The ILO’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Development programme (ILO-WED) is part of the Small Enterprise Development Programme (SEED). ILO-WED works on enhancing economic opportunities for women by carrying out affirmative actions in support of women starting, formalizing and growing their enterprises, and by mainstreaming gender equality issues into the ILO's work in enterprise development. This approach to WED is highlighted in the ILO WED Strategy that was adopted by the Governing Body in March, 2008.
The ILO-WED approach is threefold, working with governments, employers' organizations, trade unions, and local community-based organizations to: create an enabling environment for WED that generates quality jobs; build institutional capacity in WED; and development of tools and support services for women entrepreneurs. It does so both through targeted approaches and gender mainstreaming, with a clear objective to contribute towards gender equality and women's economic empowerment.
ILO WED Strategy was built from the expertise developed under WEDGE, (Women's Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality). WEDGE is comprised of technical cooperation projects that are funded by donors such as Irish Aid and NORAD and enable the WED strategy to be operationalised. Building on local partnerships, WEDGE projects have developed a series of tools - [pdf 134 KB] and approaches, based on the research and experience from pilot projects organized with local partners and country offices. WED has been working with the ILO's SKILLS department to mainstream disability into women’s entrepreneurship development, targeting women with disabilities and HIV/AIDS within WEDGE projects. The WED Strategy provides a flexible and innovative response to promote women's entrepreneurship development based on local needs and circumstances. Gender Equality is and will remain at the forefront of the WED strategy.
WED is proud to present its NEW LOGO! “Pieces of Success”
The WED program has a new logo! This logo represents the strength of unions, working together and sharing ideas. In the middle you find the representation of a gear, each component is instrumental in allowing the totality to function together. WED seeks to involve women entrepreneurs, their communities, governments and other partners in order to broaden economic opportunities for women.
Further, integrated and life cycle approaches are alluded to in this "holistic" imagery. The various colours also speak to the diversity of women we serve and the different business models they form.
Equipped with this meaningful symbol, WED is now ready to start a new phase in its quest to promote women entrepreneurs’ visibility, knowledge and best practices sharing. The WED programme would like to thank Ligia Pasqualin, a graphist women entrepreneur, who designed this logo and thanks to all of those who contributed in shaping this logo!
ILO-WED Tools
- Assessing the Enabling Environment for Women in Growth Enterprises: An AfDB/ILO Integrated Framework Assessment Guide - [pdf 354 KB]
- Business Group Formation Empowering Women and Men in Developing Communities - [pdf 2892 KB]
- FAMOS Check Guide and Methods - [pdf 65986 KB] (Service Quality Check for Supporting Female and Male Operated Small Enterprises)
- Financial Education - [pdf 3473 KB]
- GET Ahead for Women in Enterprise Training Package and Resource Kit - [pdf 3485 KB] (Gender and Entrepreneurship Together)
- Guidelines on the Formation of Self Help Groups for Families of Working Children - [pdf 628 KB] – For Families of Working Children
- Making the strongest links: A practical guide to mainstreaming gender analysis in value chain development - [pdf 1876 KB] (Gender-Sensitive Value Chain Analysis)
- Improve Your Exhibiting Skills: A Training Guide(IYES) - [pdf 525 KB] (Improve Your Exhibition Skills)
- Managing Small Business Associations - [pdf 2172 KB]: Reader
- Managing Small Business Associations - [pdf 2315 KB]: Trainer’s Manual
- Organizing Promotional Events For Women Entrepreneurs: A Guide “Month of the Women Entrepreneur” (MOWE) - [pdf 28078 KB] (Month of the Women Entrepreneur Guide)
- Village Banking in LAO PDR Handbook for Village Bank Management Committees and Support Organizations - [pdf 1548 KB] and the Village banking in Lao PDR - Ledger Guide - [pdf 163 KB]
- Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Capacity Building Guide - [pdf 506 KB] (Women’s Entrepreneurship Development Capacity Building Guide)
- Building Women Entrepreneurs’ Associations - [pdf 305 KB]
Where we work
ILO-WED works in partnership with constituents, relevant institutions, community organizations and other UN agencies. Currently, the ILO has projects across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Special attention has been given to Developing Entrepreneurship among Women with Disabilities and mainstreaming disability into the ILO-WED work.