AWCF  convened  14  organizations  in  an  “Impact  Assessment  Workshop”  held   on February 10-12, 2009 at Town in Town Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. Aside from attaining the workshop objectives - evaluated the organizational and individual efforts in promoting enterprise development within co-ops and NGOs (non-government organizations) or SDAs (social development agencies) supportive  of co-ops; gathered and shared strategies, processes, and best practices on enterprise development, management, marketing, and ICT (information and communication technology); and strengthened networking at the regional level—the workshop started the ball rolling for the discussion on “green jobs/green co-ops” among the workshop participants.

The additional input was very helpful to AWCF as it has recently embarked on advocating eco-friendly concepts in co-ops because we have to support co-op members to live a healthier and longer life stemming from sustainable consumption and production patterns. We believe that healthier co-op members contribute better to a co-op’s growth in terms of more participation, savings, usage of services, and better loan repayments.  

The resource persons’ sharing on green jobs/green co-ops opened our eyes on the vast area enterprising women can work on. Mr. Charles Bodwell, Enterprise Specialist of ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, stressed that aside from women entrepreneurship being an important component to enterprise development, he encouraged women to take part in “green jobs” to address two issues: the problem of climate change and economic development. He shared that “Green jobs are decent work created in economic sectors and activities, which reduces their environmental impact, ultimately leading to environmentally, economically and socially sustainable enterprises and economies.”    

On the other hand, Ms Marie Sicat, Associate Social Affairs Officer of the Gender Equality and Empowerment Section of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), shared on the results of their efforts in promoting women’s entrepreneurship and ICT in organized rural women of Asia-Pacific, hence “green co-ops”. She cited women’s interest in health and nutrition, women finding ways to supplement family income, and the support nature of co-ops as the driving force conducive for women to engage in green co-op entrepreneurship. 

With these initial inputs, we look forward for more sharing or information on the concept of green jobs/green co-ops. We hope to hear from you by sharing with us your own experience in advancing women entrepreneurship vis-à-vis the protection of our environment. 

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The “Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” are derived from the actions and targets in the “Millennium Declaration” that was adopted by 189 countries and signed by 147 heads of states and governments in the United Nations (UN) “Millennium Summit” in year 2000. The eight MDGs are time-bound and measurable targets to address by year 2015 extreme poverty in its many dimensions—income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion—while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. They are also the basic human rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter, and security.

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