDER WOMENS EMPOWERMENT UNIT UPDATE REPORT
• PRESENTED BY
• Ms. Mmabatho Matiwane
• HEAD Gender and Womens Empowerment Unit
• Enterprise and Industry Development Division

2
Table of contents

• Strategic Framework on Gender and Womens
  Economic Empowerment
• Women Entrepreneurs Fund
• South African Women Entrepreneurs Network
  (SAWEN)
• Technology for Women in Business
• National Directory
• National Committee of Businesswomen
  Organizations (NCBWO)
• Conferences, Workshops and Seminars
• Lobby and Advocacy and Access to Finance
  Initiatives

3
Strategic Framework

• Strategic Framework on Gender and
• Womens Economic Empowerment.
• All the provinces and four municipalities around
  Gauteng Province were extensively consulted as
  part of developing the Strategic Framework on
  Gender and Womens Economic Empowerment.
• More than 7000 women and relevant stakeholders
  participated in the consultation process.
• The Framework was also presented to the Portfolio
  Committee on Trade and Industry and has been
  finalised and approved by the dti Executive
  Board.

4
Women Entrepreneurs Fund

• Womens Entrepreneurs Fund
• Critical intervention of the Strategic Framework
  to be housed at the IDC. (also an Investor).
• International consultation on lack of womens
  access to finance.
• Fund model designed and approved by EXBO.
• Baseline created and Funds allocated by NT and
  SWEEEP.
• 50 Million pledged by the Department. Same amount
  to be matched by the IDC.
• Business plan developed and due to be handed to
  the IDC for implementation.
• MOA due to be signed between the dti and IDC.
• Additional funds to be sourced from private
  investors.

5
SAWEN

• South African Women Entrepreneurs Network
  (SAWEN)
• Hosted its first National conference and Annual
  General Meeting on the 13 Of April 2005 with a
  record of 1500 delegates attending.
• Established the National Committee of
  Businesswomen Organizations (NCBWO) which
  consists of Businesswomen Organizations
  Chairpersons and CEOs.
• Appointment of Board of Directors
• Recruited six contractual staff members for
  administrative and coordinating purposes.
• Established three provincial offices in Gauteng,
  Western Cape and KZN respectively (Head office
  within the dti).
• Recruited 1200 fully paid members countrywide

6
SAWEN Cont

• More than 700 members participated in capacity
  building (business related training and skill
  development).
• Mentoring and Coaching programmes conducted with
  strategic partner, Cosmopolitan Magazine, for
  Emerging Women Entrepreneurs.
• MTN website development training workshops in all
  the Provinces
• Conducted first and second phases research
  studies titled South African Women
  Entrepreneurs A burgeoning force in our economy
  (which informed the development of the Strategic
  Framework).
• Currently conducting internal audit and
  Performance Review (Project Charters already
  completed).
• To be listed as one of the dtis implementing
  agencies (COTII) after the above auditing and
  review has been completed.
• Generally , approximately 1200 women participated
  in SAWEN programmes.

7
Technology for Women in Business (TWIB)

• Technology for Women in Business (TWIB)
• Hosted its 10th annual conference and award
  ceremony last year.
• Initiated the following programmes since its
  inception
• Techno girls encourages and motivating girl
  children to choose science and technology
  studies. Cell C Take a Girl Child to work
• Exposed award winners to international markets
  relevant to their sector of operation as part of
  the prize
• Transfer of TWIB from the CSIR to the dti
• Refocused its areas into two areas
• Technology Transfer through SEDA technology
  Programme (stp)
• Entrepreneurial development and support through
  SAWEN for information and training on ICT IC
  skill and business solutions

8
Publications

• National Womens Directory
• One of the proposed interventions in the
  Strategic Framework and also one of resolutions
  of the 12 January 2006 Engendering ASGI-SA
  workshop.
• First edition produced and circulated to all
  spheres government, Private sector and SOEs.
• Say When newsletter published quarterly.
• SAWEN magazine published annually

9
Conferences, Workshops and Seminars

• Workshops and Seminars
• 1. Product Development Workshops
• 2. Business Grooming Workshops
• 3. Youth Month Seminars
• 4. Womens Month Awareness Campaign
• 5.16 Days of Activism on Violence
  Against Woman and
  Children

10
Lobby and Advocacy and Access to markets
Initiatives
Outgoing Missions and Visits
Countries Visited No. of Delegation
1. Netherlands 19
2. Ireland 5
3. Uganda Preparatory visit
4. Ghana 15
5. USA UN Session
6. Sweden Ministerial
7. Germany 5
8. India State Visit
9. Vietnam State Visit
10. DRC Womens Day Seminar
11
Lobby and Advocacy and Access to markets
Initiatives

• Hosted Missions

Countries Hosted No. of delegates
1. Swedish 50
2. Netherlands 60
3. India 100
4. Italy 50
Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World 100
12
Conclusion

• If the playing field is level and all the rules
  are clearly defined, we will all excel. 
• Reverend Jessie Jackson