The Women’s Entrepreneurship Centre’s of Resources, Education, Access, and Training for Economic Empowerment (WECREATE) is a U.S. Department of State initiative, centred on empowering women in business.
Since the first WECREATE centre was launched in Pakistan on February 13, 2015, three more centres have been established in Cambodia, Kenya and Zambia. Women have been able to receive training through these centres which has had a positive impact on themselves, their families and communities.
The WECREATE initiative is focused on building the capacity of established and emerging female business owners and supports them throughout the transitioning phase, from operating in the informal economy to a formally registered company.
This initiative basically establishes physical entrepreneurial community centres in safe and centralised locations where women can have access and gain important resources required for starting or growing a business.
These centres will be able to address the specific barriers within a country that female entrepreneurs may or will face and will provide various programs, tools, and events that are designed to advance gender equality in business.
It is the collaborative approach that these centres apply, that further advance the kind of environment which is culturally sensitive and safe in supporting women’s economic empowerment.
It is through the funding by the Secretary’s Full Participation Fund and public-private partnerships with the U.S. Department of State and private sector partners who also implement and sustain selected centres that such an initiative continues to assist aspiring businesswomen.