At a WIPO programme, the ILO shares how the cooperative model can be used by indigenous women entrepreneurs

ILO contributed to the second edition of the WIPO Program for Indigenous and Local Community Women Entrepreneurs that took place in October 2021.

News | 27 October 2021
The second edition of the WIPO Training, Mentoring and Match-Making Program for Indigenous and Local Community Women Entrepreneurs took place between October 11-22, 2021 with the participation of 22 indigenous women entrepreneurs from around the world.

The ILO Enterprises Department Director Vic van Vuuren provided a welcome note for the opening session of the programme on October 11. During his opening remarks he reflected on the ILO’s work on indigenous peoples and women entrepreneurship development including through cooperatives.

Two ILO COOP staff also provided an orientation session on the cooperative enterprise model and its relevance for indigenous women’s economic empowerment. In addition, Simel Esim and Andrea Davila shared relevant ILO training tools on cooperatives, notably Think.Coop and Start.Coop. Their presentation included a short video on indigenous women cooperatives followed by questions and answers.

ILO COOP had also contributed to the first edition of the programme that took place in November 2019. As part of the second edition, Ms Esim and Ms Davila will be participating in the mentoring and matchmaking phases of the program, to answer any follow up questions from the indigenous women entrepreneurs on cooperative enterprises.

See ILO COOP brief on cooperatives and indigenous peoples here.