In 2018, Women in Business of Algeria association (WIBA) conducted a field diagnosis and implemented a project aimed at drawing attention to the potential of entrepreneurship for women’s employment, and increasing the profitability and prosperity of enterprises run and / or led by women.

This diagnosis directly involved a consultancy and studies firm, several specialized centers including a vocational training centre (INSFP National Institute of Professional Vocational Training), a research centre (the University of Setif), a national advisory body ( Algerian Observatory for Women), various companies, three media outlets, and three national aid agencies (the National Youth Employment Support Agency – ANSEJ, the National Microcredit Management Agency - ANGEM, and.

Following the diagnosis, WIBA and the other involved entities came up with a number of recommendations related to women´s entrepreneurial needs. Among other things, there was an emphasis on the need to:

• encourage women and orient them towards the creation of companies. In fact, it is estimated that in 2016 and 2017 only 14% of the projects supported by the National Youth Employment Support Agency (ANSEJ) and the National Unemployment Insurance Fund (CNAC) were launched by women in the region;
• promote women’s entrepreneurship through communication and coaching programs;
• set up training programs in management and integrate an "entrepreneurship" module in the different levels of education (university and vocational training);
• to create a meeting point for women entrepreneurs, state administrations and professional organizations to encourage women in investing in new fields and expanding their scope of work;
• encourage part-time work through part-time legislation that allows women to reconcile work and home responsibilities.

The field project targeted 35 women with project initiatives, and consisted of two main activities: training sessions for graduates of vocational training, university, or other entities at the National Institute of Professional Vocational Training; and the organization in Setif of the "regional fair of female entrepreneurship" which was open to public and to professionals (entrepreneurs, management students, etc.) and included conferences, exhibitions of products, and workshops. Teh fair was organized in partnership with CMESA Consulting.

The trainings were an opportunity for the 35 participants to strengthen their knowledge in business management, marketing, industrial and artisanal soap production, and the circular economy. Trainees were also able to develop their entrepreneurial spirit and were sensitized to business creation, thanks to the coaches and the elaborating of draft work plan to test their business and entrepreneurial ideas.

As for the fair, it has indeed reflected the diversity of the sectors of activity of women’s enterprises in Setif (advertisement, tourism, event-planning, industry, crafts, culture, fashion and clothing, services, etc.) and highlighted them. The fair was also an opportunity for 15 out of the 21 companies who participated in the event to establish new business alliances and partnerships, some, actually, signed contracts and sell agreements following their participation at the fair.

The fair also counted on the participation of members of SEVE, the first association of women head of enterprises in Algeria, different state entities (Directorate of Regulations and General Affairs in Setif, Culture Directorate, and the Directorate of Professional Training in the Wilaya), several incubators and business creation schemes including banks, and several training organizations, including the University of Setif and the Management Business Institute (MBI) in Setif.

Given the success of this event, WIBA intends to sustain the organization of this type of fairs in the future in collaboration with vocational training entities and public institutions supporting companies in the State and in the region of Setif.

This initiative is part of the field projects developed by the local clusters of gender equality actors© set up by the Euro-Mediterranean Women’s Foundation since 2015. It is part of the "Reinforcing the capacity of equality actors" project, funded by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and coordinated by the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed). This action is also part of the project "Developing women’s empowerment", labeled by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).