March 4, 2024 – The Organization of American States (OAS) through its Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI) extends Congratulations to all women of the Americas in recognition of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, 2024. The Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) project is one of the initiatives that reinforces the Organization’s dedication to inspiring inclusion of women in economic development. Through the WEE project, the OAS remains dedicated to inspiring inclusion of women in economic development by empowering women led and owned Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to take advantage of the digital economy and build sustainable livelihoods across the six participating Eastern Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. OAS Executive Secretary for Integral Development, Kim Osborne said “The OAS is committed to inspiring women by investing in their economic empowerment. In celebration of International Women’s Day and the OAS WEE project's significant contributions to the advancement of women across the Eastern Caribbean, we are pleased to announce that virtual workshops will be hosted, focused on unpacking the OAS Business Formalization Toolkits which have been specifically designed to guide women-led and owned MSMEs in formalizing their businesses in each participating country. These toolkits offer comprehensive guidance and practical resources to assist women in navigating the process of formalizing their businesses. By equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge, we aim to facilitate their access to financial services, markets, and other opportunities for growth. These curated workshops will be held during March 4th - 6th, at 5:00 - 6:00 pm and 6:30 - 7:30 pm each evening for each of the six countries. We extend a warm invitation to all women-led and owned MSMEs, as well as other MSME stakeholders, to participate in these insightful virtual workshops. To view the schedule for each country and to register for these workshops, please visit the events section on the WEE MSME Clearinghouse at https://wee-msme-clearinghouse.com/events/ Also under the OAS WEE Project is the WEE MSME Clearinghouse, launched in November 2023. It is a valuable resource that provides a platform for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) owned or led by women, with content ranging from digital tools aimed at bridging the gap for women in the digital economy to information on financial literacy to opportunities to connect with the diaspora. The Clearinghouse also makes available online training materials, best practices, and other available online resources as we are committed to equipping women MSMEs with the knowledge and support necessary to succeed. Women’s economic empowerment benefits the wider economy by reducing income inequality and promoting diversity and economic resilience. The OAS encourages all to join hands to empower women entrepreneurs and drive economic growth in the region. About the OAS WEE Project: The Organization of American States (OAS) Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Project is being implemented in 6 Eastern Caribbean Countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) to empower women-led and women-owned MSMEs to actively participate in and benefit from the digital economy and build sustainable livelihoods. Over 600 women across the participating countries are benefiting from tools, resources and opportunities to support the digital transformation of their business. For media inquiries, please contact: Lizra Fabien Caribbean Project Manager LFabien@oas.org
