Empowering Women through Gender-Sensitive Value Chain Interventions

Project title: Women’s Economic Empowerment through Gender-Sensitive Value Chain Interventions. 
Duration of the project: October 2022- September 2023
Donor: Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA)

The Gender Alliance for Development Center (GADC) “ Women’s Economic Empowerment through Gender-Sensitive Value Chain Interventions” project aims at empowering women entrepreneurs in Tirana, Albania. Supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Gender Equity and Equality Action (GEEA), this initiative focuses on enhancing women’s participation in value chains, with a particular focus on overcoming the challenges posed by COVID-19 and climate change.

Through this project, GADC will provide women entrepreneurs who have benefited from municipal grants in the last few years with the tools and resources to increase their economic opportunities. The project will involve 27 capacity-building workshops that cover key topics such as financial management, marketing strategies, gender-sensitive value chain analysis, and sustainable business practices.

A central goal of the project is to create a strong, supportive network of women entrepreneurs in Tirana, where they can collaborate, share knowledge, and build lasting partnerships. The project will also establish a local pool of experts in gender-sensitive value chain analysis, equipping the community with ongoing expertise to drive sustainable change.

This initiative is a crucial step towards increasing women’s economic empowerment, ensuring that they have the resources and skills to take active, influential roles in shaping Albania’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Key Achievements of the project:
Women’s Network Established: The project successfully created a vibrant and supportive network of women entrepreneurs in Tirana, enabling collaboration and mutual growth.
Capacity Building: 27 workshops empowered 550 women entrepreneurs, enhancing their skills in financial management, marketing, and business sustainability.
Expertise in Gender-Sensitive Value Chains: The project developed a local pool of trained experts in gender-sensitive value chain analysis, ensuring lasting impact and future expertise in the community.
Increased Confidence and Engagement: Initially, many women were hesitant to participate, but through targeted outreach and valuable training, attitudes shifted, leading to increased engagement and empowerment.
Promoting Economic Equality: Women entrepreneurs gained the tools to overcome systemic barriers and contribute more effectively to Albania’s economic development, ensuring gender-sensitive practices are embedded within key value chains.
Gender-Sensitive Value Chain Analyses: The project successfully completed 4 gender-sensitive value chain analyses across key sectors including handicrafts, olive oil, agritourism, and the garment industry, providing a deep understanding of gender disparities and opportunities for women’s empowerment within these sectors.

Key Conferences and Activities
On December 15, 2022, GADC organized a launch the project, attended by over 120 participants, including women entrepreneurs, institutions, and partners. The discussion focused on challenges faced by women in business, especially in the context of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read more. 
On March 9, 2023, GADC organized the first in a series of 27 workshops with women entrepreneurs in Tirana, focusing on gender-sensitive value chains and marketing strategies. The training emphasized digital marketing tools and practical skills to strengthen women’s roles in business. Click here to read more
On March 24–25, 2023, GADC organized a two-day training with international expert Anna Lentink on gender-sensitive value chain analysis for a group of local professionals. The training aimed to build local expertise and prepare future trainers to support women entrepreneurs in Tirana. Click here to read more
On October 31, 2023, GADC presented the findings of the gender-sensitive value chain analysis in the artisanal sub-sector in Tirana. The event highlighted women's participation, the role of micro and small businesses, and the economic and cultural importance of the sector. Click here to read the study
On November 1, 2023, GADC presented the Gender-Sensitive Value Chain Analysis in the olive oil sub-sector, identifying key challenges and barriers for women. The analysis is crucial for understanding women's roles and promoting gender-responsive approaches in this important sector. Click here to read the study

Watch the full activity here: https://www.facebook.com/GADCAlbania/videos/892396179068620/

Gender-Sensitive Value Chain - Agritourism Sector in Tirana Municipality Click here to read the study.