FORMAT OF PRESENTATION
• Background
• OVERVIEW: Concept; National & Provincial Consultation
• Establishment of SAWEN
• Policy; Mission & Vision
• Objectives
• Basket of Services
• Unique Selling Point
• Corporate Image of SAWEN
• Current Status and Way Forward
ECONOMIC ISSUES FACED BY WOMEN
• SAWEN
– Gender Discrimination
– Low representation In Business
– Business Issues not in the Economic Mainstream
– Economic Policies & Programmes not Gender Sensitive
– Poor access to various Economic Support & Resources
– High Interest low Response
ESTABLISHING SAWEN
• Namibian Women’s Trade Fair –2000
• Experience of DTI officials and those working with women generally.
• Reports confirming the need (NTSIKA & APDF).
• Proposal from the Gender Unit
• Presentation to DTI senior Management –Endorsement
• 1st Consultative Workshop – July 2001
• DTI Smme Strategy – Provincial Road Shows
• Recruitment of Strategic Partners
• National Launch – June 2002
WHAT SAWEN IS
• SAWEN
– A business NETWORKING organization
– Business Exchange FORUM
– An organised LINK to business opportunities
– Information CENTRE about women entrepreneurship
MISSION STATEMENT
• The South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN) is a national network organisation that facilitates and monitors the socio-economic advancement of women entrepreneurs and their positive impact on the country’s economy. SAWEN supports the success and growth of women-owned and managed enterprises (SMMES) by ensuring their access to relevant
– Business information and advice
– Business opportunities
– Appropriate skills and technology
– Mentorship and counselling
– Financial advice
– Decision and policy makers
VISION
• To establish a national forum for South African Women Entrepreneurs to support and strengthen women’s enterprises to engage each other and their strategic business partners, both locally and internationally.
CORPORATE IMAGE – LOGO & SLOGAN
• The collective power is embodied in the blue oval, cradled by the energy and success of the network and its members (symbolised by the golden “arms”).
• The golden “arms” signify strength, growth and prosperity in an ever-changing South Africa. Their shape and placement is indicative of movement and growth…a circle of energy!
• “YOUR LINK TO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES “
OBJECTIVES
• Main Objective
– To mobilise South African women entrepreneurs together to network, share and access information, skills and expertise with each other and other strategic business partners.
• Other Objectives
– Identify and recruit SMMEs– Create and co-ordinate a database– Encourage women to participate – Establish national strategic partnerships;– Establish international relationships.– Provide support;– Identify priority areas and mechanisms – Identify research issues.
BASKET OF SERVICES
• Reflect needs and best practice• Programmes would be monitored and evaluated• SAWEN’s members to provide:
– Business information and advice in; • Finance• Taxes• Business models and registration • Trade between countries – information on customs and excise• Tendering procedures and sources• Company legislation and empowerment policy• DTI & other enterprise development programs
• Business counselling
– Qualified counsellors will address gender specific issues
• Economic rights and Independence
• Domestic violence
• Aids
• Marriage contracts and legal issues
• Assertiveness
• Mentoring
– Trained mentors
BASKET OF SERVICES cont’d
• Training and Capacity Building
• Lobbying & Advocacy
• Access to Information and Opportunities
BASKET OF SERVICES cont’d
• SAWEN will offer the following revenue generating services to the market:
– Retailing information and research
– The sale of databases
– Development & gender consulting
– Project and study tour management
– Event management
– Investment brokerage and training
BASKET OF SERVICES cont’d
UNIQUE SELLING POINT• Eight factors make SAWEN a unique organization:
– Network and reach all women entrepreneurs;
– Capacity to mobilize
– Credibility and information management capacity
– Ability to measure the socio-economic impact
– Access to business information and opportunities
– Lobbying and advocacy;
– Pioneering of a gender balanced approach
POST LAUNCH PROCESS
• PROVINCIAL REPRESENTATION – Kwa-Zulu Natal; Gauteng; Western Cape; Eastern-Cape; Northern Cape; North West; Mpumalanga; and Limpopo.
• Hosting of Regional Workshop • Membership Recruitment Drive and Representatives• End of the year workshop • Launching of Provincial Chapters • Host of the 1st Official Annual General Meeting of SAWEN.