1 MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR WOMEN IN THE

1 MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR WOMEN IN THE CROSS-BORDER AREA POLOG AND ELBASAN C E N T E R F O R C H A N G E M A N A G E M E N T

GENERAL INFO ON THE PROJECT 1 NAME OF THE PROJECT Microenterprise development project for women in the crossborder area Polog and Elbasan 4 LOCATION OF THE ACTION Cross-border region of North Macedonia and Albania (Polog and Elbasan) 2 5 3 6 NAME OF THE LEAD APPLICANT Center for Change Management (CCM) NAME OF PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS Institute for Human Rights, Center for Comparative Studies – Albania and Foundation of Egalite DURATION OF THE ACTION 30 months TOTAL BUDGET 388. 048, 00 EUR 2

MEET THE TEAM JASNA PAJKOVSKA PROJECT MANAGER Center for Change Management - CCM SAHIDE BAJRAMI PROJECT OFFICER Foundation Egalite 3 FAOLA HODAJ PROJECT COORDINATOR Center for Comparative and International Studies - CCIS MARTIN SOPRONOV PROJECT OFFICER Institute for Human Rights- IHR

PROJECT CONTEXT 4 Low presence of women at the market and commercial activities Lack of market opportunities Poor participatory level in the policy making processes Lack of opportunities to access finance Women’s entrepreneurship in North Macedonia and Albania Higher rate and longer term unemployment Immovable properties

PROJECT CONTEXT Gender-based barriers to women entrepreneurs include: discrimination, matrimonial practices, cultural practices, limited mobility, property rights and unequal share of family and household responsibilities. Women in Polog and Elbasan region are mostly concentrated in sectors with low productivity and a high rate of informality, such as: agriculture and food production, services (in particular those engaged in tourism), garment and textile, handicrafts, decoration, furniture production… Significant factors for the development of women entrepreneurship in the regions of Polog and Elbasan: - raising awareness on the importance of economic empowerment, - developing know-how and enhancing self-esteem, - improving knowledge and skills - encouraging women to start up business and to access to market. 5

6 MAIN GOAL The main goal of the project is to increase competitiveness of women and strengthen the women entrepreneurship in Polog and Elbasan regions and provide sustainable solutions for development of women`s micro and small businesses in the cross-border area.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE 1 To increase personal entrepreneurial skills and business competencies of women engaged in formal or informal business OBJECTIVE 2 To provide legal support services in doing business OBJECTIVE 3 To improve on production, access to market and leverage possibilities for business development and cross-border cooperation and trade between rural areas and bigger urban centers OBJECTIVE 4 To enhance/revise the local and national policy measures for support of women entrepreneurship 7

ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED Business meetings between women entrepreneurs from the regions of Polog and Elbasan Three Policy discussions were conducted with relevant government officials from both countries 8

ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED 2 feasibility studies and 6 proposed policies for the development of women entrepreneurship have been prepared Mentoring program 40 organized (40 mentoringsessions) 9

ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED 18 Trainings for Business planning and 85 business plans for business development 10 Legal advice trainings and two manuals for Mentoring program legal support insessions) both countries (40 mentoring 10

11 BTB meetings and Business fair

12 Marketing campaign for 6 products from the crossborder region

Online platform womenpoweron. com 13

14

15

16 Donation action

ACHIEVED RESULTS 17 RESULT 05 New policy measures developed in joint activity of local and RESULT 04 Increased economic activity in production, trade and sale of local products as a result of increased design, packaging, cross- RESULT 03 border cooperation and/or online store and marketing. Disseminated Legal and Economic Support Services and Information on duties, taxes, rights and obligations for entrepreneurs, and individual advice on legal matters RESULT 02 Established Business Advisory Services for women entrepreneurs in order to increase on economic activities and business development RESULT 01 Improved skills and competences in business management, risk mitigation and general entrepreneurial attitudes and business values national authorities to take advantages of women in business

WOMEN FOR WOMEN 18 Women leaders and the ones taking initiative During the project, women with established and developed businesses provided support to potential women entrepreneurs and to those who are developing their business. This support was implemented through: q 40 mentoring sessions q Networking of women's businesses q Mutual cooperation and support, due to the COVID 19 situation.

IMPACT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES 1. This cross-border project promotes prosperity, invests in the development of women's business communities and prevents and mitigates adverse social and economic impacts, as part of its strategy for social responsibility and economic development. 2. The project actions is expected to enhance the economic and social cohesion between the regions and to improve development prospects for rural areas. 3. Six Policy briefs were developed. The aim of this activity was to achieve the following key goals in both countries. 4. Three policy discussions were conducted. 19

IMPACT IN THE CONTEXT OF ITS CROSS-BORDER NATURE 1. Conducted BTB meeting and Business fair within the project enabled networking of potential and existing women entrepreneurs, exchange of experiences and ideas. Many women have found potential for future cooperation and opportunities to expand their businesses in the crossborder region. 2. The need for women mutual support and cooperation is extremely important, therefore many of the activities in the project were realized jointly, which enabled networking and greater cooperation between women from the cross-border region. 20

S H O R T TESTIMONIALS S T A T E M E N T S “I applied for business meetings in order to learn how to do business. So far I have learned the basics of making a business plan and market research, which will benefit me personally. I look forward to learning how to sustain and expand our business in the future. ” ANGELA MISHEVSKA (TETOVO) F R O M B E N E F I C I A R I E S “I attend these meetings because I believe that they will help me how to be better prepared to enter the market easier. I think I have the necessary skills to do the profession, but I feel that I lack knowledge in the field of planning and managing my business, the necessary investments and so on. The trainings and advice from the experts and legal consultants help me in developing my business idea, anticipating the risks that the business carries with it, as well as to get a more accurate idea of what I will have to face and how. ” FERIJE MEMEDI (SLATINO, TETOVO) “At these business meetings I learned how and in which areas to improve my business in order to be more successful in the activity I perform. I learned about new marketing techniques such as creating catalogs, using testimonials, connecting with celebrities and influential people, ie methods that are cheap and yet will contribute to the promotion and acquisition of new customers. ” “I applied mostly for the opportunity to get new ideas, as well as to exchange opinions and experiences, to share the problems we face in running a business, and how to improve the situation. Sometimes a person needs a "motivational word" or a piece of advice and can get a lot of valuable things from that training. One of the best projects for the development of micro-enterprises of women in the cross-border area that gives you support. ” IVONA SRBINOSKA (TETOVO) BEDIA JAKUPI (TEARCE) 21

22

23 ANY QUESTIONS?

CONTACT US 24 ADDRESS TELEPHONE Rajko Zinzifov 44/1, 1000 Skopje, +389 2 6092 216 North Macedonia, HOURS FACEBOOK Mon-Fri 8 AM to 5 PM Weekends closed centarzaupravuvanjesopromeni E-MAIL TWITTER jasna. pajkovska@cup. org. mk CCM_Skopje WEBSITE INSTAGRAM www. cup. org. mk CUP_Skopje