• Reference: P-GN-I00-001
• Approval date: 27/11/1997
• Start date: 18/01/2000
• Appraisal Date:
• Status: On goingOnGo
• Location:
• Implementing Agency:

Context

As part of its desire to disengage from production and trade and the need to integrate women further in the national development process, the Government, with the assistance of UNIDO, identified a support project for female entrepreneurs for Guinea in 1991 and submitted a request for project financing to ADB on 27 October 1993.

This project, prepared in 1995 and again in 1997 by UNIDO and the Government, could not be appraised by the Bank until July 1997 due to the delayed replenishment of ADF-VII.

Rationale

More than half of Guineans are women. Over 75% of them live in rural areas. They are heavily involved in their country's economic and industrial life.

Despite their role as active economic agents, women still remain highly marginalized in terms of benefiting from existing support structures.  
 
The project is in keeping with the orientaions of the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women adopted by the Government in 1996. It also allows the Government to implement a first human development initiative in its desire to fight poverty in accordance with the National Human Development Programme.
It is justified by the fact that it will allow women access to financial resources for creating and developing income-generating activities; it will also allow institutional capacity and local expertise to be strengthened by training and literacy programs.

Objective

The project specifically aims to:  build women’s income-generating capacity, develop their professional and technological skills, and build the intervention capacity of the National Directorate for Women’s Advancement (Direction nationale de promotion féminine, DNPF) and women’s associations.

Description

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the project outputs by component are:
 
I. Promotion of women’s economic activities: 

1. Studies of growth-bearing sectors, NGO and financial intermediary capacities, as well as credit system sustainability and
2. establishment of a credit fund.  

II.   Improvement of women’s educational level and professional knowledge:

1. Sensitization of about 2,500,000 people in the project areas and public services on the project objectives;
2. functional literacy education, post-literacy education, and training in appropriate techniques for about 44,000 women;
3. support for the organization of women into groups, training ifor entrepreneurship and project management, and savings incentives for 44,000 women;
4. training and monitoring of 44,000 beneficiaries; and 5) procurement of socio-community equipment.

III. Building the intervention capacities of the DNPF and women’s association’s

1. Training of about 40 people from women’s associations in organization, planning, monitoring, management, and microfinance in Conakry and in Upper Guinea;
2. training of about 20 staff from DNPF and its decentralized services;
3. purchase of 8 motorcycles and IT (2 computers, 1 laser printer, 2 UPS, and software) and automated office equipment for the DNPF and its decentralized structures.

Impact

The MASPFE staff at the central and decentralized levels will benefit from training sessions allowing them to more fully play their role with women. Technical intermediation (NGO) and financial (credit organizations) services will increase their knowledge and expertise through experience gained during the project.  The improvement of women’s knowledge and income will benefit family well-being, in particular that of children. The project will help to develop savings and procure equipment that will alleviate women’s domestic chores. This project will contribute to economic growth by creating productive activities, reducing poverty, and creating employment.

NZAU MUTETA Ginette - OSHD1

Finance source	Amount
ADF	UAC 3,000,000
Government	UAC 330,000
Total	UAC 3,330,000