Women on Board

Introduction

EUROCHAMBRES Women Network started implementing positive actions in favour of female entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-to-be back in 2003 with the project "Women in Business and in Decision-Making". A second project called "CHASE - Chambers against Stereotypes in Employment" followed in 2004.

"Women on Board of Local Development" in short "On Board" is the network's third EU-funded project, and builds on the experience gained by the first two projects.

Since the network started its activities, progress has been made regarding the inclusion of women in the economic environment. Yet, there is more to be done by Chambers in this field, and the call for participation in the present project was widely echoed by the network at the time of preparation. From a previous project consortium of 7, the project consortium for the present project has increased to a total of 17 partners.

The full inclusion of women in the economic environment is recognised to be an important factor in forwarding the "growth and jobs" targets. While the European and national levels set the scene for a better integration, implementation is carried out at the regional and local level. Hence the title "Women on Board of Local Development". Also, it is at local level that Chambers have their rooting and main field of activities.

In the frame of the present project, the project consortium has decided to tackle three areas of concern that prevent women from being fully included in the economic environment:

Women in economic decision-making - in this case Women on Chamber Boards

The reconciliation of work and family life - by "Linking Local Actors"

Access to finance for female start-up entrepreneurs

Women on Chamber boards seeks to address the under-representation of women on Chamber boards and to develop guidelines for increasing women's participation.

Linking local actors seeks to improve the conditions for tackling the work life balance question by linking different local stakeholders and addressing the gaps in current measures.

Access to finance seeks to improve the business environment for female entrepreneurs-to-be by making better services available at local level.

Thanks to above-mentioned activities, EWN, on the long term, wishes to:

Increase the economic participation of women in society and foster a better integration in all spheres of economic life, finally leading to a situation of equal participation

To achieve a closer cooperation between local stakeholders with the aim of developing a common vision and coordinating efforts for the implementation of projects relating to gender equality (in this case reconciling family and work), leading to a higher level of awareness among stakeholders concerned, and a better and more efficient implementation on the ground (i.e. at local level)

To continuously increase the number of Chambers dealing with gender equality questions and offering services to female business members

To create a more women-friendly business environment that enables women to successfully tackle work and family questions and leading to an improved quality of life for both women and men.

With the support of the European Community Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality. The information contained in this publication (or other data) does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission.

With the support of the European Community Programme relating to the Community framework strategy
on gender equality. The information contained in this publication (or other data) does not necessarily reflect
the position or opinion of the European Commission.