New peer mentoring programme to fast-track women entrepreneurs in the C’bean
HIGH-potential women entrepreneurs in the Caribbean are being invited to submit their applications to be part of and get support from a new peer mentorship programme.
The initiative, which is part of the Entrepreneurship Programme for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC), funded by the government of Canada and implemented by the World Bank Group and its infoDev programme for entrepreneurship, will run as an eight-month intensive acceleration programme to provide participants with a wide range of support services to innovate their businesses, improve competitiveness and boost their growth.
The services include peer learning, personal development, one-to-one mentoring/coaching, technical workshops, and motivational sessions by successful entrepreneur role models.
The programme will be delivered by certified facilitators in 12 Caribbean countries — Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Of note, women entrepreneurs in these countries are eligible for selection provided that they have a firm that has been in business for several years, have demonstrated significant business growth, and have realistic plans for future growth. Each country-based programme will support up to 15 women entrepreneurs over eight months starting in early 2016.
More information on the criteria and application details can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/WINC-AP as well as www.facebook.com/WomenInnovatorsNetworkCaribbean or www.infodev.org/EPIC.
The deadline for applications from qualified women entrepreneurs is November 27.
