USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project aims to accelerate sustainable economic growth in the agriculture sector.  A key component in achieving this is to provide women with opportunities to increase their incomes, which the Project is doing through supporting the expansion of the horticulture value chain.  Additionally, women need skills to develop their own businesses; there are a number of obstacles women face in becoming entrepreneurs, especially those living in rural areas.  To address these issues, USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project supports Women in Business Training sessions designed specifically to provide training to these women.  The training is designed in two parts: 1) the initial training and 2) the extension program. 

The training begins today in Bobonaro municipality for five days and will continue in other municipalities Ermera, Aileu and Ainaro. This five day training will help women learn how to choose what produce to select for sale according to market demands, how to access correct markets, how to grow products in accordance with market quality requirements, financial management, pricing and costing, how to develop value-added production, and techniques to encourage women’s economic collaboration. The target participants will be from mainly micro-small-medium enterprises with little or no experience, but who possess a willingness to learn about agribusiness.   

Mission Director John Seong stated, “Promoting and supporting women’s entrepreneurship is crucial for rural development and the country’s overall economic development. USAID is pleased to provide  the women in business with the necessary skills to help improve their and the communities’ livelihoods."

Following completion of the initial five day training sessions the project will support an extension program that will continue to mentor and coach a select group of women from the training.  The extension program is designed to provide women with continuing technical assistance to develop their businesses. 

At the completion of this training in specific sucos, USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project will continue to provide additional training sessions in other sucos within the project’s targeted areas.  “The training is targeted to help women become efficient and effective in small business management.  These kinds of skills take time to mature and we are here to assist these women as best we can” Nic Richards, USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project Chief of Party.