MDG-3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

• The microfinance institution’s capacity has been enhanced in the project and converted into an
independent MFI. Its training materials and operation manual have been disseminated in other
capacity development projects.
• The business incubator delivered sound economic and social benefits. Some small businesses in
the incubator have grown and provid more employment opportunities for LOWWs. The incubator
approach is a sustainable mechanism for promoting growth and employment.
• The Tianjin Microfinance and Business Incubation model has been disseminated through highlevel
national conferences and a series of media advocacy activities. The effect of the Tianjin
intervention is affirmed by the State Council and People’s Congress in re-employment and
venture creation for LOWWs and the establishment of a social security system focused on the
specific needs of women.
Lessons Learned:
• A mix of business skills training, some supportive services and microcredit provides the
ingredients needed to release the entrepreneurial drive of the poor.
• The commitment and professionalism of the incubator staff are essential, and outside experts can
train them in specific issues.
• Partnering with an existing organization and the local government reduces the cost of the
intervention and facilitates wider dissemination and replication.
• The lessons learned from the project are subsequently disseminated through the nationwide
network of the All-China Women’s Federation, the principal national actor in the field of gender
and women’s issues.
Background Information:
Economic restructuring and the closure of unprofitable state-owned enterprises led to lay-offs across
urban China. Women workers in particular faced tough re-employment challenges. This project aimed
to re-employ them and create jobs through information and consultancy networking and strengthening
their capacity to start small businesses. An incubator was established to provide basic enterprise
facilities such as computers, printers, faxes and meeting rooms to laid-off women workers (LOWWs),
which were also connected to training, information and other support services to give the LOWWs a
platform and the tools they needed to start and develop small businesses.
In 2002, the Tianjin Women Business Service Centre organised 57 training sessions with 3,200 trainees.
The training covered both small business management skills for managers such as business basics,
entrepreneurial psychology, business management, marketing, public relations, e-commerce, finance,
project commercialization, patents, relevant government policy and law, gender awareness, social
etiquette, and job skills for LOWWs. The initiative has demonstrated the relevance and effectiveness of
Chinese Business Incubators as a new model of promoting empowerment and employment. The project
ended in 2002.
Implementation Partners:
China International Centre for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE); All China Women’s
Federation (ACWF); Tianjin Women Federation (TJWF)
Contacts:
Yu Hua, Programme Manager
UNDP China
Tel: +86-10-85320751
E-mail: hua.yu@undp.org