Programs and Services - Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum

PROGRAMS
Gender Mainstreaming
Enabling co-ops, community-based savings and credit organizations, and development non-government organizations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) to mainstream and integrate gender concerns and perspectives in their policies, programs, and activities.

Women in Leadership and Decision-Making
Promoting the increased participation of women in leadership and decision-making in co-ops, community-based savings and credit organizations, and development NGOs and POs engaged in the promotion of co-ops. The varied activities include training on the vision of transformative leadership.

Women Entrepreneurship Development
Enhancing women’s entrepreneurial skills and advocating the mobilization of co-op resources to support women-owned and/or women-managed enterprises. This program also involves advocating for co-ops to set up co-op business development centers (BDCs) to provide services to members who have micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); build capacities of women entrepreneurs, especially those in micro-enterprises; provide micro-finance, education, and skills upgrading, physical space/facilities, access to appropriate low-cost technology, and information and communication technology; and other services.

Regional Policy Advocacy
Analyzing the gender impact of cross-cutting issues affecting co-ops and community-based savings and credit organizations in Asia; and lobbying for policy change supportive of co-ops and women at the local and international levels.

Advocacy on Support Services for Women
Advocating for co-ops to use their resources for support services to women members in response to practical and strategic needs, such as micro-credit, training on non-traditional trades, literacy classes, childcare, and assistance to women victims of violence and their protection.

SERVICES
Training
AWCF provides various training on co-op development and on gender and development (GAD) to assist women, specifically; and women and men elected officers, managers, and staff; trainers; planners; and policy-makers. AWCF also designs and organizes exposure or exchange programs on gender, women and co-ops; and develops training materials on gender and co-ops.

Gender Integration in Co-operatives and in Social Development Projects
AWCF provides analysis, development of tools, and training on how to integrate gender in the structure, policies, programs, services, and activities of co-ops; and in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of any type of social development projects.

Gender Impact Assessment in Co-operatives and in Social Development Projects
AWCF provides analysis, development of evaluation tools, and actual conduct of evaluation and assessment on the extent of gender integration and gender impact.

Research and Documentation
AWCF conducts research studies on topics related to women/gender and co-ops, savings and credit schemes, leadership and enterprise development. It also documents best practices on these topics.