CIPE’s recent case study on women’s business associations focusing on Central, and Eastern Europe features a case study by Cornelia Rotaru, president of the Association for Women Entrepreneurship Development, on one of the most resounding success stories in the region – the Association of Business Women and Top Managers (AFAFCI), in Brasov county, Romania.
The CIPE Balkans Regional Office recently had the pleasure of sharing the study with its partners in the Coalition of Business Women Associations (CAFA) and the Balkan Coalition of Women Business Associations. The two coalitions were born with CIPE support and the CIPE Regional Office’s direct involvement in 2004 and 2005 respectively. AFAFCI is a founding member of both coalitions. CIPE will also be present at a press conference to be held in Brasov, in August, for the purpose of disseminating the findings of the study, and more specifically the findings of Ms. Rotaru’s case study.
Initially a local branch of the Romanian Women Managers Association that came into being in 1997, AFAFCI became an independent legal entity in 2004. AFAFCI was created to facilitate and support women’s involvement in public policy-making and enterprise management. Both by vocation and by place of birth, AFAFCI walks in the footsteps of the first women’s organization in Romania, the Romanian Women’s Reunion, which was also established in Brasov county, almost 150 years ago. Since its creation, the association has been attracting a large number of members including managers, freelancers and individual entrepreneurs from a variety of professional fields.
Six years of kept promises and successful projects have ensured promising financial prospects. Whereas in 2002 the association was unable to even afford its own office and a website, at present not only does it have an office and one of the best women’s associations’ websites, but it is also able to cover 75 percent of its annual budget from membership fees.
AFAFCI has always been aware of the importance of building solid partnerships locally, nationally and also internationally. Moreover, AFAFCI is a very active dialogue partner for the local elected bodies (i.e., the local council, the mayor’s office or the county council) and Brasov county’s deputies and senators in the Romanian Parliament. As such, the association constantly arranges meetings with candidates throughout the election process, in order to discuss electoral platforms and programs.
The association’s interaction with the local authorities does not stop there, as substantial efforts also focus on participating in public policy making. One of the best examples of AFAFCI’s contribution in this respect is the public stand it has taken in the debate on salary taxes, as part of the Strategy for Development of the Brasov Metropolitan Area.
Over the years, the association has regularly designated representatives to take part in events such as USAID’s Advocacy National Forum, the Central and South East European Investment Forum, etc. However, the association is not content with merely being a participant. It is also an experienced event organizer which has held significant national events such as “The Business Woman’s Role in the Local Community” seminar or the 3rd Annual National Conference of Business Women in Romania. Additionally, it has organized the launch of digital toolkits, such as several editions of CIPE’s “Women of Success” toolkit.
Internationally, AFAFCI focuses on building and enhancing partnerships with likeminded associations, as well as on strengthening cooperation with a variety of donors and organizations.
Of all the association’s many accomplishments, the most resounding is perhaps the Femina VIP Award project, which was launched in 2000. The rationale behind such a project was that the lack of confidence prevalent among women in the local community had to fade for good. Thus, the annual Femina VIP project seeks to highlight women with outstanding achievements in a variety of fields. Along with the award, the winners also become honorary members of the association.
It appears that AFAFCI has found a recipe for success: wide recognition, a strong connection to the needs of the community, an extensive support network, as well as a fruitful relationship with the media. As Ms. Rotaru puts it, the last 10 years have earned AFAFCI the social and political capital allowing it to continue to have a say about the way things that matter to the community are handled.
Published Date: July 30, 2010