Final programme report Sub-project: “Assessment of women’s needs in knowledge and skills for doing business and self-employment, and capacity building for women living in target areas to promote entrepreneurship.” 4-2018-RFP-UNDP-CP-AFT-@ 1 Abbreviations UNDP – United Nations Development Programme AfT – Aid for Trade project NABWT – National association of business women of Tajikistan TOR – Terms of Reference FG – focus group BP – business plan TZ – target zone QT - Qurgantube 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Description …………............................................................................................................ 4 2. Fulfilled activity assesment.................................................................................................... 5 2.1. Project aims, objectives, outputs and activities............................................................................5. 2.2. Expected results………..............................................................................................................6 3. Project planned activities’ implementation……………………………………………………...…7 3.1. Preparatory/organizational work.............................................................................................7 3.2. Conduct a needs assessment in Soghd and Khatlon oblasts, as well as in the DRS of Tajikistan, to determine existing capacity building needs of targeted groups………………...9 3.2.1. Delivery of focus groups on needs assessment………………………………………..9 3.2.2. Needs assessment analyses………..……………………………………………………..9 3.3. Based on needs assessment findings, formulate a special Capacity Building Programme.15 3.3.1.Development of the Special Capacity Building programme for women……………….15 3.3.2.Round table in Dushanbe………………………………………………………………….17 3.3.3.Preparatory work for the trainings…………………………………………………………17 3.4. Conduct the capacity building activities for women’s entrepreneurship promotion…………18 3.4.1.Trainings in the target zones………………………………………………………………18 3.4.2.Content of the 4-days’ trainings……………………………………………………………19 3.5. Analyses of the trainings’ results…………………………………………………………………21 3.5.1.The results of pre-test and post-tests.........................................................................21 3.5.2.Feedback of the trained women on the trainings………………………………………..24 3.6. Business groups/Capacity building sessions…………………………………………………...29 3.6.1. Business groups and individual business plans………………………………………...30 3.6.2. Start up Choikhona V in Khujand…………………………………………………………33 3.7. Develop, design and print informational brochures…………………………………………….34 3.8. Illuminate the project progress and intermediate outcomes via social Media………………34 4. Results achieved during the implementation of sub-project……………………………………..36 5. Challenges/lessons learnt ………………………………………………………………………….37 6. Other relevant materials……………………………………………………………………………38 3 1. Description a. Contract beneficiary: National association of business women of Tajikistan (NABWT) b. Responsible persons: • Malika Mirzobakhodurova – Team leader • Tahmina Karimova – Project officer • Bobokhon Ahmedov – Project officer • Dilrabo Shadieva – Admin/logistic • Firuza Mahmudova – Accountant c. The name of partner organization: Local committees on women and family affairs d. Activity: to assess the needs of women and entrepreneurs in the areas of building capacity (knowledge and skills) and in identifying the barriers and issues, which affect the employment, and self-employment of women; running special capacity building programme and conduct the series of trainings to the targeted groups of women. e. Contract number: 4-2018-RFP-UNDP-CP-AFT-@ “Assessment of women’s needs in knowledge and skills for doing business and self-employment, and capacity building for women living in target areas to promote entrepreneurship” f. Reporting period: April 9 – June 30, 2018 g. Country or region: Tajikistan, Sughd and Khatlon regions, DRS h. Beneficiaries or target group: women from rural areas of Sughd and Khatlon regions, as well as DRS 4 2. Fulfilled activity assessment 2.1. Project aims, objectives, outputs and activities The “Wider Europe: Aid for Trade for Central Asia” (AFT) project facilitate improving the implementation of pro-poor trade related policy reforms and trade capacity development measures on the national and local levels, support the transferring of best practices and knowledge exchanging with special reference to the challenges of small enterprises and micro businesses, and execute the technical assistance interventions in selected regions. The overall goal of the project to foster inclusive growth in the region through the promotion of trade and the enhancement of each country’s competitiveness to support these countries’ efforts to reduce poverty and improve peoples’ lives. Trade and investment can contribute to human development by helping to raise productivity, employment and economic growth. Therefore, a particular purpose of this project is to improve the implementation of pro-poor trade related policy reforms and trade capacity development measures on the national and local levels, the transfer of best practices and knowledge exchange with special reference to the challenges of small enterprises and micro businesses, and the execution of technical assistance interventions in selected regions. The overall objective of this sub-project is to assess the needs of women and entrepreneurs in the areas of building capacity (knowledge and skills) and in identifying the barriers and issues, which affect the employment, and self-employment of women. Moreover, this sub-project aims to run the defined a special capacity building programme and conduct the series of trainings to the targeted groups of women. According to the plan under this sub-project the following major actions (but not limited to), it is intending to implement: 1. Conduct a needs assessment in Sughd and Khatlon oblasts, as well as in the DRS of Tajikistan, to determine existing capacity building needs of targeted groups: • Formulate and agree with stakeholders the Methodology of intended needs assessment; • Define the data collection method and tools for assessment; • Define skills gaps for self-employment (f.ex. availability of local training opportunities and programmes) • Define requirement of customized and/or specialized trainings and programmes; • Define employment barriers (f.ex. business confidence; difficulties experiencing by women when finding work, f.ex. physical, economic or/and traditional issues) • Define employment barriers specific to each targeted region; • Define the needs in gender-specific programming (including micro-financing, knowledge/skills building, grants programming, self-confidence building and etc); 2. Based on needs assessment findings, formulate a special Capacity Building Programme: 5 • Forming a list of the most required by women the trainings topics; • Elaboration of training Modules including an action plans as per defined the list of training topics; • Validation of the defined a special Capacity Building Programme with all concerned stakeholders and targets groups; 3. Conduct the capacity building activities for women’s entrepreneurship promotion: • Based on the assessment done and data obtained, to form a list of women and targeted groups and elaborate an action plan of provision of trainings; • Conduct all organizational and logistic activities, needed for conduction of training sessions in all targeted regions; • Form groups of women based on their location and availability, and agree with them a schedule of training sessions provision; • Elaborate the pre- and post-trainings questionnaires for assessing the level of knowledge and business skills; • Elaborate the handouts and other informational materials for participants of the trainings; • Conduct the trainings in targeted regions as per agreed schedule; • Conduct capacity assessment of trained women and define their readiness for starting the businesses; Based on this, create (mobilize) at least 4 groups of women, consisting from at least 10 women willing to unite around each business idea; • Provide support to the selected at least 4 women’s groups in business planning (elaboration of business plans), establishment of enterprises (juridical advices) and in other related aspects; • Provide support to established at least 4 women’s groups in applying for grants or/and to other possible investments. 4. Prepare a final report on performed activities, responding to overall objectives and scope of work mentioned in this TOR. 2.2. Expected results: • The needs assessment conducted and report provided; • A special Capacity Building Programme for women formulated and provided; • At least 4 training sessions conducted in targeted regions, and at least 100 females trained as per a special Capacity Building programme; • At least 4 women’s group established and consulted; • At least 4 business ideas formulated and 4 business plans for establishing enterprises developed; • A special Capacity Building Programme for women is adjusted as per experience and lessons learned obtained during the implementation of this sub-project; • The programme narrative reports on conducted activities provided. 6 3. Project planned activities’ implementation 3.1. Preparatory/organizational work Having signed a contract between UNDP and NABWT on April 9, 2018, we started working on the action plan that was approved by the donor organization. According to the TOR and action plan (see annex 3.1) three project phases is envisaged: 1. Needs assessment