In an effort to strengthen the capacities of women entrepreneurs who lead MSMEs in Central America, INCAE Business School, with the support of the Green MSMEs II Initiative of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Government of Germany, through KfW, and the European Union (EU), have launched the training project "Green MSMEs: building capacities for sustainable projects".
This innovative program will provide scholarships to 50 companies led by women with high growth potential and environmental impact, in order to promote the formulation of green projects from this sector.
The problem: the financing gap for MSMEs led by women
By 2023, women-owned or managed businesses will comprise 23% of MSMEs globally, according to the SME Finance Forum. Many of these entrepreneurs face significant challenges in accessing financing and resources to sustainably develop their businesses. This gap not only limits the economic growth and competitiveness of these businesses, but also impedes women's full participation in the economic development of their communities and countries.
Gabriela Lucke, director of the Center for Inclusive and Sustainable Leadership (CELIS) at INCAE, commented: "For our institution and our Impact Center it is a privilege to implement this program that will equip women entrepreneurs in the region with the necessary tools to not only ensure the long-term economic sustainability of their businesses, but also to equip them with the essential knowledge to compete in an increasingly demanding market in terms of environmental sustainability".
The solution: capacity building for women entrepreneurs
The training program "Green MSMEs: building capacities for sustainable projects" will be implemented through a "learning by doing" approach , providing participating entrepreneurs with a detailed diagnosis of their projects in terms of strategy and sustainability. Its academic program includes:
The program will culminate with the selection of the six most outstanding MSME projects that will receive a cash award of USD$1,000 each to start the implementation of their projects.
Central American businesswomen who want to apply for this 100% scholarship must fill out the form on the following website; https://celis.incae.edu/mipymesverdes/ before August 11 and meet these requirements:
