Becoming Leaders: Creation of working opportunities and sustainable economic development for Upper Egypt’s women

Partner: Badr Al-Tawayel

Location: Governorate of Sohag, District of Sohag, Maraghra, Gerga, Tema, Bani Zar, Akhmim, Shandaweel

Budget: 5 million EGP

Donor: The Italian-Egyptian Debt for Development Swap (IEDS) Programme

Duration: 24 months

Description:
The present proposal aims at enhancing and support productive activities of a group of artisans of the Governorate of Sohag, Upper Egypt, in order to improve economic and social conditions of local women and, indirectly, of other sectors of the population dwelling in the area.
The proposed strategy is based on the creation of a Handicraft Committee of women inside 5 local CDAs that will play an active role in the safeguard of the traditional handicrafts of the area. The Handicraft Committee and a group of local artisans will be supported through a series of technical and managerial trainings that will allow them to be more competitive in the market, contributing to the creation of new opportunities, both on the market of goods and labour.
The project will play a significant role towards the achievement of women’s economic empowerment by targeting unemployed women and girl victims of violence, as beneficiaries of skills development and micro finance actions.


Direct beneficiaries: 20 women of the group “Banat el Sa3eed”, the network of craftsmen (30 artisans), 5 CDAs, 100 women with low economic income, 500 beneficiaries of the micro credit program

Indirect beneficiaries: 650 families of the direct beneficiaries and their communities amounting to a number of about 5000 people from the 5 districts involved.

Overall Objective:
To contribute to the improvement of the economic and social conditions of the people, and in particular women, of Upper Egypt by enhancing their skills and bolstering their economic strategies

Specific objective:
To reinforce market competiveness of the new born group of crafts women “Banat el Sa3eed” and of local producers in Sohag by enhancing their economic and legal capacities and creating a wider network of local artisans.

Results:
R1 A technical Handicraft Committee, constituted by a group of craftswomen from Banat el Sa3eed, and the 5 CD acquire the capacities to safeguard local handicrafts associations.
R2 "Banat el-Sa3eed" acquires the necessary technical, managerial and legal capabilities to be competitive within the market
R3 A network among the Handicraft Committee and the producers of the area of Sohag is created
R4 The Committee and the producers of the network are enhanced both at the economic and legal level
R5 A marketing plan is designed and operational to ensure economic sustainability to the Committee and producers’ members of the network

Activities:
A1.1 Establishing the Handicraft Committee and defining its mission, statute and program
A1.2 Conduct a Capacity Need Assessment of 5 selected local CDAs.
A1.3 Conduct training on general management and Internal Governance to the CDAs.
A1.4 Conduct training on the juridical aspects and the legal frame related to the role and the responsibilities of the Handicraft Committee
A1.5 Conduct trainings on organizational development for the Handicraft Committee and the local CDAs
A2.1 Conduct TOT on specific arts, such as embroidery, painting, sewing and artistic recycling
A 2.2 Conduct TOT workshops on design and quality control of the production
A 2.3 Training a new generation of artisans on Technical Skills (Practicum of A2.1)
A2.4 Conduct TOT on Leadership Development, Public Relations, Finance & Accounting and Strategic Management  
A2.5 Conduct TOT on Soft Skills, Public Relations, English Language and Computer literacy
A 2.6 Training a new generation of artisans on Soft and Leadership skills and Management
A 2.7 Conduct training on juridical aspects and on the legal frame related to the non-for-profit enterprises
A3.1 Map and link handicraft workshops to local independent small producers
A3.2 Create a network fostering joint collaborations
A4.1 Conduct technical trainings for improving the productive process and the quality of the production in accordance with the needs of each producer.
A4.2 Activate a microcredit program for the network’s members and other artisans.
A4.3 Provide legal support and assistance to all the members of the network
A4.4 Organize activities and workshops aimed at strengthening the artisans capacities and network
A5.1 Setting up a marketing program for the producers of the network
A5.2 Introducing products of the committee/network to the local market and other Fair Trade circuits
A5.3 Creating the network's website with a section for the on-line sales
A5.4 Creating, organize and participating to marketing exhibitions