International Development Grant

Supporting women micro-entrepreneurs to improve women’s economic empowerment

Project Number: CA-3-D000305001

Status: Operational

Country/Region:

Philippines 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $7,819,855.00

Start Date: January 21, 2015

End Date: June 30, 2022

Duration: 7.4 years

Project Description

This initiative seeks to assist women micro-entrepreneurs in food clothing and home-style sectors to successfully and sustainably grow their businesses. The project aims to help women entrepreneurs enhance their products and improve their productivity marketing and compliance with safety and business regulations and standards. It also aims to help them connect to domestic and global markets. The project works with key national government agencies including the Department of Trade and Industry the Department of Agriculture the Department of Science and Technology and the private sector to make business development programs and services more environmentally sustainable and responsive to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This initiative expects to benefit approximately 831 women entrepreneurs in the Philippines.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved competitiveness and sustainability of women’s micro enterprises; and (2) improved enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment..

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved at the end of the project (June 2022) include: (1) 485 women micro-entrepreneurs had increased their sales by at least 30%; (2) 549 women micro-entrepreneurs reported increased in asset size; (3) 778 women micro-entrepreneurs implemented environmentally sustainable management practices; (4) 381 women micro-entrepreneurs increased their export competitiveness; (5) 341 women micro-entrepreneurs doubled their production on priority products; (6) 557 women micro-entrepreneurs expanded their market to include institutional buyers; (7) 618 women micro-entrepreneurs available programs and services of government and private sector partners; (8) 737 women micro-entrepreneurs have a high level of confidence in managing their respective businesses; (9) participants rated at least 19 programs activities and projects of government and private sector partners as either gender-sensitive or gender responsive; (10) tapped 21 champions in government’s economic clusters and small and medium enterprise development councils to advocate for increased support towards women micro-entrepreneurs; and (11) government partners passed 15 national and regional policies supporting women micro-entrepreneurs.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Government of the Philippines - Philippines Commission on Women

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
OGM Indo-Pacific

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Business support services and institutions 30%
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) development 40%
Agro-industries 10%
Textiles leather and substitutes 10%
Environmental policy and administrative management 10%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Institutional Support

Policy Markers
Level 2 Gender equality
Level 1 Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting)
Level 1 Participatory development and good governance
Level 1 Trade development
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2014-04-01 to 2015-03-31 $7,819,855 CAD
Geographic Information
000
Project Number: CA-3-D000305001