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Call
for Expression of Interest for Consultancy Service: Developing a
public policy brief on issues affecting entrepreneurial development
amongst the women of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) and Women Alliance
of Business Associations in Zimbabwe (WABAZ)
Deadline:
18 May 2012
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Organisational
Background
Women Alliance
of Business Associations in Zimbabwe (WABAZ) is COALITION of women
in business associations in Zimbabwe. WABAZ was formed in July 2011
under the auspices of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce
(ZNCC) for the purposes of connecting female entrepreneurs with
the resources necessary to integrate them into mainstream economy.
WABAZ as a coalition for women business organizations, representing
over 12,000 informal and formal women entrepreneurs, from throughout
the country aims at supporting these organizations to speak with
a unified voice on issues that affect women entrepreneurs, advocating
through collective action for policy reforms, and encouraging greater
grassroots participation in strengthening economic democracy in
Zimbabwe.
Mission
Statement
WABAZ empowers
women in business through dialogue, advocacy, networking and information
sharing.
Project
Background
Since 2009,
Zimbabwe is undergoing change. This transformation is largely due
to the Global Political Agreement that temporarily resolved the
political crisis precipitated by the elections in 2008. The unity
government was able to prevent the further disintegration of the
economy that had shrunk 40 percent over 10 years. One of the groups
hardest hit by the economic crisis are women entrepreneurs working
in the informal sector that suffered from unemployment, underemployment,
hunger, and even an increase in domestic violence.
While the immediate political
and economic future is uncertain, the hope that the people of Zimbabwe
will build a functioning democracy will never be realized unless
women are integrated into the mainstream economy. Women economic
empowerment is one of the most effective tools to ensure that women
become effective participants in transforming society and the current
problems plaguing the country and actively participating in the
democratic process. Women have been marginalized in this society,
most significantly in the economic sector. It is therefore important
that at these initial stages of transformation, the needs of women
entrepreneurs are known. It is also important that women entrepreneurs
be equipped with the tools to participate in democratic governance
and the freedom of association to be long-term contributors in rebuilding
Zimbabwe.
Despite the
adoption of policy instruments that seek to empower women, the Government
of Zimbabwe is facing a number of challenges. These challenges include
the challenge of providing services, a cumbersome bureaucracy that
does not incentivize women entrepreneurs to join the formal economy,
and a lack of strong partners among various civil society groups.
The inadequacy of government's effort and resources in empowering
women calls for strategic partnership between the public sector
and the private sector.
The Assignment
To facilitate
the development of a public policy brief that addresses the needs
of women entrepreneurs and suggesting specific recommendations to
the authorities. Based on the information collected during regional
meetings and monthly meetings of representative leaders of women's
business organizations, the consultant is expected to come up with
a synthesised policy briefs that will inform the advocacy by WABAZ.
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