Information and Communication

Technologies - ICT Training for

Women Entrepreneurs

IDBs Pilot Experience in Bolivia

J. Enrique Velazco Reckling, Ph.D.

Presidente Ejecutivo
Fundacin INASET
 Why Women Are Not Trained (in
ICT)?
Inadequate/insufficient promotion/diffusion/information of
training programs in ICT
Discrimination: women dont have the same training
opportunities as men have
Family responsibilities (children, household chores, ...)
Working hours
Costs (low / insufficient income)
Transport difficulties (distance, time, ...)
Cultural factors
Lack of motivation
Lack of understanding/appreciation of ICTs potential
 Training Offer: Design Criteria

No Fees (Registration, Enrollment) : Although we

believe that free services are not appreciated, a decision
was made to exclude possible cost-associated barriers.
Schedule: Any time segment between 07:00 and 22:00
would be available provided there were at least 4 women
in the group
Group Size: Minimum of four persons and a maximum
of 12 per group to ensure individual attention
Learning Materials: Teaching aids and other reference
materials would be provided free of charge; full access to
INASETs library
 Methodology and Core Subjects

Methodology: Flexible approach both in Basic Subjects

selection (linked to every day real life needs) and in
pacing (individual mastering of the subjects) to respond to
real and perceived needs
Program Structure: Combines two dimensions:
subject and level (Elementary, Basic and Advanced)
Specific Contents: Adjustable for each group and for
each participant in accordance with the results of the
initial assessment of previous knowledge and of the
specific needs of labor tasks
 Some Relevant Figures

Net Training Hours: (4 February to 17 April)

G1: 46 hours + 10 hours (evaluations and tutoring)
G2: 42 hours + 10 hours (evaluations and tutoring)
G3: 44 hours + 10 hours (evaluations and tutoring)
G4: 28 hours + 16 hours (evaluations and tutoring)

% Covered G1 (B+) G2 (E-B) G3 (B) G4 (B)

Windows 100 100 100 100
Word 100 100 100 100
Excel 100 80 100 100
Power 50 0 50 0
Point
Internet 50 0 0 0
 Results and Evaluations

Participants pass all comprehension and practical

application evaluations with grades of 70% and
above
Participants assess with 90% or more:
Overall instructors quality and performance
Capacity / ability to transmit ideas and concepts
Usefulness and relevance of examples and exercises
Overall relevance and quality of the activities
General satisfaction with training experience
 Opinions

Why Was It Useful and What Benefits Did You Find?:

It helped me improve my labor performance
I am beginning to understand why and how computers can
help my business
Increases womens competitiveness (access to better jobs)
Improves managerial capacity to lead present and future
business (personal, cultural, and cognitive improvement)
Better group and team coordination and work
Helped me to better organize my life and made me more
dynamic
 Why Women Are Not Trained (in
ICT)?
Inadequate/insufficient promotion/diffusion/information of
training programs in ICT
Discrimination: women dont have the same opportunities
for training as men have
Family responsibilities (children, household chores, ...)
Working hours
Costs (low / insufficient income)
Transport difficulties (distance, time, ...)
Cultural factors
Lack of motivation
Lack of understanding/appreciation of ICTs potential
 Conclusions (1)
The pilot program confirms previous experiences that
show a high initial resistance of women to enroll in this
particular area of training: suggest need to use inductive
programs/activities to transmit and explain ICTs potential
The market, alone, will not develop and offer the needed
services (methodologies) to promote and diffuse ICT
In order to diffuse ICT usage as a working tool to improve
business performance and gap the digital divide, policies
should be designed/implemented to promote/support
innovative services for development of skills in this area
both, in enterprises and in services providers
 Conclusions (2)
The Pilot project of ICT training for women
entrepreneurs has proven successful in both, the design and
the implementation of a training methodology
Taking full advantage of ICT potential requires:
Strengthening/development of a new personal and entrepreneurial
mentality (management in the Information-Knowledge society)
Improving information management capabilities (QPM-CQPIP)
Development of physical and institutional structure
Support/promotion for innovative Entrepreneurial Development
Services in ICT, as part of comprehensive and integral services for
SME business management