AWE Central Asia Summit Strengthens Support for Women Entrepreneurs in Almaty – The Astana Times

Report on the Academy of Women’s Entrepreneurship (AWE) Central Asia Summit and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Event Overview and Objectives

The Academy of Women’s Entrepreneurship (AWE) Central Asia International Summit was convened in Almaty on October 31. The event served as a critical platform for advancing several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by gathering key stakeholders to foster women’s entrepreneurship. The primary objective was to expand regional cooperation and promote women’s leadership, directly contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic development.

• Date: October 31
• Location: Almaty, Kazakhstan
• Participants: Women entrepreneurs, AWE alumni, and representatives from international organizations, businesses, and government institutions from Central Asia and the United States.

Alignment with SDG 5: Gender Equality

The AWE initiative is fundamentally aligned with SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. As a global program of the U.S. Department of State, AWE has provided business education and networking to over 25,000 women across more than 100 countries. In Kazakhstan, the program’s implementation since 2021 demonstrates a targeted effort to dismantle barriers to women’s economic participation. The summit highlighted that investing in women entrepreneurs is a direct investment in strengthening families and communities, a core principle of gender equality.

Contribution to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The summit underscored the program’s significant contributions to SDG 8 by promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. Panel discussions and participant testimonials revealed the tangible economic impacts of empowering women entrepreneurs.

1. Job Creation: The program enables women to establish their own businesses, thereby creating new employment opportunities within their communities.
2. Access to Opportunities: AWE facilitates access to professional training and financial resources, equipping women with the tools needed for sustainable business growth.
3. Economic Strengthening: By fostering female-led enterprises, the initiative strengthens local and national economies, promoting a more resilient and inclusive economic landscape.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The AWE initiative and the Central Asia Summit exemplify the multi-stakeholder collaboration model championed by SDG 17. The success of the program relies on a robust partnership between different sectors of society to build a supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs.

• Government: The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Diplomatic Mission provide foundational support and strategic direction.
• Private Sector: Corporations such as Chevron and Coca-Cola contribute financial resources and industry expertise.
• Civil Society: The network of entrepreneurs, alumni, and international organizations fosters knowledge sharing and mutual support.

This collaborative framework is essential for advancing inclusive economic growth and achieving the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Summit Outcomes and Broader SDG Impacts

The summit’s agenda, featuring panel discussions, interactive sessions, and master classes, focused on practical solutions for business growth and social impact. Key discussions addressed common challenges, such as access to financing and investment, which are critical for achieving broader development goals.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By providing pathways to economic independence, the AWE program directly addresses poverty reduction and reduces economic inequalities.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The emphasis on business education and skills training contributes to lifelong learning opportunities.

The event concluded by reinforcing the necessity of continued collaboration to build an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs, ensuring their full participation in the region’s economic future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article focuses on the Academy of Women’s Entrepreneurship (AWE), a program specifically designed to empower women. It discusses promoting women’s leadership, business development, and strengthening their economic position, which are central to achieving gender equality.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The AWE program directly contributes to economic growth by helping women “start their own businesses, create jobs, and gain access to… financial opportunities.” This fosters entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth, as mentioned in the article.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The article states that AWE empowers women “through business education and networking” and provides “access to professional training.” This aligns with the goal of providing relevant skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The initiative is a collaboration among various entities. The article highlights a partnership between a government body (U.S. Department of State), diplomatic missions, and private sector companies (Chevron and Coca-Cola). It also mentions the importance of collaboration among “government, business, and civil society.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in economic life. The AWE summit’s aim to “promote women’s leadership and business development” directly supports this target by equipping women with the skills and networks to lead in the economic sphere.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. The article explicitly mentions that the program helps women “start their own businesses, create jobs, and gain access to… financial opportunities,” which directly addresses this target.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. The AWE program provides “business education” and “professional training,” which are relevant skills for entrepreneurship, thus contributing to this target.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article describes the AWE program as a “global initiative of the U.S. Department of State” (public) implemented “in partnership with Chevron and Coca-Cola” (private), showcasing a clear example of a public-private partnership aimed at achieving development goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Number of women empowered

   • The article states that AWE “has empowered over 25,000 women in more than 100 countries.” This is a direct quantitative indicator of the program’s reach and its contribution to targets under SDG 4 (skills training) and SDG 5 (women’s empowerment).

2. Number of new businesses and jobs created

   • The article implies that progress can be measured by the number of women who “start their own businesses” and “create jobs” after participating in the program. While a specific number is not given, these are key outcomes mentioned as a result of the initiative, serving as indicators for Target 8.3.

3. Number and type of partnerships

   • The article identifies the specific partners involved: the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Diplomatic Mission, Chevron, and Coca-Cola. The existence and collaboration of these public and private entities serve as an indicator for Target 17.17.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: astanatimes.com