Entrepreneurship training and support can help women entrepreneurs overcome the challenges they face in running their businesses and can improve both business performance and overall levels of well-being. ILO-WED and the SME Unit have developed a series of tested tools and integrated approaches to support, build capacity, and empower women entrepreneurs.

The Gender and Entrepreneurship Together (GET) Ahead training programme is one of the ILO-WED’s core tools. GET Ahead aims to address some of the barriers women face to starting and running a business and bridge the gender gap by building women and men’s business management skills and key soft skills. It differs from conventional business training materials as it highlights entrepreneurial skills from a gender perspective, incorporates coaching and mentoring, and is targeted to the needs of women with low literacy levels.

The Improve Your Exhibiting Skills: A Training Guide (IYES) aims to enhance women’s capacity to access and participate in trade fairs, in part through the organization of women-only trade fairs, as well as through women’s participation in related events. IYES adopts a three-pronged approach that includes trade fair participation, trade fair facilitation, and trade show evaluation and follow-up.

The SME Unit’s Start and Improve Your Own Business (SIYB) training programme is one of the largest global business man magnet training programmes. It helps small-scale entrepreneurs to start and grow their business through four training packages that respond to different stages of business development.