Economic Growth and Entrepreneurial Skills Development for Women

The project aims to improve the sustainable economic empowerment of women leaders of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and associations in Sucre Colombia through the Economic Growth and Entrepreneurial Skills Development for Women (C.R.E.C.E Mujer). It seeks to increase their income and strengthen their entrepreneurial skills while increasing their self-confidence as sustainable business leaders (ultimate outcome: 1000). To contribute to this sustainability the École des Entrepreneurs du Québec (ÉEQ) plans to strengthen the capacities of the following 12 organizations that support entrepreneurship: the Sucre Governor’s office Sincelejo city hall the Sincelejo chamber of commerce Incubar SUCRE (business incubator) SENA (national apprenticeship service) women’s associations (ANMUCNISUC ROSMUD'S AMARS Vive Mujer) the foundation Fundación Hijos de la Sierra Flor the organization Diakonía para la Paz and Parquesoft. The project started during the COVID-19 pandemic which delayed some activities. There have been 2 requests for extensions and changes to budget lines. Following Global Affairs Canada's approval of all extension requests they postponed the end of the project activities to March 31 2023 and the end of the project agreement to June 30 2023.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved service delivery processes among economic development organizations for implementing practices to reduce gender barriers in MSEs and in the associations; (2) improved skills for creating MSEs and associations with fair practices; and (3) increased sustainability of MSEs and associations with fair practices.