ILO-WED Strategic Framework
The ILO strategy on promoting women’s entrepreneurship development was adopted in Geneva on March 2008 by the ILO’s Governing Body. The strategy lays out a flexible and innovative response, based on local needs and circumstances, to supporting and promoting women’s entrepreneurship development in member states and forms the basis of the ILO-WED Programme.
The strategy builds from the expertise developed since 2002 on supporting women entrepreneurs through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality (WEDGE) project funded by Irish Aid and NORAD. It identifies gender-based barriers that women entrepreneurs face in starting and growing their business.
Furthermore, the strategy highlights lessons learned, and recognizes that entrepreneurship can be an effective means to empower women, create employment, and contribute to broader development goals. It outlines the key operational levels of the ILO-WED Programme including creating an enabling environment for WED, building institutional capacity for WED, developing tools and support services for women entrepreneurs, and generating knowledge.
The strategy builds from the expertise developed since 2002 on supporting women entrepreneurs through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality (WEDGE) project funded by Irish Aid and NORAD. It identifies gender-based barriers that women entrepreneurs face in starting and growing their business.
Furthermore, the strategy highlights lessons learned, and recognizes that entrepreneurship can be an effective means to empower women, create employment, and contribute to broader development goals. It outlines the key operational levels of the ILO-WED Programme including creating an enabling environment for WED, building institutional capacity for WED, developing tools and support services for women entrepreneurs, and generating knowledge.