|
Establishment of sustainable e-business and network for
green co-op enterprises for women in rural communities
Rural women have been actively involved in the process of farm
production, processing and marketing. ICT offer great potential for rural
communities, especially disadvantage women, by providing them opportunities
to acquire information vital to their basic needs including health care,
market trends, new ways of farming and developing new products. In that
context, UNESCAP has developed the project entitled “Establishment
of sustainable e-business and network for green co-ops entrepreneurship
for women in rural communities” which is expected to contribute to
the empowerment of women in
green co-ops in rural communities through the use of ICT as a tool for
socio-economic development.
The three major components of the project include: (a) development of
entrepreneurship skills for women members of agricultural co-ops; (b)
development of capacity in ICT and e-business applications for co-op
based enterprise to market green products; and (c) establishment of a
knowledge network of co-ops to share information, experience and
knowledge regarding the products and market trends.
The project will be carried out through: (1) a desk study on the
status of agribusiness and e-business development in rural areas; (2) development
of guidelines/strategies to develop co-op based enterprises and
e-business applications; (3) a workshop to share guidelines developed and
to build capacity; (4) development of training modules on
entrepreneurship and ICT skills including e-business development; (5) a
pilot test of e-business application at a co-op based CeC; and (6)
establishment of a knowledge network. Ultimately, women in the Asia and Pacific region will develop
entrepreneurship, build capacity and partnerships, and empower themselves
economically through ICT-based marketing and national and regional
knowledge networking.
The project will benefit the ESCAP member countries, particularly the
Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Participating countries include from LDCs
in South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal), from LDCs in South East Asia (Cambodia,
Lao People's Democratic Republic,
Myanmar, and Timor-Leste), China, Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea, and the Republic of Korea.
Status: Expected to be completed in March 2007
|
