EBRD Women in Business Programme Moldova 2018-2021 EBRD Women in Business Programme Moldova 2018-2021 The contribution “Women in Business Programme in Moldova” is a continuation of the EBRD WiB Fund for Moldova 2011-2016 and complements the on-going Regional Sida WIB for EaP countries. The Overall Objective is to stimulate the transition to a more competitive and inclusive economy in Moldova by strengthening women-led SMEs and promoting women’s participation in business and enhance the role of women in economic governance. It aims at assisting women entrepreneurs in Moldova to have a real and fair chance of success by enhancing the competitiveness of their businesses. The contribution is going to promote Green Economy and environmentally safe production, and pays a specific attention to environmental impact and “greening” of the industrial production. The project integrates the conflict perspective and will operate in the Security Zone and Transnistria, a self- proclaimed independent state on the territory of Moldova. The contribution will support therefore confidence building measures through working with women -managed  SMEs in this zone, as well as in the administrative-territorial unit of Gagauzia in Southern part of Moldova. Insatsen “Women in Business Programme in Moldova” är en fortsättning på tidigare samarbete med Europeiska Utvecklingsbanken (EBRD) för stöd till kvinnligt företagande i Moldavien som genomfördes under 2011 – 2016. Insatsen komplementerar Sidas pågående regionala stöd för ’Women in Business’ i länderna inom det Europeiska Partnerskapet (EAP). Syftet med insatsen är att bidra till ekonomisk utveckling med kvalitet och inkluderande utveckling i Moldavien genom att främja kvinnors deltagande i landets ekonomi och styrka konkurrenskraften hos små och medelstora företag (SME) som leds av kvinnor. Projektet kommer att ge teknisk rådgivning och kapacitetsutveckling till kvinnliga entreprenörer.  Förväntade resultat är en ökad konkurrenskraft hos de SME:s som deltar i programmet, förbättrad tillväxt, skapande av arbetstillfällen samt ökad produktivitet och innovation. Dessutom kommer programmet genomföra aktiviteter som syftar till att utveckla den lokala marknaden för konsulttjänster för expert och rådgivning för SME:s i Moldavien.  
The contribution is going to promote Green Economy and environmentally safe production, and pays a specific attention to environmental impact and “greening” of the industrial production. The project integrates the conflict perspective and will operate in the Security Zone and Transnistria, a self- proclaimed independent state on the territory of Moldova. The contribution will support therefore confidence building measures through working with women-managed SMEs in this zone, as well as in the administrative-territorial unit of Gagauzia in Southern part of Moldova. The Overall Objective of the proposed Programme is to stimulate the transition to a more competitive and inclusive economy in Moldova by strengthening women-led SMEs and promoting women’s participation in business. It aims at assisting women entrepreneurs in Moldova to have a real and fair chance of success.
The Specific Objectives of the Programme include:
1. Promote inclusion and sustainable growth by targeting groups that are underrepresented in the local SME sector, specifically women-led businesses.
This will be evidenced through better overall outputs for the beneficiaries and economy, including increased revenues, new jobs, poverty reduction and better perspectives for women entrepreneurs. It is also proposed to implement activities aimed at increasing the awareness and engagement of male entrepreneurs and other stakeholders (FIs, state institutions, etc.) to highlight and address the specific challenges women-led businesses face and the opportunities and returns of promoting women’s economic empowerment. The corresponding capacity building, networking, visibility and communication efforts will facilitate the sustainable inclusion (including the financial inclusion) of women entrepreneurs who are looking to achieve scale and further develop their enterprises.
2. Strengthen women-led SMEs’ competitiveness and empower women entrepreneurs via advisory support for business growth and innovation in the face of increased competition on local and international markets.
This will result in increased productivity and sales, diversification of markets and engagement with the provisions and opportunities presented through the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTA), implementation of modern production technologies, upgraded product and services ranges, as well as business processes. The proposed training, mentoring and networking will add value to the provision of advisory services and will address crucial knowledge and behavioural gaps of women entrepreneurs enabling them to build and expand their business relations and gain their individual and collective empowerment.