Council pushes for empowerment
THE former secretary of state of the United States of America, Hilary Clinton once shared that “Women are the largest reservoir of untapped talent in the world”, unfortunately women have been met with a lot of inequality due to the social constructs that have disallowed them the same opportunities as men in the past.
The Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation (FCEF) in 2013 with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) set up the Women Entrepreneurs & Business Council (WEBC).
Since its inception, the council has grown exponentially and has become synonymous with the women economic empowerment movement in Fiji.
It is estimated that gender gaps cost economies some 15 per cent of GDP (UN Women), this highlights how vital it is that women are empowered to allow for economic growth.
Through the years WEBC has strived to influence policy to benefit women entrepreneurs and remove constrains that have negative implications for women in business.
Over the past two years WEBC has been able to collaborate and partner with many influential organisations and has gained recognition for pushing the boundaries for women and encouraging economic empowerment.
WEBC is the successful applicant to manage the implementation of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program in Fiji.
The AWE Program is a White House led Women’s global development and prosperity initiative targeted to reach 50 million women by 2025.
The initiative is designed to empower women to fulfill their economic potential and promoting an enabling environment that facilitates women’s participation in the economy.
WEBC is proud to be associated with and contributing to this global initiative, as shared by WEBC chairwoman Eseta Nadakuitavuki, “women business owners who went through the program had a lot of untapped potential. I believe they have great ideas that are still untapped and we are also looking forward to the next funding to actually tap that untapped market and the ideas that they have” (FT article, February 11th, 2021).
Earlier this year, WEBC was able to graduate 92 women through the AWE program with a success point being its ability to gradually migrate 30 per cent of those that had been in the informal sector to the formal thus decreasing the number of those women entrepreneurs in the informal from 71 per cent to 41 per cent through the course of the program.
Given the powerhouse of women led businesses that are comprised within WEBC and its networks, applicants to the AWE program had added benefits of being in clusters that were facilitated by the likes of:
1. Sharyne Fong – approved advisor for
Business Link Pacific & CEO Leadership Fiji
2. Neelam Maharaj – managing director of Friendly Mates
3. Eseta Nadakuitavuki – accredited trainer, senior manager Micro Finance at Westpac & WEBC chair
4. Fanny Fiteli – founder and owner of Mama’s Mushroom
5. Arita Sarup – consultant and retired school teacher
6. Shazna Shahista Khan – accredited trainer, Makoi Women Vocational Training Centre manager.
An incredible opportunity to not only be in a successful program but also have the influence and experience of successful women entrepreneurs and leaders as facilitators.
Through the AWE program, WEBC has been able to reach women in Labasa and Savusavu as well as other regions within Viti Levu.
This has been an epic achievement given that WEBC is a Suva based organisation.
The AWE program has three groups in Suva, two groups in Nasinu, one in Nadi to cater for Sigatoka, Lautoka and Nadi and 1 in the North to cater for Savusavu, Labasa and Nabouwalu.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 and distance, WEBC has been successful in venturing on to the e-learning platform to deliver the sessions that each group conducts twice a month.
Given its success in 2020, the AWE program further supported WEBC to continue its delivery into 2021 with 148 women currently in this year’s program. in addition to the two classes, these women now have access to information sessions conducted once a month as a part of the WEBC bridging the gap program supported by the Womens
Fund of Fiji.
Octavia Wilson of Pinata and Photo Frames Fiji said through the program she has learnt how to add value to her products and has also been able to increase cost savings by re-using waste materials from her primary products.
She also added that her three main takeaways from the program has been:
1. Marketing and how to advertise on social media.
2. Learning how to do an elevator speech, which has built her confidence in talking about her business without leaving out key details.
3. Understanding and putting together her business plan, something she now understands is an integral and critical part of a business.
Through the AWE program she has also been able to better her brand with the recreation of her business logo, which has seen her produce her business cards and banners.
It is quite evident in Fiji that whilst many may have great business ideas, the proper understanding of how to run a business is something that’s lacking and also that women make significant contributions to their country’s economies.
There is a growing recognition among governments and in the private sector that investing in women and girls has a powerful effect on productivity, efficiency and economic growth.
Thus, it is quite fortunate that women led businesses can now access proper training and advisory services through the AWE program and WEBC.
■ Fiona Uagunu is the co-ordinator for the Women Entrepreneurs Business Council. The views expressed in this article are her own.