1、Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyInsights from UNCTADs eTrade for Women Advocates|2019-2021 CohortE M P O W E R I N G W O M E N DI G I TA L E N T R E P R E N E U R S I N D E V E L O P I N G C O U N T R I E SGeneva,2022Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyInsig

2、hts from UNCTADs eTrade for Women Advocates|2019-2021 Cohortii|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital Economy 2022,United NationsAll rights reserved worldwide Requests to reproduce excerpts or to photocopy should be addressed to the Copyright Clearance Center at .All other queries on rights

3、 and licences,including subsidiary rights,should be addressed to:United Nations Publications 405 East 42nd Street New York,New York 10017 United States of America Email:publicationsun.org Website:https:/shop.un.org/The findings,interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are those of the author

4、s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.The designations employed and the presentation of material on any map in this work do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations concerning the legal status of

5、 any country,territory,city or area or of its authorities,or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.Mention of any firm or licensed process does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations.This publication has not been formally edited.United Nations publication issued by the

6、United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD/DTL/ECDE/2022/3 ISBN:978-92-1-113078-2 eISBN:978-92-1-002206-4 Sales No.E.22.II.D.47iii eTrade for Women|AcknowledgementsThis publication was prepared under the leadership of Mr.Torbjrn Fredriksson,Head of the E-commerce and Digital Economy B

7、ranch at UNCTAD.Ms.Viridiana Garcia-Quiles,Project Management Officer of the eTrade for Women Initiative of UNCTAD,oversaw the preparation of the publication.The paper was prepared by Ms.Nina Angelovska,lead UNCTAD consultant,founder of Grouper.mk and former eTrade for Women Advocate for the Balkans

8、(2019-2021).The paper benefited from the guidance of Ms.Sabrina Ielmoli,Chief,eTrade Initiatives Section of UNCTAD.The page layout was designed by Ms.Erika Crastz,Graphic Designer,eTrade Initiative Section.iv|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyForewordThe rapid spread of digital

9、technologies is creating new opportunities for growth and development,especially in developing countries.Yet,the benefits of digitalization are not automatic and women,across regions and continents,still face multiple obstacles to succeed in the digital economy.Factors that hold women back are multi

10、-dimensional.They relate to gender bias,lower participation in decision-making processes,limited digital skills,lack of trust,and unequal access to funding,among others.If left unaddressed,gender divides will continue to widen.Recent data show that the world is not on track to achieve gender equalit

11、y by 2030-which is one of the targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda.This years tracker on Sustainable Development Goal 5(SDG 5)on gender equality,reveals a concerning regression in womens economic empowerment.But this is by no means a lost cause.In 2019,UNCTAD launched the eTr

12、ade for Women initiative,with the ambitious objective to empower more women in developing countries to embrace digital transformations,not just as consumers or buyers,but as leaders,sellers,and innovators.A unique feature of eTrade for Women is the privileged relationship established with the eTrade

13、 for Women Advocates,outstanding women leaders in the digital economy,who have contributed to shaping the digital ecosystems in their countries and regions.Together,while weathering the COVID-19 pandemic,we have supported over 200 women-led businesses in 30 developing countries across continents.I a

14、m delighted to present this report which captures some of the main learnings from the first cohort of Advocates(2019-2021).Each one of them shares important lessons and recommendations of actionable measures to advance womens participation in the digital economy.The actions we take today will help s

15、hape a more gender-inclusive digital economy,where everyone can benefit equally from the biggest economic transformation of our times.Shamika N.SirimanneDirector,Division on Technology and Logistics United Nations Conference on Trade and Developmentv eTrade for Women|IntroductionDigital entrepreneur

16、ship can be a powerful avenue for womens inclusion in the digital economy,with new business opportunities,efficiency gains,and better access to markets and global value chains.Yet,women entrepreneurs are much less represented in the digital economy than men,especially in developing economies.This ga

17、p translates into missed economic opportunities and may aggravate existing gender inequalities.To understand how to increase womens participation in the digital economy and reduce the digital gender divide-in line with Sustainable Development Goals 5(gender equality)and 8(decent work and economic gr

18、owth)-it is critical to investigate the specific needs and constraints that women face as entrepreneurs,as well as the enabling factors that can further support the growth of women-led digital businesses.Building on the experience of UNCTADs eTrade for Women initiative,and more specifically on the f

19、irst cohort of eTrade for Women Advocates,this paper reviews the main obstacles that women digital entrepreneurs encounter in developing countries.It sheds lights on the entrepreneurial paths of the Advocates,who have been at the forefront of the digital transformation in their respective regions,an

20、d highlights some of the factors that have been instrumental to their success as business leaders.It also explores actionable measures that could be put in place to help more women follow in the footsteps of the Advocates to grow successful digital businesses and be influential players in the digita

21、l economy.vi|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyTable of ContentAcknowledgment iiiForeword ivIntroduction vThe digital gender divide:Where do we stand?7Key facts and figures 8E-commerce and digital entrepreneurship 10UNCTADs eTrade for Women Initiative 11The eTrade for Women Advo

22、cates 13What is holding women back in todays digital ecosystems?21Insights from the eTrade for Women Advocates 22Some findings from the Advocates 24Actionable measures 27Mobilizing key players 28How can the international community foster women digital entrepreneurship?29How can the eTrade for Women

23、Initiative strengthen its support?32References 35Stay connected&follow us 36The digital gender divide:Where do we stand?8|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyDigital transformation of ecosystems around the world is opening new avenues for entrepreneurship.It is enabling physical a

24、nd traditional organizations to evolve,novel business models to be applied,and new forms of digital entrepreneurship to emerge.Although the vast majority of digital businesses remain small and local,digitalization presents ample opportunity for micro,small and medium-sized enterprises(MSMEs)to expan

25、d their international reach.And that matters.Some 95%of companies across the globe are MSMEs,accounting for 60%of the worlds total employment.1 Total companiesMSMEs across the worldTotal employmentE-commerce in particular,has great potential for diversifying the scope and geographical reach of trade

26、 for developing countries.The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased use of digital solutions,including e-commerce,within the context of a global economic downturn.Measures taken to control the virus infection,including through movement controls,and public anxiety about social interaction have boost

27、ed demand for digital services and online shopping,leading more people to make use of digital channels.As a result,the share of e-commerce in global retail trade is estimated to have surged from 16%in 2019 to about 19%in 2020,a level that was sustained in 2021.2The boom in e-commerce has also raised

28、 new hope that digitalization can drive inclusive transformation and growth by having more women involved.Digital technologies offer women the liberty to work from home while expanding a business in the digital space,accessing new markets and making efficiency gains,which conceivably provides both m

29、en and women with equal opportunities.3 According to IFC studies,between 2025 and 2030,women could add over$14.5 billion to e-commerce markets in Africa and$280 billion in South-East Asia.4,595%60%Share of e-commerce in global retail trade0204060801002019 2020 202116%19%19%Potential gains from women

30、s participation in e-commerce(2025-2030)$14.5 billionAfrica$280 billionSouth-East AsiaKey facts and figuresSOURCE:WTO,2022SOURCE:UNCTAD,2021SOURCE:IFC,20219 eTrade for Women|Yet,disparities remain in terms of how women entrepreneurs and women workers can take advantage of these opportunities.Women a

31、re under-represented in the global workforce with just under 47%of women participating in labor markets,as compared to 72%of men.The difference reaches up to 50 percentage points in some regions.6 In terms of leadership and decision-making,gender disparities are also significant,with women holding o

32、nly 28%of managerial positions globally in 2019 almost the same share as in 1995.7 And according to the World Banks most recent Enterprise Survey,only 18%of surveyed enterprises worldwide had a female top manager.8Labor market participationWomen47%Men72%Global internet usageStudents in STEM worldwid

33、e (higher education)35%WomenIn terms of technology use,the gender gap in internet usage has shrunk globally,but remains significant in many developing countries.In Europe,85%of women used the internet regularly in 2020 compared with 87%of men.9 By contrast,in Africa 35%of men used the internet as co

34、mpared to 24%of women,and in the least developed countries(LDCs),31%of men used the internet as compared to only 19%of women.10 Such discrepancies continue to be one of the major barriers to meaningful participation in the digital economy.Women are also less likely to master more advanced technology

35、 and digital skills,which underpin the possibility to leverage digital tools as workers and entrepreneurs.Girls and women are under-represented in scientific and technical disciplines in tertiary education.According to UNESCO,only 35%of Science,Technology,Engineering and Mathematics(STEM)students in

36、 higher education globally are women.11 In European universities,women represent only 32%of graduates in STEM at the Bachelor level and 36%at the Masters level.12 In Europe,only one in five ICT specialists are women.13 In the United States,women represented only about one third of all STEM workers i

37、n 2019.14Europe85%87%Africa24%35%LDCs19%31%Women MenGlobal managerial positions-2019(Almost the same share as in 1995)28%Women 72%Men65%MenSOURCE:WBG,2022SOURCE:ILO,2022SOURCE:ITU,2021SOURCE:UNESCO,201710|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyDigital technologies offer tremendous gr

38、owth opportunities.Realizing them requires entrepreneurs to unlock their economic potential as the basis of new businesses or as an enabler of the transformation of already established firms.15Women entrepreneurs already make significant contributions to economic activity.In developing countries,fem

39、ale entrepreneurship is increasing:there are about 8 to 10 million formal small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs)with at least one female owner.16 In low and middle-income countries,while only 17%of women are entrepreneurs,35%aspire to become entrepreneurs.Taken together,over half of women in devel

40、oping countries see entrepreneurship as a path to a better future,compared to 25%in high-income countries.17 Despite the barriers that impact their growth prospects,many women are making a significant impact.There is a lot of room for improvement.Women-owned businesses are typically smaller,employ f

41、ewer people and are more likely to be concentrated in the retail sector and in the informal sector.18 They also tend to have lower growth rates,higher closing rates,and make more limited use of external finance.19 Barriers often cited include lack of capital,strict social constraints and limited tim

42、e and skills.20 Women entrepreneurs often must juggle traditional household responsibilities with running their business,which limits the time they can dedicate to the growth of their activity.21It is imperative to enable more women entrepreneurs and business owners to unlock their potential.22Susta

43、ining and accelerating womens success in e-commerce and the digital economy will require additional support for strengthening womens skills,expanding financing options,and increasing women-led businesses penetration into higher-value sectors.Innovation and entrepreneurship do not take place in isola

44、tion but depend on the quality of the surrounding ecosystem.23 Therefore,the focus should not be limited to just increasing the number of female entrepreneurs in general,but especially in high-growth and high income-generating activities-such as e-commerce and the digital economy.This would both imp

45、rove gender equity and improve the contribution that MSMEs make to the SDGs.E-commerce and digital entrepreneurshipAn untapped potential for women in developing countries?Women digital entrepreneurship and the Sustainable Development GoalsGender equality and ensuring that no one is left behind are k

46、ey to the achievement of each and every SDG.SDG 5 on gender equality and womens empowerment reflects the link between technology and womens rights,with a target for utilizing technology and ICTs to unlock womens and girls potential.SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth highlights the need to achi

47、eve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men and equal pay for work of equal value.11 eTrade for Women|UNCTAD launched the eTrade for Women initiative in 2019,premised on the need to harness the transformative power of women entrepreneurship to accelerate inclusive growth

48、 and contribute to poverty reduction,thus helping to achieve the SDGs.The initiative seeks to empower women digital entrepreneurs in developing economies to thrive as leaders of the digital transformation and emerge as influential voices in the public policy debate.It conducts activities along four

49、strategic action lines:advocacy,capacity-building,community-building and policy dialogue.The eTrade for Women AdvocatesThe first cohort of eTrade for Women Advocates was announced in September 2019,on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.The Advocates are a small group of influential w

50、omen leaders in the digital sector,acting as role models for the next generation and bringing womens voices to the front to influence policy-making at the national and global level.Their activities focus on contributing their knowledge and experience to identify constraints that hold women back in t

51、he digital economy,and on making recommendations to shape more inclusive digital ecosystems,especially in developing countries.At the end of their tenure,the Advocates continue to support eTrade for Women through various means,including by joining the initiatives Advisory board,which was created in

52、2022.UNCTADs eTrade for Women Initiative Unlocking the potential of women digital entrepreneurs in developing countrieseTrade for Women strives to empower women entrepreneurs in the digital world through four main action-lines:Give a voiceInspireEmpowerConnect12|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in t

53、he Digital EconomyThe eTrade for Women Advocates in the United Nations Headquarters in New York City,USA.Source:UNCTAD,2019.The eTrade for Women Advocates14|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyFounder and former CEO of Hehe Labs in Rwanda,Clarisse Iribagiza has made a significant

54、impact on Africas ecosystem.At the age of 22,she started a mobile tech company providing local suppliers access to an online store for their goods,inventory maintenance and digital payments processing.At that time,she was still an undergraduate pursuing a STEM career in computer engineering.She was

55、enrolled in an MIT incubator program during faculty that gave her direction and incentivized her to embark on her entrepreneurial journey.At this time,she faced challenges due to her lack of experience in leadership,business development and how to build a team.Driven by purpose to make a change for

56、girls and women,her company partnered with an initiative called GirlsHub,which was striving to teach girls about information and communications technology(ICT),tech design and critical thinking.“The fact that we trained and inspired 450 girls through our academy has helped to transform our community

57、.We are building products that contribute to the ecosystem and especially women and women in agriculture.”She acknowledges that she was in the right place at the right time.“I came on the scene just at the right time,as a woman leader in tech in Rwanda.There was a lot of Government support and insti

58、tutional support,which was a huge encouragement for me.But I am also coming from a family who supported me to feel like I could achieve anything I set my mind to.I also could not be where I am without the support of many mentors I have had on the way.”Her passion and drive for making a greater impac

59、t drove her to co-found a new venture recently entitled Deep Tech Africa.It aims to build an inclusive and sustainable innovation-driven ecosystem through advisory,training,and a venture studio.“We want to give entrepreneurs and startups an opportunity and to lower the barriers to entry.We want them

60、 to focus on solving complex problems with tech without having to worry about all other aspects that come along with developing a business.The accelerator program we are building will offer scholarships for women-led startups.”Clarisse IribagizaContributing to the development of the tech ecosystem i

61、n Rwanda while building a successful business15 eTrade for Women|In 2011,a then-21-year-old Nina Angelovska won a national competition for her business plan and subsequently launched Grouper.mk,North Macedonias first group deal buying platform that shortly became known as the game-changer of Macedon

62、ian e-commerce.At that time only two percent of individuals were ordering or purchasing goods and services on the internet in North Macedonia.As one of the first movers in the industry,Grouper.mk faced many challenges.“There were many obstacles standing in our path:lack of habit for online buying,sm

63、all share of active payment cards in circulation,safety concerns and lack of trust in buying online,lack of skills and adoption of new trends among merchants,legal issues,lack of skills and knowledge of lawmakers and affected institutions,and administrative burdens.”The various challenges that Group

64、er was facing were the motivation for Angelovska to embark on establishing the first E-commerce Association in North Macedonia in 2017,which she is still currently heading as President.“For several years we would go to meetings with Government institutions in the pursuit of addressing and easing the

65、 legislative burdens that were hampering the development of Grouper and the industry as a whole.”“However,in order to push for change and have our voice heard in those meetings we realized that we needed to represent and speak on behalf of the industry.”“And this is how the Macedonian E-commerce Ass

66、ociation was born.Back then I knew little about establishing and running an NGO but I had the opportunity to learn a lot from the best practices of the very well-established Associations in the developed markets whom I met during UNCTADs eCommerce Week.”The Association helped raise awareness about t

67、he opportunities of e-commerce among the business community and the Government and is regularly contributing to mapping and eliminating the barriers striving to create a more favorable environment for e-commerce development in North Macedonia.Apart from being a successful digital entrepreneur and ta

68、king an active role in the non-government sector,in 2019 Angelovska joined the Government as Minister of Finance of the Republic of North Macedonia.She was the first woman to take this position and served for one year.As an eTrade for Women Advocate she hosted the first eTrade for Women Masterclass

69、that gathered over 50 digital entrepreneurs from Western Balkans in 2019 and went on to contribute to the gender equality issue through the recently established“Alliance on Gender Equality in the workplace”that strives for equal opportunities,equal representation,and equal pay.The Alliance aims to u

70、nlock the powerful synergy between digitalization,e-commerce and women,stimulate public-private dialogue and present a platform where the private sector can take an active role in promoting gender equality.Nina AngelovskaSeeing obstacles as challenges and transforming the e-commerce market in a deve

71、loping country16|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyPatricia Zoundi Yao,is the founder of Quick Cash,which takes fintech to rural areas and allows farmers and workers in the informal sector to make money transfers.She also started Canaan Land,a social enterprise that provides far

72、mers,especially women,with access to land and trains them on how to apply sustainable farming techniques.The company supports about 400 farmers across Cte dIvoire,86%of whom are women.Becoming an eTrade for Women Advocate in 2019 encouraged her to take a more active approach in policy-making discuss

73、ions.“It was a sign of confidence and trust.As a result,decision-makers started paying more attention to what I had to say.”Being part of a network of successful women entrepreneurs from around the globe inspired her to learn new things and apply new tactics in her business and environment.Ms.Yao wa

74、s recently elected president of the Executive Council of the Small and Medium Businesses Movement of Cte dIvoire,which represents over 2,500 SMEs in 25 sectors.She is the first woman to hold this position in during the first 40 years of the organization.She is now using her position to voice the con

75、cerns of digital SMEs and understands that she is in a position to influence decision-making processes:“I have learned that when speaking with policymakers,we should come not only with the problem but also with the solution if we expect to see actions taken.Policymakers will listen and understand th

76、e challenges that the businesses are facing.But this is not enough if there is no action afterwards.That is why we are trying to have concrete proposals and actions when sitting with policymakers and jointly participate in the search for a solution that will fit both sides.”Patricia Zoundi YaoTaking

77、 a seat at the policy-making table and becoming a trusted voice to represent MSMEs and womens concerns in the digital economy17 eTrade for Women|Helianti Hilman,a social entrepreneur from Indonesia,founded Javara in 2008.Javaras mission is to sustain Indonesias forgotten food biodiversity heritage b

78、y delivering it to the national and international markets.Through partnerships with farmers,foragers,fishermen and food artisans,Javara offers a wide range of natural,organic and artisanal food products originating from various regions of the Indonesian archipelago.Ms.Hilman explains the transformat

79、ive role that technology has played for her company:“Our business would not have been able to grow at this pace if we had not constantly transformed and improved with the use of technology.We increased our productivity and efficiency with the implementation of the ERP system a few years ago.We have

80、tens of thousands of farmers and over 900 Stock Keeping Units and the management of the agribusiness is enabled by technology.We make informed decisions based on reliable and accurate data.However,this was just the beginning of our digital transformation.”She says eTrade for Women inspired her to th

81、ink more about digital:“I was inspired by the network of Advocates and we embarked in Javara on an ambitious digital agenda putting e-commerce in focus.When the COVID-19 pandemic hit,we were prepared to turn it into an opportunity and grow our business even though the agribusiness was among the nega

82、tively affected ones.With the disruption of the supply chains,we decreased our exports to Europe and the USA and turned more attention to growing our domestic presence in Southeast Asia.In addition,as all farmers go through our entrepreneurial school before becoming part of our network,we shifted to

83、 online training.”Javara now has a dedicated digital team and it has strengthened its e-commerce presence.Thanks to the teams commitment to digital transformation,Javaras platform represents a digital organic landscape that enables agri-producers and local brands to sell,advertise and distribute the

84、ir products online.Ms.Hilman says digital entrepreneurship is a great opportunity for women:“Compared to women who work across various industries with fixed hours and locations,digital entrepreneurs can enjoy great flexibility.We nurture women entrepreneurs through our program at Javara women can se

85、t their own targets and pace based on their availability.Maybe there will be some more ambitious women who will dedicate extra energy to growing the business,while some will set less ambitious agendas in a given time and dedicate more time to home and family.Our entrepreneurship school is more popul

86、ar among women,especially young women.”Helianti HilmanDigital transformation as a key driver for growth.Changing an ecosystem by providing a platform for local agri-producers to thrive and become entrepreneurs18|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyXiaofei Yao is the founder and CE

87、O of Rogrand,the largest online pharmaceutical company in China,which she founded over 10 years ago.She was the first eTrade for Women Advocate for China.As a woman business leader,Ms.Yao stresses the importance of role models,and how supporting other women and forming a community can help unlock fe

88、male entrepreneurship:“It is critical to help other women understand the entrepreneurial journey,and share the real stories and learnings,especially regarding critical business decisions.This means sharing about what you have done right but also and most importantly about what you have done wrong.”S

89、he believes women entrepreneurs can help shape a more inclusive digital economy by developing innovative solutions and focusing on business activities with high socio-economic impact.“I always believed that internet has a big role to play in enabling and empowering traditional industries to upgrade

90、and improve efficiency and effectiveness,and eventually to improve equality and accessibility of medical and pharmaceutical services.”“I encourage women not to be afraid of finding their own path by choosing the industry they are passionate about or designing a business-model with more concerns for

91、sustainability,equality and care,which female leaders are relatively more sensitive and intuitive about.Our success will prove that women have a very significant role to play in the digital economy.”Xiofei Yao Enabling women to play a full role as leaders of the digital economy 19 eTrade for Women|N

92、azanin Daneshvar is the founder and CEO of T,and the first eTrade for Women Advocate for Western Asia.Born and raised in Teheran,Iran,Ms.Daneshvar recalls the early years of building a digital business as a woman entrepreneur:“During the first two years of existence of my company,Takhfifan,people co

93、uld not believe I was the one in charge.When attending important meetings,I often had to bring male relatives with me-including my own father-to close business deals.But this is how I overcame gender barriers,until we cracked the market and succeeded.()I believe in the fact that you either find your

94、 way,or make your way.”Looking back at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,and the burden it has put on businesses,Ms.Daneshvar also sees vast opportunities for women-led digital SMEs:“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed consumers habits and behaviors,and digital tools are now part of our daily lives.

95、Business owners must embrace digital transformation and bring traditional retail activities online.This in turn will result in more tech start-ups being created and more sophisticated technology being developed.”According to Ms.Daneshvar,this is especially true in emerging economies:“Emerging market

96、s offer many business opportunities,especially for SMEs in the digital economy,as they face less competition than more advanced markets.”Nazanin DaneshvarSeizing the opportunities that the digital economy offers SMEs in developing and emerging economies20|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digi

97、tal EconomyClaudia de Heredia is the founder of Kichink,Mexicos first electronic trading platform for SMEs,and the first eTrade for Women Advocate for Latin America and the Caribbean.Ms.De Heredia had to face skepticism while launching her digital company 10 years ago:“I was asked:Why make e-commerc

98、e when there are giants in the world making e-commerce?”Yet in her experience,digital tools and e-commerce offer tremendous potential to connect women-led MSMEs to markets:“e-Commerce is so powerful for women because it has the capacity to democratize the tools to take part in the economy.”Now that

99、her company is considered one of the game-changers in Mexicos digital ecosystem,Ms.De Heredia insists on the importance of supporting entrepreneurs in the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey:“I had to do this all on my own.I really think that having a person,just someone to believe in you

100、could make all the difference.”Ms.De Heredia highlights the deep and unequal consequences of COVID-19 on women across Latin America,and the need to turn the spotlight on what women are doing,to change perceptions,and better support them:“The pandemic slowed down progress for gender equality.Over hal

101、f of women-led companies in Mexico shut down.().Shining a light on what women do and need is very important,especially during the pandemic times.The eTrade for Women initiative showcases women entrepreneurs and gives them space to grow and exist.This programme is more important than ever.”Claudia de

102、 HerediaProviding women digital entrepreneurs more visibility to change perceptions and tackle entrenched gender inequalities21 eTrade for Women|What is holding women back in todays digital ecosystems?22|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyThe number of women operating their own b

103、usinesses is increasing globally.Women entrepreneurs now represent about one in three active growth-oriented entrepreneurs in the world.24 Yet,women continue to face significant obstacles that stunt the growth of their businesses.The Advocates have faced a series of hurdles along their journey as di

104、gital entrepreneurs:social and cultural barriers,insufficient tech and digital skills,lack of female role models and unequal access to financing.In countries at all levels of development,a womans personal preference is the key factor in determining whether she will seek out and engage in paid work.H

105、owever,this preference is heavily influenced by socio-economic constraints and pressure to conform to traditional gender roles.25CLARISSE IRIBAGIZA is a successful digital entrepreneur from Rwanda and was the first eTrade for Women Advocate for Eastern Africa.From her experience,cultural norms are o

106、n top of the list of constraints that are holding women back as entrepreneurs:“What society expects from women and how the role of women in society is perceived is one of the main constraints.I was lucky that this barrier for me was broken since I was little,thanks to my mother and the way I was rai

107、sed,but this is one of the key blockages for many women”.Technology and the internet can be great enablers,but challenges such as unequal access to opportunities,lack of skills and a fear of discrimination prevent many girls and women from using and creating digital tools and online content.HELIANTI

108、 HILMAN is a social entrepreneur from Indonesia and the first eTrade for Women Advocate for South-East Asia.She finds that many women face psychological blockages regarding tech-related activities:“Women may perceive the tech space as more heartless because the human connection is not really there”,

109、she explains.“Most women wonder:Am I ready?How to do it?This is the reason why coaching and mentoring are very important.”The lack of female role models has been cited as a major factor in the low uptake of STEM programs and courses by young girls in both elementary and higher educational institutio

110、ns.26The lack of a more gender-balanced academic and research STEM workforce in educational institutions,particularly in management roles,has made STEM a highly male-dominated domain.This in turn makes it more difficult for academic institutions in the STEM area to attract and retain women both as s

111、tudents and as employees.Ms.Iribagiza points out the importance of having role models at an early age:Insights from the eTrade for Women AdvocatesThe first cohort(2019-2020)of eTrade for Women Advocates consisted of seven successful women digital entrepreneurs from seven countries,who have built suc

112、cessful digital businesses that have impacted their ecosystems.23 eTrade for Women|“We need to start early,when girls are young,and build the right environment for them to pursue whatever dreams they have.When we reach out to girls in high schools and universities or to girls that are already in the

113、 work environment,sometimes it seems like it is too late for making a difference in terms of having more women in tech or STEM-related areas.This is why creating an environment where girls and women can see other women pursuing a career in STEM and role models is critical.Technology is providing acc

114、ess to knowledge,information,and financial inclusion.”Women globally show on average 20%lower confidence than men in their capability to start a business(54.7%vs.66.2%),and in no region or income level women rate higher than men.This lack of confidence also impacts their pitching skills when seeking

115、 funding.In addition,many women entrepreneurs who are in the phase of scaling-up their digital businesses are struggling with access to talents and building skilled workforce.PATRICIA ZOUNDI YAO,an Advocate based in Cte dIvoire,explains that this has been one of the key challenges:“We struggle to at

116、tract and recruit talents,which is key for growing our business.”The eTrade for Women Advocates point out that the lack of access to finance in early stages(as well as during later stages of scaling the business)is a common and major constraint:Women are less likely than men to report that they can

117、access the financing needed to start a business.The only exceptions are the United States,Mexico,Greece,and Indonesia,where men and women are equally likely to report having access to finance.27 It has been estimated that a global$300 billion gap in financing exists for formal,women-owned small busi

118、nesses,and more than 70%of women-owned small and medium enterprises suffer from inadequate or no access to financial services.28 And in Africa,female founders receive only a small fraction of the total investment in technology firms.29 Although many women entrepreneurs have followed the prescription

119、s in learning finance,increasing their pitching skills and confidence,securing early-stage growth capital remains a key challenge on their entrepreneurial journey.Consequently,women entrepreneurs are more reliant on self-financing.30MS.IRIBAGIZA explains:“I started by bootstrapping and struggled a l

120、ot to find the right kind of funding.I had to be very creative and innovative.”MS.YAO,similarly,found that access to finance,training and information are key obstacles that women face:“The banks are still reluctant to support e-commerce businesses,and especially women-owned ones.They do not fully un

121、derstand the business and it does not feel tangible to them.”24|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyDriving for impact is one important characteristic of female entrepreneurship.One thing all Advocates have in common is that they consider their biggest success to be the impact the

122、y have made on their ecosystems.Some findings from the Advocates125 eTrade for Women|Support from family and mentors,relatable role models and networks have contributed to the business success and growth for all the Advocates.Being surrounded by strong women has helped the Advocates.In turn,the Advo

123、cates all hope to inspire,encourage and empower other girls and women.Bootstrapping to overcome the financing gap:Most of the Advocates began by bootstrapping which conforms with the findings that women are often more reliant on self-financing.Boosting skills of early-stage entrepreneurs:Several of

124、the Advocates were stimulated to start their business after having attended a competition or an incubator program right before embarking on their entrepreneurial journey.23426|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital Economy27 eTrade for Women|Actionable measuresEnhancing the participation of

125、 women entrepreneurs in the digital economy28|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyMobilizing key playersA diverse and holistic approach is needed to foster an enabling environment for the development of women entrepreneurship in the digital economy.This will require a palette of a

126、ctions.Policymakers,governments,private sector companies,development organizations,and International Financial Institutions(IFIs),Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs),academia,teachers and entrepreneurs all have a part to play in closing the digital entrepreneurship divide,overturning stereotypes an

127、d encouraging women and girls to embrace opportunities of the digital world.Together,it is possible to empower women and girls and to move closer to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and a better world for all men and boys,women and girls.31DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONSGOVERNMENTSACADEMIA&TEACHERS ENTR

128、EPRENEURSPRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIESPOLICYMAKERSNON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS(NGOS)INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS(IFIS)29 eTrade for Women|How can the international community foster women digital entrepreneurship?Drawing upon existing constraints and the experience of the eTrade for Women Advoca

129、tes,this section provides a set of actionable measures and concrete initiatives to create an environment in which women digital entrepreneurs can thrive.Leverage successful role models to encourage and motivate girls and women.Girls and women need to be able to see and learn from real examples in th

130、eir societies,from women who have walked the talk.Positive role models are a powerful tool for eliminating gender stereotypes,including those relating to ICTs and women in STEM.Perceived role models in the media as well as real-life mentors and success stories should be leveraged in this context.Bot

131、h public and private actors as well as the media can contribute to giving more visibility to women in leadership roles,by highlighting success stories and offering platforms where women role models can share their experience.Women entrepreneurs can also help change perceptions by actively supporting

132、 younger generations.Change the rules of the game in the(still)male-dominated digital world with a strong commitment to fight deeply rooted stereotypes and socio-economic constraints that hold women back.The socio-economic change enhanced by digital transformation can impact social and cultural norm

133、s,challenge traditional perceptions of the role of women in society,and help women reach new or different aspirations.These changes can be supported by well-designed campaigns to raise awareness of gender stereotypes,the missed potential for economic growth caused by womens under-representation,and

134、the need to promote more gender-balanced narratives.Governments and international institutions can play an active role in putting in place rules and regulations that promote gender equality in all spheres of economic and social life.Private companies can also adopt good practices and standards that

135、can foster more gender-inclusive environments in the workplace.Academia can help uncover and investigate discriminatory behaviors and produce research and analysis that can inform collective action.30|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyRethink and re-build educational systems to

136、encourage and stimulate entrepreneurial mindsets and STEM aspirations already at an early age.The impact of parents and teachers on the career and development trajectories of entrepreneurs and STEM professionals is key.Building and nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship should start early.Equipping

137、 young girls with the skills and motivation to make informed choices about work as digital entrepreneurs and in the STEM area can play a key role.Including programs for the development of entrepreneurial thinking and STEM careers in schools should be part of a long-term strategy for inclusive econom

138、ic development through digital entrepreneurship.Educational systems and academia have a key role to play in this endeavor.Fill skills and confidence gaps with tailored training,programs and contests.Digital entrepreneurship is skills and knowledge intensive.While policy tends to focus on technical s

139、kills taught at universities,entrepreneurial knowledge is as important and often acquired through mentorship,contests,training,first-hand experience and network building.It includes tactical skills and knowledge on how to run and scale a business.It is difficult to be generalized or imported and nee

140、ds to be constantly upgraded on a situational basis.In this context,public-private partnerships can prove critical in offering life-long learning opportunities and skills-upscaling programs for female workers and entrepreneurs.Improve women entrepreneurs opportunities and ability to access finance.W

141、omen need to be proactive in obtaining more equity financing.This can be boosted with activities and programs aimed at learning the language of finance,expanding networks and access to opportunities and information,learning to pitch,increasing confidence and skills,mentoring and meeting role models.

142、Furthermore,investors can play a role in supporting new business models and unlocking womens potential,contributing to the development of an inclusive and vibrant digital ecosystems in developing countries.Financial institutions,business angels and venture capital investors have a crucial role to pl

143、ay in developing financial products and services accessible to women entrepreneurs.Governments can help assess existing gaps and offer complementary schemes(such as grants or guaranteed loans etc.).Private sector and non-governmental organizations can also offer alternative financing mechanisms(such

144、 as microfinance,peer to peer lending,crowdfunding,etc.).31 eTrade for Women|Increase the presence of women digital entrepreneurs in policy-making.Bring the voices of those who are facing the challenges to decision-makers.Identify various opportunities for women entrepreneurs to engage with policyma

145、kers(in public events,close consultations,public-private dialogues,etc.);equip women digital entrepreneurs with the skills and create opportunities for them to be heard;and collect views of women digital entrepreneurs to inform policy discussions at the national or regional level.Programs,policies a

146、nd laws designed with and for women digital entrepreneurs are critical for accelerated and sustained progress.Policy-makers,international organizations and development actors can help facilitate the participation of women entrepreneurs in public events,policy dialogues and consultations to advocate

147、for more inclusive digital policy-making.Business associations,cooperatives or chambers of commerce are essentialFurther leverage the eTrade for all initiative which acts as a catalyzer of partnerships among its 34 current members,to generate stronger synergies and deeper impact towards more inclusi

148、ve digital economies and societies.32|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyHow can the eTrade for Women Initiative strengthen its support?The following actionable initiatives could be considered by eTrade for Women,in its consolidation and expansion phase,and in close cooperation w

149、ith relevant partners.eTrade for Women AcademyCreate a comprehensive hands-on academy to tackle and contribute to closing the skills gap for women digital entrepreneurs.By involving professionals and trainers for various topics,the academy could take a hybrid format with partly pre-recorded sessions

150、 using an e-learning platform combined with in-person or live sessions with local experts tailored to local students.Advocates can take a proactive role in promoting and attracting students from their regions,and develop partnerships with relevant non-profit actors.The eTrade for Women Academy also

151、presents an opportunity for building a mentoring program around it.The network of enrolled participants,trainers and speakers could be matched for tailored mentoring opportunities via the platform.eTrade for Women Competition/ChallengeOrganize competitions as a way for stimulating entrepreneurship,i

152、ncreasing skills and confidence,expanding networks and mentoring.Contests could be held on selected topics(e.g.pitching,digital marketing or building networks)for women entrepreneurs and/or aspiring entrepreneurs,with the winners being awarded grants to launch a business or get connected with fundin

153、g opportunities and mentors.eTrade for Women Advocates in ActionCo-organize tailored initiatives under the leadership of the Advocates.Based on a bottom-up approach,each Advocate can design and pitch an initiative tackling the challenges of her particular ecosystem.The selected initiatives can apply

154、 to grants for implementation and eTrade for Women can support,promote and oversee the implementation.33 eTrade for Women|Inspire the next generations of women entrepreneurs and women in STEMCreate a pool of potential role models in cooperation with universities and organize live sessions to share t

155、heir stories,answer questions and motivate girls.Universities may nominate successful alumni or students in STEM fields and entrepreneurs who can engage in the live sessions organized by eTrade for Women in cooperation with the Advocates.Encourage collective actions that can lead to building local c

156、ommunities and alliances who will influence policy-makingMap opportunities to encourage and stimulate parties with mutual interests who are facing similar challenges to form networks,associations and communities who will push for policy change and represent the interests in front of governmental ins

157、titutions.For instance,eTrade for Women can encourage entrepreneurs from different countries to engage into forming associations(focused on e-commerce,gender equality,digitalization etc.)and provide support in the form of connecting with already established and developed associations to share knowle

158、dge,experience and know how.34|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital Economy35 eTrade for Women|References1 World Trade Organization,2022,Informal Working Group on MSMEs 2 See https:/unctad.org/news/covid-19-boost-e-commerce-sustained-2021-new-unctad-figures-show3 UNCTAD,2014,Empowering Wo

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165、worldbank.org/en/topic/gender/publication/female-entrepreneurship-resource-point-introduction-and-module-1-why-gender-matters21 UNCTAD,2014,.Empowering Women Entrepreneurs through Information and Communications Technologies,New York22 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor,2021,2020/21 Womens Entrepreneurs

166、hip Report:Thriving through Crisis 23 UNCTAD,2019,Digital Economy Report,4 September,New York24 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor,2021,2020/21 Womens Entrepreneurship Report:Thriving through Crisis25 See https:/www.worldbank.org/en/topic/gender/publication/female-entrepreneurship-resource-point-introd

167、uction-and-module-1-why-gender-matters26 United Nations University,2019,Taking Stock:Data and Evidence on Gender Equality in Digital Access,Skills and Leadership,March 2019,Macau27 OECD(2016),Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2016,OECD Publishing,Paris28 See https:/www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_co

168、ntent/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/bridging+the+gender+gap+in+access+to+finance29 Tony Blair Institute for Global Change,2022,Supercharging Africas Startups:The Continents Path to Tech Excellence,15 February,London30 See https:/www.oecd.org/gender/data/do-women-have-equal-access-

169、to-finance-for-their-business.htm31 See https:/news.itu.int/reshaping-future-women-girls-icts/36|Fostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyE-commerce and Digital Economy Branch,UNCTAD ecdeun.org ECDEatUNCTAD eTrade for Women etradeforall.org/et4women/etradeforwomen eTrade for WomenStay connected&follow usE M P O W E R I N G W O M E N DI G I TA L E N T R E P R E N E U R S I N D E V E L O P I N G C O U N T R I E SFostering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital EconomyInsights from UNCTADs eTrade for Women Advocates|2019-2021 Cohort