SMME WOMEN SUPPORT INITIATIVES PRESENTED BY: Ms. Mmabatho Matiwane-

Format of Presentation POLICY FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION INTERNAL INTERVENTION EXTERNAL INTERVENTION CHALLENGES.

Vision: Vision: Advance substantive gender equality by empowering men and mainly women economically to have equal access, ownership and control to economic productive resources. Mission Mission: To mainstream gender equality objectives and institutionalize concerns in the core business elements of the DTI, thus ensuring that men and particularly women benefit from Trade and Investment Promotion, Enterprise and Industry Development and… Gender Equality Policy Framework Gender Equality Policy Framework

Gender Approaches Informing Strategy Women Empowerment: Women Empowerment: Strategy that targets women exclusively aimed at providing them with the space to identify issues o their concern, set their own agenda, determine strategies and engage on these, acquire skills, expertise and knowledge for their own empowerment. Gender Equality Empowerment: Gender Equality Empowerment: Strategy for ensuring that women in relation to men are acknowledge, accepted and treated as equal partners of the institution and the broader society. Mainstreaming Gender Equality: Mainstreaming Gender Equality: Strategy for institutionalizing systems, mechanisms and processes for ensuring that gender equality objectives are effected and successfully realized in all core business elements of the organization.

National Policies Influencing DTI Policy Interventions Dti Gender Equality Mainstreaming Interventions are informed by: –SA National Constitution adopted in 1996 –Chapter 2 Bill of Rights No. 9 Equity Clause –Affirmative Action Policy –National Transformation Policy –Employment Equity Act of 1998 –SA National Gender Policy

Sexual Harassment Policy Dti Gender Equality Policy Guidelines – (revised draft version). Recruitment and Placement Guidelines Dti Policy Interventions In Place Since 1998.

Established gender programme with full time programme manager at a director level Budget allocated – uses budget of the DG, Ministry and other directorates Internal initiatives aimed at creating amd promoting an employer friendly environment Implementation of Programmes

Gender Awareness Seminars- men and women. Improving Security measures. HIV/ AIDS Programme – Raising Awareness through stage drama and information seminars; Condoms and Femdoms distribution coupled with related training; Counseling services. Employees package restructuring counseling, including on the tax. Financial management counseling. Balancing work and family empowerment programme. Improving the Quality of Work Life Improving the Quality of Work Life Initiatives

Employment Status Quo in terms of Gender

Employment Status Quo in terms of Gender

Training and Development Initiatives Formal Training: Formal Training: ABET; Matric; Academic Training- main emphasis on Trade; Investment and Economics Studies. Informal Training: Informal Training: Basic Administration; Management Development; IT and ICT Development; Leadership Development; Policy Development (seminars and conferences) and Generic and Specific training.

Training and Development Resources Allocations Out of 891 Bursaries only 67 were allocated to Dti employees in These were mainly allocated for office based related training. 54% were women – 48% black. Financial implications is that Gender Breakdown 54% were women. Budget committed towards women. Question is whether the focus is correct?

Entrepreneurship Development client based t and Support. Provision of Financial Incentives- mainly through KHULA. Its women client based was increased to 88% by December Khula-Start based on the creation of Micro credit outlets – specifically targeting rural women of which in % of the beneficiaries were women and 11% are men. Ntsika’s interventions through the Targeted Assistance Programme has mainly focused developing skills and expertise on entrepreneurship development and on strengthening of the craft and art sector.

Entrepreneurship Development IT and ICT for Business Technology for Women in Business – TWIB established since TWIB objective is to encourage and promote the use and application of technology and ICT solutions for maximizing business benefits. Its main activity is to award and provide women with skills and expertise needed for improving their business products and solutions. Overall budget of 30 million has been allocated for project implementation over three years.

Financial Incentives

Trade and Investment Promotion REGIONAL INTERVENTIONS: In collaboration with the SADC Gender Unit Policy Intervention – Gender Chapter of the SADC Trade Agreement. SADC Trade and Investment Fair – delegation of 15 business women. SADC Gender Audit – assess mainstreaming of gender Equality in trade and investment programmes.

INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTIONS: Supported the initiative for establishing the Gender and Trade Network Africa (GENTRA) - focus on Research, Advocacy and Lobbying around Gender and Trade Issues. African Women’s Exchange Seminar – Raise awareness and educate women about multilateral trading systems and the opportunities presented by the African Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA). Trade and Investment Initiatives

The hosting of the UNCTAD Conference on Mainstreaming Gender Equality in LDC Programmes and Policies. Influenced the inclusion of the gender equality objectives in the final LDC conference document Similar process adopted to influence the AFRICAN Caribbean Pacific trade Agreement.

Trade and Investment Promotion Introduced the 50% Quota system for Trade and Investment mission. Hosted the International Global Summit of Women Organized women exclusive delegation of 71 business women to attend the summit held in Hong Kong September 2001.

Challenges for 2002 Continue to implement the Quota System and Monitor. Equip women recruited to deal with the challenges. Finalize the Gender Policy Guidelines for Adoption. Maximize women’s participation in SMME programme (SAWEN). Ensure that women are an integral part of the BEE strategy. Expose more women to the international markets.