Global Solutions for Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative
(GSWEE): The overall objective of GSWEE is to provide basic business skills training to women micro entrepreneurs in the APEC region and beyond. Leveraging direct selling industry’s position as a leader in the field of microfinance, WFDSA in cooperation with Kelly School of Business Institute for International Business (IIB), Indiana University, developed and funded a basic business skills training package “Train the Trainers” as well as the seven week training toolkit for women micro-entrepreneurs. The materials will be used, replicated and updated on a regular basis for broadest regional/global deployment possible. Micro lenders will be invited to participate as collaborative members to provide additional seed money to support the entrepreneurial training activities. Targeted partnerships will be formed to ensure alignment and sustainability of program activities.
GSWEE capacity building efforts are in line with APEC SME Ministers cutting edge-edge priority that developing micro-enterprises and investing in women will help with the overall economic recovery and reduce poverty and inequalities in the APEC region and in the world. The initiative is private sector driven from the onset, via the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations, Direct Selling Associations and IIB in various APEC member economies. Governments, women’s organizations, academia and other stakeholders are working closely with WFDSA to implement the program in various countries. The program can be modified as needed and used beyond APEC region.
The GSWEE program was formally endorsed by the APEC SME Ministerial at the October 2009 meeting in Singapore. The GSWEE is a public-private partnership between APEC economies and business.