Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus (WEE)


Switzerland has been successfully supporting women and their businesses in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan since 2017. In this final phase of the project, Switzerland aims to institutionalize gender-related policies at national and local levels, build the capacities of the governmental and non-governmental partners to continue promoting women's empowerment and encourage the private sector to support more women in the formal economy.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
South Caucasus
Gender
Employment & economic development
Women’s equality organisations and institutions
Employment creation
01.09.2024 - 31.08.2026
CHF  1’500’000
Background

Women's economic empowerment (WEE) aims to ensure that women are able to engage in decent work, gain social protection, access markets and manage resources, thus enhancing their participation in economic decisions stemming from the household-level to business interactions.

Despite notable progress in WEE in the South Caucasus, significant challenges persist. These include women’s limited formal employment opportunities, low labour force participation rates, a considerable gender pay gap, and extensive involvement in the informal sector. Moreover, gender stereotypes and cultural norms often confine women to domestic roles, hindering their full integration into the workforce. Challenges, such as inadequate childcare and social protections exacerbate these issues, while gender-sensitive labour policies remain insufficient, leaving many women without formal rights or protections.

Objectives The overarching goal of the project is to ensure that women, particularly the poor and socially excluded, in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are economically empowered and participate in relevant decision-making processes.
Target groups Direct beneficiaries include 785 grassroots women in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia of Outcome 1.
Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Women, particularly the poor and socially excluded, use skills, economic opportunities, relevant information, network and support to become farmers/ entrepreneurs or to join the formal labour sector in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Outcome 2: Armenia and Georgia implement adequate legislative and policy reforms and frameworks to enable women’s economic empowerment.

Outcome 3: The government, public and non-governmental institutions are strengthened to develop and deliver gender-responsive programmes, policies and services for women’s economic empowerment in Armenia and Georgia.

Results

Expected results:  

  • 450 women with strengthened capacities/skills to join the formal labour sector, become farmers/ entrepreneurs, contribute to the local planning and budgeting discussions in the region; 335 women with better and more secure employment (including self-employment)
  • 150 women contribute to local planning and budgeting/GRB discussions aimed at addressing their socio-economic concerns
  • 40 new private enterprises signed the UN Women/UN Global Compact WEPs
  • The Structure of Earnings Survey (SES) in Georgia launched
  • 2 public institutions develop special programmes on WEE in Armenia and Georgia


Results from previous phases:  

Grassroots level:

  • 2’555 women in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia increased their awareness on gender equality; 691 women became self-employed through entrepreneurial activities and agricultural production; 490 women in Armenia and Georgia actively participated in gender responsive budgeting (GRB); 51 companies became signatories of Women’s Economic Empowerment Principles (WEPs)

Policy level:

  • Changes were introduced to the Labour Code of Georgia in 2020 to define 'pay' and establish the principle of equal pay
  • Georgia became a member of the EPIC (Equal Pay International Coalition) in 2021
  • Amendments were introduced to Georgia's Labour Code in 2023 doubling the state-provided maternity benefit
  • Armenia’s Gender Equality Strategy 2024-2027 was developed

Institutional level:

  • First stand-alone program by the Rural Development Agency was established to increase women’s access to finance in Georgia
  • National Time Use Surveys (TUS) were launched in Georgia and Armenia


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women


Coordination with other projects and actors Synergies will be explored with Armenia’s Sustainable Inclusive Growth in Mountainous Armenia (SIGMA) project and with Georgia’s Rural SMEs Development, Market Alliances for Rural Development and Local Economic Development projects.
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    900’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   7’310’526 Budget inclusive project partner CHF   8’810’526
Project phases Phase 3 01.09.2024 - 31.08.2026   (Current phase) Phase 2 01.08.2021 - 31.07.2024   (Active) Phase 1 01.11.2017 - 31.07.2021   (Active)