HARARE – COMESA has launched an ICT driven project aimed at empowering women called the 50 Million African Women Speak – Digital Networking Platform. This comes at a time when female entrepreneurship rates in Sub-Saharan Africa are the highest in the world, according to a recent report that says women’s entrepreneurial activity is increasing globally.
Speaking at the project launch in Harare this week, the COMESA Director for Gender and Social Services, Beatrice Hamusonde emphasized the critical role women play in the development of African economies.
“It is widely recognized that the economic growth of Africa in general and COMESA region will be led by a diversified and vibrant private sector, including women and youth operating micro, small and medium enterprises. Women entrepreneurs have the passion to develop and expand their businesses” she said.
Women continue to face gender-specific barriers such as limited access to information and networking opportunities, lower levels of education and business training, weak property rights that deprive them of collateral and tangible assets, and social barriers that discourage them from thriving as entrepreneurs.
“These challenges were highlighted in the pilot studies conducted by COMESA in Burundi, Kenya, and Ethiopia in 2011, and the African Development Bank in Kenya and Senegal in 2014.
“The 2014 study by the African Development Bank revealed that the use of Information Communication Technology (ICTs) as an enabler will contribute in lessening some of the challenges affecting women to start or grow their businesses” said Hamusonde.
The 50 Million Women Speak Digital Networking Platform will be accessed through electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, iPads, laptops and others. Women entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe and the region will use the platform to access information and linkages to business services, training and market opportunities.
“The three-year project is supported by the African Development Bank and covers 36 of the 54 countries in Africa. These are Member States of COMESA, EAC and ECOWAS” she added.
The platform will enable women entrepreneurs to network with one another and with mentors to support the overall goal of enhanced financial inclusion of women, leading ultimately to increased economic activity in the region.
“All the information one needs when starting or aiming to grow their business will be available on this platform” explained Hamusonde.
COMESA, just like its sister organizations EAC and ECOWAS, will work with various stakeholders, the Public Sector, Private Sector, Women Associations, Local and International organizations, particularly those with keen interest to empower women in the implementation of the project in all the Member States. The stakeholders will generate content and reach out to the users to raise awareness on the platform.
COMESA Council of Ministers endorsed the project and directed Secretariat to engage government and other stakeholders in the implementation of the project. This was during the 36th Meeting of the COMESA Council of Ministers held in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
While the project is for three years, to ensure sustainability of the platform and continuous uploading of content, it is expected that the organizations that will form the country teams will mainstream the responsibilities of content development and management for the platform in their programmes.
