The document presents South Africa's Women Empowerment Model as a government strategic response to enhance female entrepreneurship and economic participation. It outlines the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, including limited access to capital and markets, and emphasizes plans for mainstreaming and targeted interventions to improve the participation of women in the economy. The initiative aims to foster collaboration with stakeholders and leverage government procurement to support women-owned enterprises and improve competitiveness.

1. THE US – SOUTH AFRICA WOMEN INITIATIVE Women Empowerment Model : A Government Strategic Response by BONGI LUDIDI : CHIEF DIRECTOR GENDER & WOMEN EMPOWERMENT – DTI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS DATE :- 21-26 OCTOBER 2011

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE The dti and its Vision and Mission Location of the Gender & Women Empowerment Unit Role of the Unit and Flagship Programs Supporting Legislation Status of Implementation Unique Challenges Facing Women as Entrepreneurs Women Empowerment Model : A government Response Summary of Interventions Reflections on the MoU Conclusion

3. VISION OF THE DTI The Department of Trade and Industry’s vision is of a South Africa that has a vibrant economy, characterised by growth, employment and equity, built on the full potential of all citizens. To achieve this, the dti has become an outwardly focussed, customer-centric organisation

4. Provide leadership to the SA economy through its understanding of the economy, its ability to identify economic opportunities and potential, and its contribution Act as a catalyst for the transformation and development of the economy and respond to the challenges and opportunities of the economic citizens, in order to support the government's economic goals of growth, employment and equity. Respond to the challenges and opportunities in the economy and society. Provide a predictable, competitive, equitable and socially responsible environment for investment, enterprise and trade. MISSION

5. LOCATION OF THE GENDER UNIT GWE is located within the Empowerment & Enterprise Development Division meant to facilitate broad participation and the overall restructuring of South Africa’s economy- MAINSTREAM ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION To promote, contribute to and provide the following: Gender - sensitive programs for trade and industry; Promote and provide support to the competitiveness of women –owned business enterprises Entrepreneurial support for women Lobbying and policy advocacy Vision & Location

6. SUPPORTIVE POLICIES POLICY ENVIRONMENT Integrated Small Enterprise Development Strategy BEE Strategy, BEE ACT, BEE Codes of Good Practice Cooperatives Development Policy and Draft Strategy Preferential Procurement Policy Industrial Policy and IPAP SA National Policy Framework for Women Empowerment and Gender Equality SUPPORTIVE POLICY ENVIRONMENT

7. OVERVIEW OF POLICY IMPLEMENTATION BEE 32% of women Entrepreneurs 83 % informal 61% African 37% of SA adults with no financial Products 29% of black women do not have bank accounts 38% households Headed by African females A n average of 40 % of women attending antenatal clinics are HIV-infected In KZN, 30% in SA in general 14 % of Black Women employed compared to 28% of black men 70% males workers earn 1000+ compared to 53% females Preferential Procurement Ownership and Management Women in Leadership 16,8% of Executive Managers and 11,5% of Directors Poverty Entrepreneurship Mainstream Economy Low participation of women in BEE transactions Unequal sharing of growth Decision influenced by male domination Hindering of growth which affect employment levels Unable to grow and share Unable to access financial assistance Unavailability of collateral Unavailability of collateral High rate of illiteracy High rate of influx to the urban area STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION

8. UNIQUE CHALLENGES Nearly all women- owned enterprise belong to the lower end of the SMME category, being either very small or micro sized companies. Approximately 70 % of informal businesses in South Africa are owned / controlled by women and experience little support and servicing from government Despite the fact that women – women-owned enterprises are contributing to the share of the national revenue, they are generally perceived to lack the capacity and competencies of their male equivalents and thus marginalized. Fragmentation in implementation Poor participation of ordinary women Uneven geographical spread of the programs CHALLENGES FACING WOMEN

9. CHALLENGES SUMMARISED Barriers related to the size of women entrepreneurs include: Limited investment capital; and Limited access to markets Constraining SMME regulations Limited resources to information retrieval CHALLENGES

10. RESTRUCTURED WOMEN EMPOWERMENT MODEL: A GOVERNMENT RESPONSE Government’s Response :- A two –pronged process of mainstreaming and specific interventions :-\ ◘ MAINSTREAMING : BASED ON THE 50% TARGET SET BY GOVERNMENT ON ALL PROGRAMS - 10 Set Aside Products and IPAP TWO SECTORS - F acilitation of participation in both local and international markets - EMIA and TEO - Provision of entrepreneurial support services - Seda Programs, ◘ WOMEN SPECIFIC PROGRAMS - Bavumile – A capacity Building and Skilling Program - Isivande Women’s Fund – - Incubation and TWIB - Provision of access to IT and ICT entrepreneurial services - Sawen - A platform for advocacy, lobbying, access to opportunities and markets. RESPONSES

11. RESTRUCTURED WOMEN EMPOWERMENT MODEL: A GOVERNMENT RESPONSE - Leveraging the capital expenditure programme and broader government procurement to stimulate demand and support the local manufacturing base- Initiating women owned factories in line with the 10 products and IPAP Sectors. - Improving competitiveness of local industries by intensifying awareness campaigns on incentive schemes that the department currently offers. - Addressing growing global protectionism through active participation in multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations. RESPONSES

12. GOING FORWARD & CONCLUSIONS Enhanced cooperation with key stakeholders including women associations to enhance joint implementation and outreach . Intensify our research in the area of women enterprises/ gender equality to gain better understating of the opportunities and the challenges presented. Introducing Women into higher value add production in the 10 Set Aside Products and those of IPAP 11. Inclusion of new entrants in the economic space, to move towards a region and sector targeted approach . FORWARD LOOKING

13. SUMMARY OF INTERVENTIONS Managing fragmentation in women initiatives Complement the department's women empowerment strategies to ensure the participation of ordinary women Improving the geographical spread of the programs Meeting South Africa’s development objectives SUMMARY OF INTERVENTIONS

14. THE USA-RSA MODEL Understanding the US Economy and the legal imperatives Learn from the Efficient and Effective US Models Formalise the training, skills development and technology support measures in various sectors of the economy Ensuring the participation and empowerment of Women Improving the geographical spread of the programs through strategically identified projects. THE USA-RSA MOU ON WOMEN

15. THANK YOU SIYABONGA !!!!