Stakeholders Acknowledge Women’s Contribution to the Central American Economy

Although Central American women entrepreneurs have worked for decades in the local production of food, ceramics, craftworks and accessories, their contribution to the economy has seldom been acknowledged by analysts, local authorities or financial institutions. According to Rita Cassisi, Coordinator of the UNIFEM programme ‘Women and Local Economic Development’ (MYDEL), 60% of entrepreneurs who start a micro business in Central America are women and therefore it is time to acknowledge the magnitude of their contribution to the region’s economic development.

The MyDEL programme has promoted the acknowledgement of women’s contribution to the economy at different levels. For instance, at the local level, MyDEL encouraged the Agencies for Local Economic Development (ADELs) in Central American countries to establish the Centres of Entrepreneurship Services for Women (CSEMs). These centres offer financial and commercial services to women, as well as training opportunities in marketing and gender issues.

“To date, 1200 women have received loans in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. This is the first time that someone offers this type of services to women. As a consequence, the demand is enormous. They are very interested in seizing all opportunities available to advance their business,” says Miriam del Cid, who coordinates a centre in Chiquimula, Guatemala.

The programme is also initiating important transformations at the national level. Brenda Cerón from the Guatemalan Ministry of Economy points out that “before MyDEL, the ministry lacked a gender approach, but now it is including women in its agenda and has developed activities and agreements to further their cause.”

At the regional level, some Central American universities have developed undergraduate courses and even graduate level programmes on territorial marketing, local development and women’s work. They are also conducting research on products that are related to the cultural identity of the region. “Through MyDEL the universities have had the opportunity to look at women as entrepreneurs, knowledge builders and authors of their products and ideas,” says María Estela Hernández, from the Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN).

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Source:UNIFEM