FCEM ACTION PLAN FOR PROSPERITY

During the mandate of FCEM World President Françoise Foning, beginning in October 2005, FCEM is focused on the implementation and follow through of initiatives geared towards ensuring the promotion of women entrepreneurs, through the reinforcing of structures, solidarity and supportive sharing relations and networking. The  principal objectives of the FCEM Action Plan include:

1.      Consolidating the recognition of FCEM in the world.

2.      Bringing visibility to the image of women entrepreneurs and their contribution to socio-economic development and poverty reduction.

3.      Reinforcing and building institutional and technical capacity of FCEM National Associations.

4.      Encouraging exchanges and partnership among members,

5.      Promoting communication and best practices sharing among members.

6.      Facilitating access to financing, to markets and information.

7.     Favouring business skills development and enterprise creation and expansion 

These objectives will be achieved  through reinforcement of  the implementation of the FCEM Programme for Prosperity which is composed of 5 major axes:

1. Lobbying, Coalition and Awareness Building: “Partners for Progress”
2. Capacity Development : WE WIN ‘Window of Opportunity Initiative”
3. Integration into Digital Economy: “FCEM Priority ICT”
4. Financing enterprise creation and development: “FCEM Access Finance”
5. Business and Associative networking & matchmaking: FCEM: Networking for Success”   

FCEM  Programme for Prosperity Actions and Activities

1. “Partners for Progress”  Lobbying, Solidarity  and Coalition Building: 

° Creation of the FCEM Charter for Solidarity and Common Concern for Global Economic Development ratified and signed by FCEM members and partners. The FCEM Global Pact “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Prosperity”

° Reinforcement of FCEM representation and seats  on the committees of international institutions and bodies pertinent to women as economic actors

° Promulgation Communicate and share  the FCEM lobbying strategy and the publication and dissemination of white and position papers, statements and declarations

° Participation and co-organization of international forums and  conferences in conjunction with major International Institutions including: OECD, United Nations commissions and agencies, the G8, the World Bank, regional development banks…

° Consolidating partnerships with economic International Institutions and recognition from world leaders. Signature of partnership accords: FFA, AfDB, etc…

° Reinforcing the notoriety and visibility through:

° Celebration of FCEM Day and the declaration of a World Day for Women Entrepreneurs by the United Nations General Assembly for the third Friday in May. Event was initiated FCEM in 2001

° Awarding of the “Yvonne Foinant Prize”  for National Associations and the FCEM “Entrepreneurs Prize” of  Pioneer and Start-up

2. Capacity Development : “WE WIN” (Window of Opportunity Initiative)

° Creation and implementation of regional projects for the promotion of women business owners through the reinforcing of  nation associations and the capacities and opportunities for business for women entrepreneurs. The creation of FCEM subsidiary regional development associations, a  pool of FCEM experts for business training and project implementation

° Promotion of the project  WE WIN for the reinforcement and promotion of women’s entrepreneurship through the institutional and technical capacity building of national associations. WE WIN is a component of the two-year pilot project to be implemented in the Sahel region financed by the African Development Bank in partnership with the ILO and the FCEM. 

° Promulgation and promoting of the Window of Opportunity WE WIN programme for duplication and replication by the regional development banks for Asia, Europe, MENA  and Latin America, as well as the development programme CDE of the ACP-EU (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific-European Union)

3. Integration into Digital Economy: “FCEM: Priority ICT”

° Lobbying and recommendations in support of efforts to close the digital divide in developing countries. Participation at major ICT forums and events including WSIS follow up events and ICT project events and forums

° Promoting e-trade, e-partnership, e-promotion and marketing through capacity building for businesswomen in the new information and communication technologies

° Creating awareness of the importance of ICT as an effective means for business intelligence and innovation and for creating revenue streams and enterprise

° Encouraging members to make full use of the two FCEM-CandGo  Internet platforms  www.FCEM.ws: platform for national associations, and www.candgo.com: platform for enterprises.

° Promoting the creation of enterprise web sites.

4. Financing enterprise creation and development: “FCEM Access Finance”

° Supporting and  encouraging the development of enterprise start-up and expansion financing tools appropriate for women entrepreneurs by private sector banks and regional development banks

° Conducting and publishing country and regional research on women entrepreneurs needs assessment for financing instruments and their credit worthiness

° Instituting information and training drives on the procedures for financing and  evaluation of various financial backers

° Creation and development of the FCEM Foundation for enterprise development and an FCEM Angels network for venture capital.

° Promoting FCEM micro project financing partner the AEMfe (Association Europeenne du Micro-credit) European Association for Micro-credit. The micro credit partner of FCEM. www.aemfe.org

5. Business and Associative networking and matchmaking: “FCEM: Networking for Success”

° Holding of FCEM events, congresses and committees annually  in the different regions or the world gathering together in the countries of at least two continents.

° Organizing of Partnership and matchmaking programmes  during FCEM world congresses and  committee meetings. The encouragement and facilitation of economic missions amongst and between the FCEM associations

° Harnessing the reach of the Internet by the utilization of the FCEM-CandGo B2B Marketplace Partnership system of for  virtual business  matchmaking

° Encouraging and reinforcing of business and commercial missions amongst and between FCEM associations, in particular through securing financing sources for such events.