ICT Training for Women Entrepreneurs Helena Tapper Inter-American Development Bank SDS/ICT

Project Description Pilot project in Costa Rica and Bolivia Countries with different level of ICT infrastructure: Costa Rica: ICE (monopoly in telecommunications) provides high speed data communication and cellular services Costa Rica has public Internet access in 81 municipalities provided by Costaricencia.com

Project Description Bolivia has less developed access to Internet services and use of computers Majority of entrepreneurs in both countries have micro and small enterprises Executing agencies:INASET, Bolivia Fundacion Omar Dengo, Costa Rica

Objectives of the pilot project 1. To identify the needs of women as micro and small entrepreneurs, how they could use ICT to improve their business 2. To develop methodology to train these entrepreneurs

Objectives of the pilot project 3. To implement such methodology 4. To propose a training module for ICT training for the women entrepreneurs in the region The project has three components: gender, technology and economy

Serie Capacitación para la mujer de la micro y pequeña empresa en el uso y aprovechamiento de las tecnologías digitales

Costa Rica Pilot Project 1. Women were selected through survey and interviews with a set of criteria 2. Training package was developed especially for the micro and small entrepreneurs 3. Training took place in 4 towns in different parts of Costa Rica: San Jose, San Ramon, Quanagaste and Perez Zeledon

Costa Rica Pilot Project 5.The training was based on learning experience 6. The ICT was introduced a means to enhance their businesses

Project Description The training components were directly connected to their needs in the businesses: administration, marketing, access to information, credit and marketing

Project Objectives Objectives: 1.To identify a reason to be a micro or small entrepreneur and its importance to the country economy 2. To learn to know from opportunities to get assistance for their enterprises 3. To learn to know the 4 Ps: product, price, promotion and product distribution

Project Objectives 4. To use computers for: planning, organizing and administration of the enterprise Seeking for material and information through ICT, Internet To produce marketing material through ICT

Participants Out of 312 total 110 women were selected 98 % had never used computer 11.8 % have only one computer 98 % said they were afraid of technology

Participants 93 % are owners or directors of their business 78 % are older than 40

Enterprise profile of participants 95 are micro and small enterprises 9 enterprises have one computer 56 are family enterprises but the jefa is a women

Contents of training Business administration: 4Ps, costs and use of products and services What is micro and small enterprise, how to know more of banks, government etc? How to use computer and Internet in their business

Methodology ICT training through learning experiences Self- or group evaluation of learning Learning material included: Lectures manual Practical examples manual Evaluation manual CD

Word Excel Publisher Internet Participation in collaboration networks Administrating my enterprise in an innovativew way Promotion of my enterprise Widening my understanding of my business What do I expect of my enterprise? New instruments of work EvaluaionEvaluaion RethinkingRethinking

Methodology Six learning experiences: 1. Information of legal requirements of business; introduction of ICT 2. Development of business plan 3. To learn to know Internet to seek for relevant information

Methodology 4. Basics of business administration using computer 5. To use Internet and for networking 6. To create business marketing material

Summary The training was implemented through learning experiences Basic computer needs are needed Internet provides access to marketing and networking and finding out information sustainability: access to Internet through Internet Cafes or municipal telecenters

Summary Sustainability: access to computers through low interest credit through NGOs and banks as an integrated effort New business opportunity: some women may open their own Internet café to provide these services locally Backstopping: training in schools and follow-up for women trained

Important in the future Technological infrastructure is essential Cooperation of public and private sector to build infrastructure and access to information Training should be sustainable (not one time event) New enterprises should be encouraged New forms of credit and financing both for the businesses and the access to technology

Project Information Helena Tapper