Partner: The World Bank, Gender and Development Department
Country: Tanzania
Project period: November 2009 – August 2011
IMED Foundation was involved in a virtual business incubation program for female entrepreneurs in Dar es Salaam and Kibaha. Three groups of women entrepreneurs were selected, one received training only, the other training, mentoring, and coaching, and the third received nothing. The three groups were studied by an independent research agency to compare changes at the individual, enterprise, and household levels of participants. 500 female entrepreneurs in total, received training, and participated in the incubation facility. Project evaluation showed that the group that received a combination of training coaching, mentoring, and linkage to markets performed best. On average, each business created at least 2 new jobs in the three years of the project. The proportion of women entrepreneurs paying themselves salaries increased from 20% to 65%, and more of the women became leaders in their communities. Due to its success, the project has been extended to 1000 other women with funding from Cherrie Blair Foundation and continues to impact women entrepreneurs.
