Female Enterprise Incubator

Cambodia

Gender stereotypes are systemic within the Cambodian job market. Female unemployment in the formal sector is widespread as restrictive social norms dictate unequal opportunity. Men are encouraged to undertake vocational training programs in trades such as mechanics, electronics and IT, whilst women are commonly limited to sewing, cooking and hospitality.

This six month incubator program has been designed to upskill 60 female micro entrepreneurs to scale their business ideas through professional training, mentoring and follow-up support. It seeks to fill a gap in support services to enable women to cross the gender divide into new realms of opportunity. And who is better equipped to run the program than female Cambodians themselves? The courses are uniquely designed and facilitated entirely in Khmer, by Khmer, for Khmer.

Workshop content focuses on:

• Personal and professional problem-solving
• Financial literacy
• Product development
• Basic business modelling
• Leadership and management
• Communication and teamwork
• Gender awareness and empowerment

Key Areas of Expenditure:

• Workshop staff, equipment and materials
• Field trips
• Business modeling
• Product development
• Marketing
• Curriculum evaluation