Shoqata e Grave Profesioniste, Afariste & zejtare Professional, Business and Crafts` women Association of Albania

RAPORTI PUNES PUNES PER SEECEL

Preface
This report is the result of a abundant work in the field of need assessment and private writings, and 20-year empirical experience of SHGPAZ, the most organized interest group in the country. Also completion and interviews for filling in the forms, conceived by the ILO, and performed and prepared with professionalism by dr.Lejda Matja, one of the experts active in our association. Similarly the prepared material is filled with some of our own suggestions, added value to a serious study. Finally this paper enriches our library in the field of Albanian female entrepreneurship.
Msc.Flutura Xhabija

president of SHGPAZ

Table of contents
I. II. Women Entrepreneurs in Albania Survey Results

Section A: General Information Section B: Measures to apply the questioneries Section C: Data and Statistics Section D: Barriers to Womens Leadership

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 Section F: Support Mechanisms to Promote Women in Business and Management

III. Women Entrepreneurship in Albania

Albania has a national WE organization, ''Professional, Business Women and Handcrafters Association''. It is mostly involved on programs related to economic empowerement of women and WE. Also, there are 3 national WE networks which are recognised as a dialogue partner for the government and other stakeholders in relation to WE policies, advocacy and policy support measures. However, there is no any systematic coordination among them. There are international actors involved in supporting WE in Albania. Such as: GIZ, European Council ( Albanian WE ambasadors&WE mentors) and other. The women are more vulnerable to shocks in the economy than men. The fiscal policies is said not have any gender orientation. The National Strategy for Development and Integration (20072013) among 9 strategic priorities, has one priority for women economic empowerment through the increase of their number as entrepreneurs. Part of government strategy elaborates the creation of a positive environment for business and investment, an increase of SMEs competitiveness in the regional and global market through the development of technology and information, the reduction of administrative barriers and the creation of business facilitation. WE are said to benefit from these policies as well. Regarding fiscal policies, there is a lack of these policies as there is a lack of specific measures and arrangements for the provision of fiscal incentives for companies to help women and men to balance family and work commitments. To ensure economic and social empowerment of entrepreneurs through addressing gender inequalities, the government of Albania has approved its National Strategy for Gender Equality (2011-2015). And WE policy framework is included in this Strategy. Also, there are no any financial support instruments for WE, nor any fiscal regulations for that matter. Little is done to remove barriers to women joining entrepreneurship and offer women equal opportunities, so they can obtain the needed skills, qualifications and support, with a view to ensuring that all existing resources are efficiently utilized, and that women skills and strengths are challenged to best effect. Nearly all businesses in Albania are SMEs. By one estimate, seventeen percent of business managers and owners are women and 83% are men. Their businesses tend to be located in the large urban areas such as Tirana, Durres, Shkoder, Korca, Elbasan, Fier and Vlora and to cluster around providing services such as hair-dressing, child care, tailoring, dentistry, pharmacies, freelance professions, legal counseling , tourism, bar and hotel owners Total number of active companies 106, 503. Out of them 27% are run by women Micro (1-9) - 95.2%
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Small (10-49) - 3.9% Medium (50-249) - 0.7% Large (+250) - 0.2%

62% are self-employed

New enterprises registered in 2011 amount to 12.706 making this way a 8.3% increase active companies, compared to one year ago and 3.1% of employment growth for 2011 compared to 2010 Fig 1: Women entrepreneurs by sector in % of total

It can be difficult to accurately gauge the number of women run business because some businesses that are officially registered in the husbands name are actually run by the wife. Some training has been offered to increase the number of women entrepreneurs and has revealed that in order to be effective, training for potential women entrepreneurs needs to include technical assistance, access to loans, and training for the broader community. At present there is a credit line which will support all SME-s in Albania including female enterprises. The program aims to promote economic growth and social Albania estimations, supporting local SMEs access to the credit system and the growth of the formal economy. The program includes two main components: Credit line (25 million Euro) for the Albanian SMEs; Guarantee Fund (2.5 million) to support SMEs' access to the credit system;

The fund is delivered through a state Agency called Albanian Investments Development Agency, a structure under responsibility of the Council of Ministers. The Government of Albania has put under its priorities the growth of SME-s in Albania. The focus would be on manufacturing companies, export oriented SME-s, new SME-s created by Albanians residing in Italy, or SME-s that are part of cluster zones, SME-s dealing with
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renewable energy, agro processing etc. To them would be offered a credit which can ne repaid in 3 to 8 years. Grace period 1-2 years. By the end of August 2012 are credited 65 companies with a value of 16 million Euro, of which only 3 are run by women. Funded companies are those operating in sectors agro-processing, construction, woodworking, footwear etc. 35 of them are priority projects pertaining to production sectors, export, based in rural areas and create new jobs. Priority projects have benefited from longer loan repayment term and a grace period of principal up to 2 years. A maximum of 10% of the total credit line can be used to fund start-up projects with a budget of 15,000 to 50,000 Euro; The Government of Albania has already in place a grant scheme to support crafts. It subsidizes until ALL 500,000 grant for a project. We think that from this measure will benefit a majority of women SME-s since the primary percentage of crafts SME-s are those run by women/ Womens business associations appear to some to be focusing more on trainings for novice businesswomen than supporting established ones. Still there has been some efforts through a 2 Projects of EU to support the businesses run by women through a national network of ambassadors and mentors. The program is running from more that 2 years and is being managed from PBCWA. As was mentioned above, women are less likely than men to be entrepreneurs. Women who do wish to start or grow their own businesses face many of the barriers that were listed in the section of the assessment on employment above, but they may also face additional barriers as well, including: Problems accessing credit, because of poverty or lack of collateral (women own much less property and real estate in Albania as compared to men because of traditional cultural practices) Lack of funds to start up a business, Lack of contacts and prior experience that result in low levels of knowledge about managing a businesses successfully and how to deal with financial institutions, Inability to seek credit because despite the fact that a woman operates a business, it is registered under her husbands name, Fear of stepping out of the box and doing something that is not seen as a traditional arena for women (this was often described by interviewees as a mentality problem), The tendency for women entrepreneurs to focus on sectors that reflect traditional womens work which often pays less or is less likely to result in a business with high earning potential, and

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 Attitudinal issues and low levels of self-confidence related to the internalization of negative cultural beliefs about womens managerial abilities and intellectual capacities in general. One study also mentioned an area in which women business-owners are sometimes seen to have an advantage over men and that is in the area of interpersonal communications with customers. Good customer service is seen as coming naturally for Albanian women but needing to be fostered among men.

General Information
70 2010 0 TABELE PER LLOJET E BIYNESIT

1. Indeed it is a characteristic of Albanian women businesses that they are primarily small businesses borne as a surviving need of Albanian families often striving with many social and cultural barriers of environment. 2. Businesses owned by women are in most of cases created from women as a consequence of their will to survive, to improve the quality of family life and to find the proper place in the society. Often borne in the edge of their existence women has the power to create forms of for profit activities but in the majority of cases (more than 90 per cent) they are locally owned and are not part of any international company or even joint venture. There are a few exceptions which is that of a distribution company and one she producing company which either export or import goods internationally (except textile or shoes reexports and handcrafts) .

The sectors surveyed vary. Sectors represented in this survey vary from insurances, to private Education, crafts, production of furnitures and also includes the construction and hospitality sectors. The figures of the sectors surveyed also represent the clear proportion of women businesses in the real life. The major number of employees remains with hospitality, retail sector

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followed by crafts sector. The composition of the groups surveyed is quite heterogeneous but this also served to have reliable data.

Policies and Measures

In general women managing a business tend to support women working in their businesses. In general there is a common understanding of equally recruitment policies independently by gender. Anyway there are not proper initiatives but a general understanding of equally treatment. Thus among priorities that women perceive as support for other women is provision of a better balance between work and life, support for professional training as well as other social measures such as elder care or maternity leave which seem to be real burdens for women employed in a business. Must be stated than even why women accepted that policies are in place for the above mentioned issues they understand not verbal policies. In general businesses does not have written policies for the issues mentioned above rather than a common understanding of support for such issues which sometimes can be also part of Labor contracts.

Data and Statistics

20 per cent of the companies surveyed emphasize that they monitor and report the proportion of women and men in different levels, but this usually happens with big companies and not in regular basis. 80 per cent of respondents emphasize that for their small and medium sized companies the question is not applicable. The concern of the companies does not remain with the proportion of men and women but rather with the skills they do bring to the company. They see as vital for their businesses to be part of women business association or other professional networks and they are involved with them to a great extent. Such networks allow them to improve different aspects of their businesses, address their issues better, create lobbying groups etc. All businesses answered that there is a real challenge the retention of skilled women. Independently from gender skilled women are in high demand from other employers and often seek for a better employment in terms of working conditions, remunerations, career opportunities etc. Therefore in order to retain them continuous efforts should be made.

Barriers to Womens Leadership

1. Masculine corporate culture 2. Women have more family responsibilities than men 3. No strategy for retention of skilled women 4. Men not encouraged to take leave for family responsibilities
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5. Lack of leadership training of women 6. Inherent gender bias in recruitment and promotion 7. Roles assigned by society to men and women 8. Lack of company equality policy and programmes 9. Few role models for women 10. Women with insufficient general or line management experience 11. Gender equality policies in place but not implemented 12. Inadequate labor and non-discrimination laws 13. Management generally viewed as a mens job 14. Lack of flexible working solutions 15. Stereotypes against women

Support Mechanisms to train Women in Business and Management

Ranking below represent the summary results from all individual results of questionnaires 1. Networking with other companies on good practices 2. Networking with womens business associations 3. Identifying the business case for women in management 4. Designing an equal opportunity policy 5. Developing a strategy to promote more women in management 6. Introducing a mentoring scheme 7. Guides on measures and strategies to promote women in management 8. Designing a sexual harassment policy

I. Organizimi i lancimit II. Trajnim me grupin III. Nenshkrimi i kontrates

shkurt shkurt shkurt

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IV. Leximi dhe shpjegimi paraprak i pyetesoreve V. Eventi i lancimit shkurt

shkurt-mars

VI. Krijimi i grupit te informimit: F.Xhabija, Marjeta Mazniku, Silvana Barci VII. Krijimi i kodeve mars Marjeta dhe Mondi

VIII. Prova plotesimi 30-40 minuta/here 1-re, 2 pyetesore 30 min./hera 2-te: FXH IX. Cdo dite kemi ndjekur zhvillimin, por kemi n ecuri edhe disa projekte te tjera, kemi pasur cdo jave seminaret tonat dhe pjesemarrje aktive ne takime te ndryshme kombetare dhe nderkombetare. Veshtiresite e fillimit sepse eshte hera e pare qe plotesohen on-line.

X.

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SHGPAZ was founded since 1992 as NGO , non-governmental, independent association which operates in all area of Albania, to assist women in business through information, training, lobbying to the improvement of policy-makers, as well as to facilitate the creation of public opinion and have a status like a specific group of interest. SHGPAZ - The Professional, Business Womne and Handcrafts Association is leaded and managed by a group of women who aim to support and encourage women in their economic professional activity and thus contribute to the streghtening of economic and society emancipation in Albania. SHGPAZ is one of the oldest associations in Albania, which is known on national regional and internationally. Following the western experience, this association has conducted a range of services for Albanian women in business by organizing trade forums, B2B, fair, exhibition, seminars and conferences, TV talk shows home and abroad. SHGPAZ, has established a local network of 6 districts which involve women in business, handcrafters and managers. In order to be able at responding in time to the current issues and to public matters, SHGPAZ established a flexible and functional management structure by organising a strong team of in-house experts which are indispensable on the dissemination of research results and policy recommendations. The association use a strong PR with the media, and the website, e-mail distribution lists and SHGPAZs publications. Private sector development is seen as a critical element in strengthening and broadening the base of the economy and achieving greater international competitiveness. However, many of these adjustments and reforms fail to take account of their impact on women, and often neglect to consider womenand women entrepreneurs (WE) in particular as potential contributors to economic development, the growth of the private sector development, and the creation of decent employment. The importance of micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) in social and economic development, and the need to support their viability, expansion and growth, is accepted in most countries irrespective of their stage of economic development. Women and their economic contributions are often invisible and go unrecognized in many countries, both as entrepreneurs and as workers. A project is proposed with PBWHA in order to assess the existing environment for women entrepreneurship in order to analyse gaps and promote more favourable environment for the growth of womens enterprises. An AfDB/ILO Integrated Framework Assessment tool has been identified as appropriate for assessing the environment for women entrepreneurship. In general, the Integrated Framework is based on the proposition that if women are equipped with the necessary resources, skills and opportunities to start stronger businesses, and if they are more readily able to pursue the growth potential of these enterprises, the economy will benefit from reduced
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SHGPAZ,Rruga "Bogdani", Pall."4 Bimo" kati 7, ap 51 Tirane - Albania Tel/fax: +355 (0) 4 2235726, 0682763344 info.shgpaz@yahoo.com; shgpaz.albania@yahoo.com www.nemewea.al ; www.prom-albania.com

poverty, from greater employment and from economic growth. The women entrepreneurs will be able to grow their own enterprises and become more significant actors in national economies. In addition, avenues will be opened for the greater social inclusion of women in the public domain, greater gender equality, and enhanced economic empowerment of women

Aktivi tete e organ izuar a nga SHGP AZ

5/3/2013 7/3/2013 11/3/2013 12/3/2013 13/3/2013 16/3/2013 2729/3/2013 29/3/2013

Tirane Tirane Tirane Tirane Tirane Lezhe Prizre n Tirane

Takim me Kryetaren e Kuvendit Znj.Jozefina Topalli Takim me perfaqsuesen e GIZ Takim me perfaqesuesen e AIDA-s Mrs. Eneida Gurria Takim me Znj.Tefta Demetin , drejtoreshe ne METE Interviste e Mss. F.Xhabija and S.Drishti, Wake-up, TopChannel TV Inagurimi i laboratorit artizanal Lezhe Workshop Indentifikim i nevojave per sherbime, sherbimet e reja "Banka dhe Siprmarrsi"

45 1 1 1 2 2 4 9

CELEBRATING THE SECOND CATALOGUE, MARCH 2013

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SHGPAZ,Rruga "Bogdani", Pall."4 Bimo" kati 7, ap 51 Tirane - Albania Tel/fax: +355 (0) 4 2235726, 0682763344 info.shgpaz@yahoo.com; shgpaz.albania@yahoo.com www.nemewea.al ; www.prom-albania.com

5 mars 2013, Grat siprmarrse vizit n Kuvendin e Shqipris

15 MARS-business community qytetin e Lezhes & prime ministre with his cabinet

16 MARS 2013, Inagurimi i laboratorit artizanal ne

plotesimi I pyetesoreve ishte shume pozitiv sepse hera e pare on line, hera e pare ne grup, kishte tri ategori- pa kompjuter ne qendra internet, me kompjuter por asnjehere pyetesor dhe ato qe ishin mesuar sidomos anetaret

SME POLICY INDEX Western Balkans and Turkey 2012 Progress in Implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe Dimension 1 Entrepreneurial learning and womens entrepreneurship COUNTRY SCORES-2012 regional average

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SHGPAZ,Rruga "Bogdani", Pall."4 Bimo" kati 7, ap 51 Tirane - Albania Tel/fax: +355 (0) 4 2235726, 0682763344 info.shgpaz@yahoo.com; shgpaz.albania@yahoo.com www.nemewea.al ; www.prom-albania.com

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SHGPAZ,Rruga "Bogdani", Pall."4 Bimo" kati 7, ap 51 Tirane - Albania Tel/fax: +355 (0) 4 2235726, 0682763344 info.shgpaz@yahoo.com; shgpaz.albania@yahoo.com www.nemewea.al ; www.prom-albania.com

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SHGPAZ,Rruga "Bogdani", Pall."4 Bimo" kati 7, ap 51 Tirane - Albania Tel/fax: +355 (0) 4 2235726, 0682763344 info.shgpaz@yahoo.com; shgpaz.albania@yahoo.com www.nemewea.al ; www.prom-albania.com

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SHGPAZ,Rruga "Bogdani", Pall."4 Bimo" kati 7, ap 51 Tirane - Albania Tel/fax: +355 (0) 4 2235726, 0682763344 info.shgpaz@yahoo.com; shgpaz.albania@yahoo.com www.nemewea.al ; www.prom-albania.com