The negative effects of the pandemic, especially of the economic crisis, are yet felt all over the world. The negative effects affect all the social sections. In business, female entrepreneurs face not only economic difficulties or difficulties in the adjustment to a new market, but form part of a group of persons who are systemically discriminated from the viewpoint of gender. The subject was discussed in a gender café edition entitled “Challenges of the pandemic from the angle of female entrepreneurs” that was organized by UN Women, IPN reports.
Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova Country Representative, said that since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international normative and legal framework were adopted, significant progress has been made in ensuring gender equality, including in Moldova, where the gender pay gap was narrowed and more opportunities are offered to women to start business and to become employed, including in the IT sector. There is a commitment on the part of the Government that, through the agency of the Economic Council, works with UN Women on a roadmap for the economic empowerment of women for promoting equality, opportunities and equal distribution of responsibilities. The Organization for the Development of the SME Sector (ODIMM). together with UN Women and with the support of the Government of Japan, implemented a project to support female entrepreneurs in vulnerable situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 600 women were trained within seven thematic modules.
ODIMM director general Iuliana Costin said the realization of the women’s business potential was a priority for the organization. Within the 12 programs that are active and are being implemented by ODIMM, about 40% of the companies that received support are run by women. Over 90 million lei in grant funding was provided as part of the Women in Business Program, with more than 600 jobs being created primarily in rural areas. Last year, ODIMM and UN Women, with the support of the Embassy of Japan, it was possible to implement the project component concerning the mobilization and helping of marginalized women and women affected by COVID-19. Hundreds of women were helped.
Victoria Bugulean, founder of “Inhouse Media Reset”, benefitted from grant funding from ODIMM. She said the idea of opening an advertising agency in Bălți appeared a year ago. She applied for financing by submitting a project. There is a social stereotype that a business cannot be started without money. This was a barrier for her too and she put off the opportunity of starting a business. But this is not really so. In Moldova, the necessary financing can be obtained if you know exactly what you have to do. The main challenges faced during the pandemic were related to purchases, negotiation of prices and agreeing of prices of services, which lasted longer. But the pandemic made her more flexible, more pragmatic and attentive to what she buys and in what she invests.
“XY Partners” founder and mentor Traian Chivriga noted that within the programs implemented by “XY Partners”, he realized that the female entrepreneurs in Moldova have enormous potential. The participating women and girls are well-organized, know what they want and learn swiftly. The organization he represents connects local investors that want to invest in private companies.
Nadejda Hadjivu, founder of “Nutri Holding” and beneficiary of the support of “XY Partners”, related that her business idea appeared when she returned from the U.S. She analyzed the local market and ascertained that all the types of nut butter are imported and are made with palm oil, Es and preservatives. She started to make nut butter at home and then decided to start a nut butter business. The lack of fairs to come closer to the consumers is an obstacle for her. Owing to the financing from ODIMM, she could build half of the production line and laid the basis of the automation of the caramel making process.
