National Road Development Project - Gender and Entrepreneurship
The problem:
The Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan faces significant socio-economic challenges, particularly in the area of women's entrepreneurship. Despite national efforts to modernize infrastructure and promote regional connectivity, women in this region remain marginalized in terms of economic opportunities and business development. The barriers to women's entrepreneurship are multifaceted, including limited access to financial resources, inadequate business and digital literacy, and cultural norms that restrict women’s participation in the formal economy.
Moreover, the region's market environment is not conducive to the growth of women-led enterprises, with many women entrepreneurs lacking the skills necessary to develop competitive products, effectively market their businesses, or access wider markets beyond their local communities. The informal sector, where many women operate as day laborers (mardikars) or small-scale entrepreneurs, offers little in terms of formal support or training. This leaves women vulnerable to economic instability and limits their potential to contribute to the region's economic growth. Additionally, the absence of targeted programs to enhance women's skills in areas such as tourism, hospitality, and basic technical services further exacerbates their economic marginalization. Addressing these challenges is crucial to fostering inclusive growth in Surkhandarya and aligning with Uzbekistan’s broader goals of regional development and gender equality.
The solution:
To address these challenges, InfoCapital Group LLC (ICG) was engaged under Subproject 7 (SP7) of the National Road Development Project, focusing on promoting the growth of women’s enterprises in the Surkhandarya region. ICG implemented a comprehensive strategy designed to empower women entrepreneurs and enhance their participation in the local and regional economy. This strategy involved several key components aimed at building capacity, improving market access, and fostering sustainable business practices among women entrepreneurs.
Firstly, ICG conducted a rapid assessment of the policy and market environment affecting women's entrepreneurship in the region. This included in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with women entrepreneurs, private sector stakeholders, and government officials. Based on this assessment, ICG developed a detailed report that provided insights into the specific challenges faced by women in business and recommended targeted interventions.
Secondly, ICG worked closely with women entrepreneurs to enhance their business and marketing strategies. This involved assessing current product designs, packaging, and marketing methods, and then developing new export-grade product designs and branding. ICG also identified best practices in online marketing and helped women entrepreneurs to establish and manage online platforms for their products. Digital literacy training was provided to ensure that these entrepreneurs could effectively use these platforms to expand their market reach.
In addition, ICG focused on building the knowledge and skills of start-up women entrepreneurs in enterprise development, financial management, and digital literacy. This included the development of tailored learning modules and the organization of training sessions in collaboration with government agencies and business development experts. Post-training assessments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs and to identify areas for further support.
Finally, ICG addressed the needs of women working as mardikars (day laborers) by providing targeted training in skills relevant to tourism, hospitality, caregiving, and basic technical services like plumbing and appliance repair. This was done in collaboration with technical and vocational education training (TVET) institutes, ensuring that women gained the practical skills necessary to improve their economic prospects.
Through these interventions, ICG significantly contributed to the empowerment of women in the Surkhandarya region, enabling them to establish and grow their enterprises, access new markets, and achieve greater economic independence. This not only improved the livelihoods of individual women and their families but also supported the broader goals of regional development and gender equality in Uzbekistan."
Start date:
12/2022
Services:
Client:
ADB
