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........................................... Sign up to receive updates on CIPE's work with women entrepreneurs around the world. ........................................... Share your success stories, case studies, and short articles on women's issues on our online and social media. Click here to submit! ........................................... CIPE Development Blog Posts on women's empowerment:
........................................... Join us in sharing stories of how democracy can deliver:
........................................... Want more background on the role of women in development? Check out these resources:   
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NEW - The Center for International Private Enterprise's bulletin on women's empowerment issues January 2011: SAVE THE DATE: International conference on Democracy that Delivers for Women, June 2011| Ambassador Melanne Verveer to deliver keynote address | Focus on: Political Empowerment| Highlight of CIPE's programs | |
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Women’s political participation is also closely linked with economic participation. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that women are more likely than men to be poor because of discrimination in education, health care, employment, and property rights. Women who can provide for themselves economically, however, are in better position to contribute to policy debates. Women need both political and economic empowerment to improve their standard of living as well as the quality of democracy. In the following months, CIPE will explore this theme by considering the roles of entrepreneurship, small business associations, property rights, and institutional reforms in building better democracies that deliver real results for women. ..............................................................................................................................
SAVE THE DATE: June 20-21, 2011 - International Conference on Successful Approaches to Women's Empowerment CIPE is bringing together successful women from around the world with more than 200 international development experts, representatives of relevant US government agencies, companies, NGOs, and foundations to examine practical approaches to women's empowerment and participation. In this two day conference on Women for Democracy that Delivers, panelists and discussants will focus on the following themes: • Connections between economic, political, and civic empowerment for women • The importance of women's leadership and participation in policymaking • The role of business associations in women's empowerment • Institutional reforms necessary for removing women's legal and cultural barriers to empowerment. To learn more about the conference and register to attend, visit www.democracythatdelivers.org. You may also sign up to receive email updates on confirmed panelists, discussion groups, resources, and more. ..............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................... Coalition of Women Business Associations in Romania is an informal coalition launched with CIPE support in January 2004 by nine Romanian women’s business associations eager to play a larger role in the formulation of government policies related to the private sector. The women of these organizations understood that in order to get a seat at the table in public-private dialogue, they would have to refine their business image and speak with a singular, articulate voice. As such, CIPE Romania and CAFA organized workshops on strategic planning, advocacy, public perception, and members’ involvement, as well as trained more than 150 entrepreneurs, managers, and association volunteers.
CAFA's reputation as a successful, trustworthy coalition has lead to remarkable achievements. The Ministry of Finance has requested CAFA’s input on income tax deductions; the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection invited CAFA to cooperate permanently with the Division of Equal Chances; the National Agency for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Co-operatives has included CAFA in a partnership program for women’s entrepreneurship and future legislative initiatives for SMEs; and the Senate Economic Commission asked for CAFA’s feedback on the Fiscal Code and other laws relevant to the business community. CAFA meets regularly with members of the Romanian Parliament and has also had the opportunity to present its vision and plans for the future to the President of Romania, thus providing a strong example of how women can organize to participate politically and economically. Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry came into being in 2001 as an association devoted exclusively to the advancement of female entrepreneurs. BWCCI members cover the entire socioeconomic spectrum from food, beauty, fashion, health products, and handicrafts, information technology, media, and publications. CIPE’s partnership with BWCCI has focused on improved advocacy efforts. Since 2005, the CIPE-supported Promoting Women Entrepreneurs through Advocacy (PWEA) program has contributed greatly to the institutionalization of BWCCI as an advocacy organization and increased women’s participation in the economy. As a result of the program, the government assisted the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Foundation in coordinating the first national Women’s SME Trade Fair in February 2008. Additionally, the government created the “Better Business Forum” – with two female members at the request of the BWCCI – to improve the business environment. The government even organized a consultation workshop, at which the president of BWCCI presented the keynote speech on credit wholesaling and SME access to finance. BWCCI continues to work with CIPE to promote both rural and urban women entrepreneurs in the national policy reform process and facilitate women’s greater democratic participation. BWCCI has recognized some key themes in the issues it will approach as it moves into the future: access to finance (particularly a proper execution of the central bank’s refinancing scheme for women); product design and development through additional public resources and education; company registration and trade license reform; training and capacity development for female entrepreneurs (particularly for rural women); and simplified VAT procedures. By working to establish a gender-friendly business environment, BWCCI shows how political and economic empowerment goes hand in hand, especially for women. ..............................................................................................................................
CIPE Resource: Doa Wadi, executive director of the Palestinian Business Women forum, on women in public-private dialogue:
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Women's political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for genuine democracy. Yet in legislatures around the world, men outnumber women four to one. While quotas and seats reserved for women can help ensure that women have some input in the policymaking process, cultural barriers and conflicting demands on women’s time continue to hinder their political participation. 
Ambassador Melanne Verveer, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, coordinates activities and programs that promote women’s political, economic, and social advancement for women around the world. She mobilizes support for women’s rights and political and economic empowerment through initiatives designed to increase women’s and girl’s access to education and health care, to combat violence against women and girls, and to ensure that women’s rights are fully integrated with human rights in the development of U.S. foreign policy. 
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Look for CIPE’s Women’s Update next month as we discuss property rights and other institutions necessary for women's empowerment! The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and journalists to build the civic institutions vital to a democratic society. CIPE’s key program areas include anti-corruption, advocacy, business associations, corporate governance, democratic governance, access to information, the informal sector and property rights, and women and youth. Please feel free to contact us at forum@cipe.org |
