Port Sudan Association for Small Enterprises Development GALS as an empowering process for the poorest women Evidence and impact, the case of PASED MFI Global Microcredit Summit, Valladolid - Spain 14 - 17 Nov. 2011 Rogaya Hamza Osman LEAP program Manager PASED - Sudan LEAP activities presentation جمعية تنمية الاعمال الصغيرة - برنامج تمكين المرأة بورتسودان

Women empowerment activities in PASED SEDP: Small Enterprises Development Program for microfinance provision annually extend around 5000 loans from which women represent over 60% with total portfolio of USD 12,962,960 PASEDs’ LEAP program (ON funded program): ●Support and encourage potential women entrepreneurs to initiate or refresh their small enterprises through graduation system to SEDP or directly. ● Ensure gender friendly credit policy with flexible conditions for poorest women ● Focus on building women confidence and skills for future service and institutional sustainability PASED established as independent LNGO in Oct. 2000 as it transformed from ACORD Port Sudan (international NGO program). Main focus is on micro-finance for small entrepreneurs in Port Sudan PASED is Adopting the Islamic Modes of Finance in it is financial services delivery. Organizational structure comprises of the general assembly with wide range of expertise and a Board of Directors, the executive body undertake the overall organization management is accountable to the Board. PASED currently run tow main programs; LEAP: Learning for empowerment against poverty,,, concerned with empowering the poorest women through forming them into local CBOs Mainstreaming women’s empowerment in the current PASED Small Enterprises Development Program (SEDP) micro-finance program was one of the PASED’ main concern. LEAP Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty

Applying Gender learning System (GALS) evidence and impact LEAP is focusing on empowering the poorest women through forming them into local CBOs/ women associations through using the GALS process Poverty diamond; The module assisted the women centers in ● Assessing poverty levels among center members ● Setting poverty indicators and identifying needs ● Understand existing indigenous saving & credit systems ● Better product design of the centers poverty loan fund ● Identify skill gaps and training needs As a result various training activities were designed for entrepreneurship skills, centers management skills, etc LEAP activities presentation Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty

Women centers financial management Women centers skills upgrading for proper financial management and reporting Formal bookkeeping training Committees training to work applying the centers credit policy & procedures Implementation of the centers’ accounting system Formation of credit committees at the women centers Women centers financial management LEAP activities presentation جمعية تنمية الاعمال الصغيرة - برنامج تمكين المرأة بورتسودان

Innovative market led skills training Silk screen through CorelDraw program provided for women with very little knowledge of computer and some even are illiterate LEAP Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty

Women centers political participation Participatory diamond; help in ●Ensure inclusion of the poorest and disabled women ● Promote center members’ participation in neighborhood committees and political participation too (number of 3 women are elected in the local council in the last national election) Inclusion of disable women in various centers activities and enabling marketing linkages Women centers political participation LEAP Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty

Consolidating & integrating sustainable Non-financial services; Ministry of Health SNAP HIV/AIDS – First aid and nursery training - Preventive health department – health insurance – High nursery college Ministry of Education Literacy programs - School fees Legal rights organizations Women legal rights – paralegal cadre - gender based violence - justice - saving women property – women in market committee, premises, business license National child welfare council Inclusion of youth and school children LEAP Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty

Empowerment map; led to ● Personal critical analysis for change ● Strengthening women leadership ● Understanding relations win-win ● promoting of networking and alliances ● Women property rights (access & control) ● Relationship with family LEAP activities presentation Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty

Women centers members membership in local administrative committees Discussing their center location with the area committee e.g. School committees LEAP Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty

Challenges : Resources and funding for; Lesson learnt ● Group dynamic skills help the women centers to; Strengthen group cohesion, peer learning, experience exchange & mutual support. Promote the initiative of collective actions for communal issues. Manage group enterprises and bigger investments. Increase women access and control over H/H and community assets. ●TOT programs maximize coverage, efficiency and future sustainability. ● For MFIs to maintain their social mission, there must be a parallel intervention for the poorest with service led agenda. Challenges : Resources and funding for; ● Up-scaling and expansion (urban to rural intervention). ● Wider inclusion of youth and programs for adolescent girls. ● Replication of LEAP program in other parts of Sudan LEAP Learning for Empowerment Against Poverty