ICT Training for Women EntrepreneursHelena Tapper

Inter-American Development Bank

SDS/ICT

Project Description Pilot project in Costa Rica and Bolivia Countries with different level of ICT

infrastructure: Costa Rica: ICE (monopoly in

telecommunications) provides high speed data communication and cellular services

Costa Rica has public Internet access in 81 municipalities provided by Costaricencia.com

Project Description Bolivia has less developed access

to Internet services and use of computers

Majority of entrepreneurs in both countries have micro and small enterprises

Executing agencies:INASET, Bolivia Fundacion Omar Dengo, Costa Rica

Objectives of the pilot project 1. To identify the needs of women

as micro and small entrepreneurs, how they could use ICT to improve their business

2. To develop methodology to train these entrepreneurs

Objectives of the pilot project 3. To implement such methodology 4. To propose a training module for

ICT training for the women entrepreneurs in the region

The project has three components: gender, technology and economy

Serie Innov@

Capacitación para la mujer de la micro y pequeña empresa en el uso y aprovechamiento de las tecnologías digitales

Costa Rica Pilot Project 1. Women were selected through survey

and interviews with a set of criteria 2. Training package was developed

especially for the micro and small entrepreneurs

3. Training took place in 4 towns in different parts of Costa Rica: San Jose, San Ramon, Quanagaste and Perez Zeledon

Costa Rica Pilot Project 5.The training was based on

learning experience 6. The ICT was introduced a

means to enhance their businesses

Project Description The training components were

directly connected to their needs in the businesses: administration, marketing, access to information, credit and marketing

Project Objectives

Objectives:• 1.To identify a reason to be a micro or

small entrepreneur and its importance to the country economy

• 2. To learn to know from opportunities to get assistance for their enterprises

• 3. To learn to know the 4 Ps: product, price, promotion and product distribution

ProjectObjectives

4. To use computers for: planning, organizing and

administration of the enterprise Seeking for material and

information through ICT, Internet To produce marketing material

through ICT

Participants Out of 312 total 110 women were

selected 98 % had never used computer 11.8 % have only one computer 98 % said they were afraid of

technology

Participants

93 % are owners or directors of their business

78 % are older than 40

Enterprise profile of participants 95 are micro and small enterprises 9 enterprises have one computer 56 are family enterprises but the

jefa is a women

Contents of training Business administration: 4Ps, costs

and use of products and services What is micro and small

enterprise, how to know more of banks, government etc?

How to use computer and Internet in their business

Methodology ICT training through learning experiences Self- or group evaluation of learning Learning material included:

Lectures manual Practical examples manualEvaluation manual CD

Word Excel Publisher Internet

Participation in collaboration networks Administrating my enterprise

in an innovativew way

Promotion of my enterpriseWidening my understanding

of my business

What do I expect of my enterprise?

New instruments of work Evaluaion

Rethinking

Methodology Six learning experiences: 1. Information of legal

requirements of business; introduction of ICT

2. Development of business plan 3. To learn to know Internet to

seek for relevant information

Methodology 4. Basics of business

administration using computer 5. To use Internet and e-mail for

networking 6. To create business marketing

material

Summary The training was implemented through

learning experiences Basic computer needs are needed Internet provides access to marketing and

networking and finding out information sustainability: access to Internet through

Internet Cafes or municipal telecenters

Summary Sustainability: access to computers

through low interest credit through NGOs and banks as an integrated effort

New business opportunity: some women may open their own Internet café to provide these services locally

Backstopping: training in schools and follow-up for women trained

Important in the future Technological infrastructure is essential Cooperation of public and private sector to

build infrastructure and access to information

Training should be sustainable (not one time event)

New enterprises should be encouraged New forms of credit and financing both for

the businesses and the access to technology

Project Information Helena Tapper E-mail:helenat@iadb.org