The ILO project “Developing entrepreneurship among women with disabilities”
is being implemented in two regions of Ethiopia 2001-2003, in cooperation with
the Ethiopian Federation of Persons with Disabilities (EFPD) and the Tigray
Disabled Veterans Association (TDVA). Funded by the Government of Ireland, the
project aims to promote economic empowerment among women with disabilities and
women with disabled dependants, by providing training in micro-enterprise
skills, arranging access to vocational skills training and credit and supporting
the women to start a business activity or develop an existing one. The ultimate
goal is the development of an effective strategy by which women with
disabilities can optimise their income-earning potential and escape from
poverty. The project involves the completion of a situation analysis of women
with disabilities, carried out by disabled women business skills training
courses for 400 women; market surveys were conducted to provide information on
innovative products and services which the trainees might consider in develop
their small business plans; access to micro-credit; follow up support provided
to the women, in the early stages of establishing their businesses; and training
in marketing through trade fairs.
The project represents a new approach to technical cooperation by the ILO in
the field of disability, an approach that is based on partnership with local
non-governmental organisations of persons with disabilities, and designed and
implemented in close consultation with training providers, micro-finance
institutions, and national and local government authorities. Women with
disabilities have been involved in implementing project activities from the
start. Support has been provided to enhance their capacity to do so, alongside
capacity building for the partner organizations.
Developing Entrepreneurship among Women
with Disabilities - Ethiopia