FEM project in Estonia – achievements for better

futureKairi Talves

NGO ETNA Estonia

Before FEM project - lack of resources for women

• Weak gender equality policy and unbalanced regional policy

• Little awareness on state level about different needs of men and women in business

• Entrepreneurship policy oriented to growth and creating the new jobs

• Voice of the male dominated big companies

But...• ... women want to have smaller firms -

“lifestyle business”• ... a woman starts a business to create a job

for herself and/or her family• Lack of start-up resources – self-confidence,

money, networks + entering into men’s world

• Entrepreneurship support system offered by state did not work for women – ‘You need help to ask for a help’

FEM project – survey of female entrepreneurs, 2004-2005, N=604

Positive starting position

65-70% of entrepreneurs are men, but among ‘potential’

entrepreneurs men and women are represented

equally

The aim of the FEM project

To create a structure for the support of women’s entrepreneurship and to

strengthen the role of women in local and regional development

Creating the support structure for women from ‘zero ground’ ‘One door shop’ – WRC is offering support, training, networking, knowledge about mentorgroups, microcredit and internationalisation

Pärnu FEM NET

Võru FEM NET

Rapla FEM NET

Tartu FEM NET

Jõhvi FEM NET

Achievements in Estonia• Raised awareness on state level –

soft values in business, niche-entrepreneurship

• Strenghtened the voice of women in business and regional development

• Created the structure that meet the needs of women

Achievements in Estonia

~ 800 women were activated

~100 new enterprises and 300 developed enterprises

Something innovative

• Childcare in seminars and workshops

• Idea trips to neighbours on local and international level – breaking the barriers

• Summer schools for female entrepreneurs

Methodology for supporting women

• Knowledge about women’s needs• Cooperation and contacts – synergy between

project partners on transnational level• FEM as pilot project for Estonia • Experiences, success stories, best practices• Competence on state level to go on...

Thank you!

NGO ETNA Estonia

http://www.fem.ee

fem@fem.ee

Member of WINNET Europe