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 December 2007.