WIDNet

Women Entrepeneurs Development Association of Zambia

Profile of Women Entrepreneurs Development Association of Zambia (WEDAZ)

Women Entrepreneurs Development Association of Zambia (WEDAZ) is a membership non-governmental organisation that was established in September 1995 to address the needs of women entrepreneurs.

The identified needs were:
o Lack of knowledge in entrepreneurship skills
o Failure by women to access credit
o Lack of coordination and networking among women entrepreneurs

VISION

A Zambia where women are economically empowered

MISSION

To stimulate the economic empowerment of women and youth in Zambia through skills and business management training and the provision of funding and marketing support to micro entrepreneurs.

OBJECTIVES

o To provide entrepreneurship and skills training to members and interested parties
o To provide credit to individual members and women’s groups for income generating activities
o To promote the development of women entrepreneurs by providing a networking forum
o To build organisational and institutional capacity of WEDAZ to enhance programme delivery
o To provide support to community social groups on women and children’s rights

TARGET GROUP

o Women and youth entrepreneurs
o Women and youth intending to go into business
o Organisational business groups in communities
o Social groups addressing women and children’s issues in communities

PROGRAMMES

1. Training programme

o Start your Business (SYB)
o Improve your Business (SYB)
o Small business management
o Skills training-food processing, food production, mushroom growing, batik tie & dye, floral arrangements and handcrafts designing
o HIV/AIDS & environmental awareness

2. Credit Access

o Provision of micro loans to women groups using the gramine banking system for repaying loans

3. Marketing

o WEDAZ assists its members to market their products locally and internationally through exhibitions at shows and trade fairs

ACHIEVEMENTS

Some of the achievements of WEDAZ are:

o Trained more than 800 women in business skills since inception
o Have a fully fledged training school in Kamanga
o Available training equipment
o Most women who have passed through WEDAZ training have established their own business
o Increased membership
o Establishment of self help groups in communities

AFFILIATIONS

o WEDAZ is affiliated to:
o Non Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC)
o NGO Technical Services Unit
o Zambia Federation of Women Associations in Business (ZAFWIB)

CONTACT