Mobile Technology Programme

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AboutOur programme leverages mobile technology to provide women entrepreneurs with support in three key areas: access to finance, retail channel participation and customised applications to scale up their businesses. We work in partnership with mobile network operators, corporations, local NGOs and thought leaders in this space. Ultimately, the programme is aimed at improving the capability, confidence and capital of women entrepreneurs.

ImpactOur work brings the benefits of mobile technology to women entrepreneurs, which results in a positive impact on their families, communities and economies.

Our ground-breaking report published with the GSMA Development Fund – Women and Mobile: A Global Opportunity – found a wide gender gap in mobile phone ownership, pegged at 300 million women in developing and emerging economies. Through this research, the Foundation has been instrumental in fostering a global discussion about mobiles for development. As a result, a number of NGOs, governments and corporations have begun working together on initiatives for women empowerment through mobile technology.

We recently produced research which demonstrated that including women in mobile retail chains is beneficial not just for the women but for mobile operators as well. We will be using our findings to implement projects to support more women in mobile retail channels.

In addition to our research and advocacy work, we develop projects with partner organisations to provide tangible on-the-ground support to women entrepreneurs. For example, through our project in Kenya with CARE International, we are providing business training for 5,000 women entrepreneurs and connecting at least 15% to formal financial services using the mobile phone.

What women entrepreneurs say:“I used to keep my money under the bed but now I put my money in the M-PESA. I do not need to fear the thieves as I go home after closure of my business, since all the money is in my phone.”

Lilian Adhiambo, Kenyan Entrepreneur

“Working as Team Manager has given me the opportunity to learn and teach new skills to women. They have gained great confidence and their new roles have been life transforming.” Hayfaa Al Marri, Sales Manager, Al Johara channel, Vodafone Qatar

What mobile operators say: “The Retailer Study produced important and original insights. The excellence of this report is testament to the strength and quality of the programme.”

Khuen How Ng, Millicom International Cellular SA

What the experts say: “Mobile technology presents an opportunity to enable a new generation of women entrepreneurs by enabling timely access to vital information, speeding up time-consuming tasks, and opening up new market opportunities.”

Ann Mei Chang, Office of Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State

What our supporters say:“Success of women entrepreneurs is vital to building strong communities. Expanding the use of mobile technology for women will help raise living standards, leading to more prosperity for them, their families and their countries.”

Suzanne M. McCarron, President of the ExxonMobil Foundation

Case studyDolphine Oele was the owner of two successful micro-businesses when she first took part in our project in Western Kenya. A confident, competent entrepreneur, Dolphine was ready to expand to the next level.

Our implementing partner, CARE International, provided Dolphine with business training and demonstrated how mobile technology could help her run her businesses more efficiently. She now uses her mobile phone for banking and managing transactions with suppliers, including orders and mobile payments.

Since the training, Dolphine has set up five additional businesses and has hired five employees. She credits mobile technology with helping her make more sales in a short period of time.

Dolphine OeleEntrepreneur

Mobile Technology Programme

Our initiativesMobile Services for Women EntrepreneursTaking forward the work of our Women and Mobile report, we have started a new project with support from ExxonMobil that will test tailored mobile value-added services for women entrepreneurs in Indonesia, Nigeria and Egypt. Through this project, we are identifying the challenges specifically faced by women entrepreneurs in our three chosen target markets and addressing them using mobile value-added services. The benefits of this two-year project will be enjoyed by thousands of women entrepreneurs.

Nyanza Women’s Economic Empowerment We have joined forces with CARE International to bring the benefits of mobile technology to women entrepreneurs and train them in business skills, including finance management, marketing and packaging. The goal is for these women to scale up their businesses from the micro level to small and growing businesses.

Women Entrepreneurs in Mobile Retail Channels StudyThrough new research, we have developed insights on the inclusion of women entrepreneurs in the retail channels of mobile operators. This research is the first of its kind and spells out the commercial justifications for mobile operators to include more women in their retail channels. Thousands of potential business opportunities for women exist in this sphere, which this study highlights.

Find out about other projects within the Mobile Technology Programme and help us support more passionate women like Dolphine to achieve their ambitions and make a difference in their community.

For more information visit:

Women entrepreneurs in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East lack sufficient support to build their businesses. This results in missed opportunities for the women themselves and for their families and communities who could also benefit from their success.

We address this gap by identifying and advancing opportunities for women entrepreneurs in three key areas: access to finance, retail channel participation and customised applications. Mobile technology opens up new opportunities for business owners by providing access to new markets, networks, business training and financial services.

The facts

• With more than 5 billion mobile connections, the mobile phone is one of the most widely available technologies in the world today

• Yet a woman is 23% less likely to own a phone than a man in Africa, 24% in the Middle East and 37% in South Asia

• The incremental annual revenue opportunity for mobile phone operators is US$13 billion

• 83% of women report that their income increased once they had obtained a mobile phone

• The mobile retail chain presents an accessible business opportunity for women, as it only requires an average investment of US$40 to become a retail agent

Programme:Mobile Technology

Programme

In brief: Harnessing the benefits of

mobile technology to support women entrepreneurs in

developing and emerging economies

www.cherieblairfoundation.org/mobile

Cherie Blair Foundation for Women

PO Box 60519, London W2 7JURegistered Charity No. 1125751Registered Office:66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LH

+44 (0)20 7563 5051enquiries@cherieblairfoundation.orgwww.cherieblairfoundation.org

© Cherie Blair Foundation for Women 2012MP-V1.0

About the Foundation We invest in women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging markets so they can build and expand their businesses – and in doing so benefit not only themselves but also their families and communities. As a charitable foundation, we take a hands-on collaborative approach, working in partnership with local non-profit organisations, corporations and government bodies. We develop projects with sustainable solutions to the challenges women entrepreneurs face, providing business skills, technology, networks and access to finance through three programmes: Mentoring, Mobile Technology and Business Support.

“Giving women the chance to become financiallyindependent and make the most of their talents is the key to higher living standards and stronger economies.”

Cherie Blair, Founder