Inclusive, Green Business and Women’s Entrepreneurship Experiences from the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme Silvia Sartori Author, “Advancing Sustainable Development and Women`s Empowerment in Asia”

About SWITCH-Asia Objective Promote sustainable growth, contribute to the economic prosperity and poverty reduction in Asia and to mitigate climate change Partners & beneficiaries SMEs, NGOs, Policy-Makers, Consumer Organisations, Business Associations Components 95 grant projects 7 Policy Support Components 1 Network Facility - Link between SCP – SDG12 & “green inclusive biz” Focus Sustainable Consumption & Production (SCP) – SDG 12 2

The SWITCH-Asia map

Free download at: www.switch-asia.eu 19 case studies South Asia & Southeast Asia  SDGs 5, 7 and 12 Textile & garment industry Agriculture & natural resources Energy Consumption Identify any trend / commonalities in terms of not only challenges but esp. approaches & opportunities These are 20 success stories! This compilation shows that WE is not only possible but also a win win solution: for women, households, children, community and the environment 4

Sustainable Development & Women’s Empowerment 1. Initiatives promoting sustainable development are conducive to women’s empowerment A development that is not inclusive cannot be sustainable A development that is not environment-friendly is also not sustainable Women’s empowerment is a pre-requisite to female entrepreneurship 2. Empowered women are a driving force of the Sustainability Agenda 5

Turning women into entrepreneurs: Barriers and challenges Education Social, cultural norms Confinement Self-confidence Access to social entitlements Bargaining power Informal work Confinement inteso come: Confinement to household chores Isolation (= no groups) Often also geographical isolation Migration Credit access Inefficient devices Hazardous living and working environments “Energy poverty” 6

Turning women into entrepreneurs: Success factors 1. Mobility 2. Confidence & trust 3. Association 4. Trainings - technical - business - leadership - environmental 5. Access to finance 6. Market linkages With the challenges and barriers we are all way too familiar by now so let us focus on the enabling factors Facilitating convergence & access to social entitlements 7

From poor villagers in remote, isolated communities to entrepreneurs Natural resource case study NEPAL From poor villagers in remote, isolated communities to entrepreneurs Social status New livelihoods Financial independence New trend in a formerly male-dominated business: 440 female charcoal producers Additionally: Cleaner energy source Reduced fire hazard risk Forest preservation 8

Textile case study Udaipur, INDIA 1,522 women: 13% illiterate, 80%migrants, > 30% BPL. 150 SHGs Skill & leadership development Employment Financial inclusion: access to credit & savings Entrepreneurship Social entitlements Mobility Self-confidence More 9

Thank you! silvia.sartori@scp-centre.org www.switch-asia.eu