In this issue:

Ngritja e kapaciteteve Menaxhuese t ë G r a v e s i p ë r m a r r ë s e n ë Agrikulturë.

The Round Table with the group of women etrepreneurs in Agriculture “Think Tank” from Gjakova and Gjilan

The French Ambassador in Pristina and the President of (WCG) visited SHE‐ERA

Support Women Farmers with tomato seeds Industrial

“Women Entrepreneurs: A Job Creation Engine for South‐East Europe” Dubrovnik, Croatia

The Fifth Steering Commitee Meeting

Antigona Avdiu ‐ A Woman with Enteprenurial Initiative

January,2014SHE-ERA within the project “Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture 2012-2015”, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, began the group formation process in the region of Peja by identifying women with entrepreneurial potential and initiatives in agriculture and also continued to offer its services to women from the Serbian community in Mitrovica North. Ten groups with women entrepreneurs in agriculture are anticipated to take place in the region of Peja, meanwhile in Mitrovica North four groups. The first two groups in the Klina municipality and the village of Loxhë have successfully completed the training where women and young women expressed their gratitude for the services offered by SHE-ERA, since they own land, carry out agriculture activities and one of their primary needs is the compilation of a business plan as required in the market for increasing their managing capacities and growing their business. Many issues continue to be evident for women entrepreneurs in agriculture such as: the lack of the right to property (where only 8% of women possess land), the lack of financial support (grants, subsidies), access to information and other sources, competition, the increase in cost of production, etc. It is supposed that the consumers of homemade products are not necessarily focused on the price but rather the ingredients of the natural product that best meet their requests and women who have been trained in Mitrovica North have directed their business plans towards bio-natural products. SHE-ERA's objective to advocate and lobby for the economic empowerment of women farmers through the activities by increasing the awareness of all actors and developing partners on the role and importance of women in the society.

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Increasing Managing Capacities for Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture

Supported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

NEWSLETTERVolume 6, / May / 2014

WOMEN’S BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture 2012-2015

February,2014

Mrs. Teuta Sahatqija – President of the Women Caucus Group in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and Mrs. Maryse

Daviet, the French Ambassador in Pristina, visited the Women's Business Association SHE-ERA. SHE-ERA's Executive

Director (Mrs. Mirlinda Kusari Purrini) informed them on the current situation of women entrepreneurs in Kosovo and

the activities, their problems, needs and achievements. She also informed them on SHE-ERA's ongoing activities and on

the joint-effort with women entrepreneurs in South-Eastern Europe toward women economic empowerment.

Ambassador Daviet expressed her willingness to support women entrepreneurs, especially those in agriculture. She

invited Mrs. Kusari Purrini to the French Fair of food products and agriculture which will take place in Tirana, in April

25&26, 2014 so women entrepreneurs in agriculture can expose their products.

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February,2014SHE-ERA organized a one-day workshop with the group of women “Think Tank”, beneficiaries of the project in the region of Gjakova, and a workshop with the group of women from the region of Gjilan (Municipality of Vitia). During the workshop, women “Ambassadors” entrepreneurs in agriculture discussed the problems they face during the development of their entrepreneurial activities, presented their needs and recommended the necessary steps for stimulating the decision-making institutions that the women be included, treated and equally benefit from all the services and financial schemes offered by governmental institutions and other developing partners. The purpose of the workshop was addressing the recommendations and supporting women farmers in both regions (Gjakova and Gjilan), including all actors: policy-makers, the civil community, international developing partners, financial institutions and the private sector. The opening and moderation was done by SHE-ERA's Executive Director, Mrs.Mirlinda Kusari, who informed the participants on the current situation of women entrepreneurs in agriculture. Other participants included: the mayor of the municipality of Gjakova (Mrs. Mimoza Kusari Lila), the deputy of the municipality of Vitia (Mr. Hasan Aliu), MAFRD (Mrs.Nysrete Doda), USAID (Mrs.Arifi and Mrs.Iliazi), Directors of the Department of Agriculture, Economic Development and Local Governance, medias, and the civil community.

The Round Table with the group of women etrepreneurs in Agriculture “Think Tank” from Gjakova and Gjilan

The French Ambassador in Pristina and the President of (WCG) visited SHE‐ERA

According to the ambassador, the purpose of the fair is to give French companies a chance to be acquainted with and explore the market of Balkan countries: Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro. This is an opportunity for French Companies from all industrial and food sectors (meat, dairy products, seafood, grains, alcoholic drinks, etc.) but also for companies from the supplying agricultural and food sectors (agricultural appliances, seeds, inputs, packaging equipment, etc.). Mrs Kusari Purrini thanked Mrs.Sahatqija for the continuous support to women entrepreneurs in Kosovo and for the meeting with the French Ambassador, Mrs.Daviet.

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April,2014The Women Entrepreneurship Trade Fair was held in Dubrovnik, Croatia from April 03-05, 2014. The event was organized by Gender Task Force, Croatia in the framework of the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM), co-hosted by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce Dubrovnik - Neretva County and the Croatia Association of Business Women (KRUG). One hundred female entrepreneurs from thirty countries came together to the fair, among which women entrepreneurs and representatives of women business associations and chambers from 9 countries included in this Project (Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Turkey). The fair was visited by Mr. Drazen Pros, Deputy Minister of Entrepreneurship and Crafts of the Republic of Croatia, Ms. Brunilda Paskali, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Entrepreneurship of Republic of Albania, Ms. Laura Frati Gucci, - President of FCEM, Ms. Mary Ann Rukavina Cipetic - Director of GTF - Regional Centre for Gender Equality, Ms. Dragana Durica - Integrated Growth Expert, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and SEECEL (Mrs. Efka Heder). The objective of the fair was to achieve gender equality in entrepreneurship and solve social and economic problems that affect the economy at a regional level through the exchange of experiences and challenges encountered in women entrepreneurship.

Women's Business Association “SHE-ERA” and Women's Network “Qeliza”,

partner of the project “Women Entrepreneurship: A Job Creation Engine for

South East Europe” with the support of Gender Task Force (Kosovo) invited

women entrepreneurs from Kosovo to become a part of this event. Kosovo

was represented by: SHE-ERA, Qeliza, Athene, Balkan Spring and Krenare

Rugova and Flutura Dedinja (Designers). Through the exchange of

experiences the participants aimed to promote best policy practices in

women entrepreneurship in line with the Small Business Act for Europe.

The Fair also offered the opportunity for B2B meetings with FCEM members

in addition to presenting collaboration opportunities by strengthening the

network between regional associations. At the end of the second day of the

fair A Gala dinner was organized where FCEM selected its members from

each Balkan country. As Kosovo's representative was chosen Women's

Business Association “SHE-ERA”, respectively Mirlinda Kusari Purrini.

“Women Entrepreneurs: A Job Creation Engine for South‐East Europe” Dubrovnik, Croatia

March,2014Women's Business Association “SHE-ERA” within the project “Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture 2012-2015” supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and with the support of Swisscontact, Riinvest Institute and PEM Consulting within the program “Promoting Private Sector Employment” (PPSE) the purpose of which is to increase employment for women and young women, has distributed the seed for the cultivation of the industrial tomato to 15 farmers with a total area of 3.75 ha. “SHE-ERA's” objective is the economic empowerment of women from the rural areas by creating a link between: Suppliers-Producers-Collection Centers-Processors and the Market. The industrial tomato market is secured at a price of € 0.08/kg. “SHE-ERA”hasalreadysignedanagreementforplacingthetomatoesatthecollection center “Agro Celina” and the processor “ABI-PROGRES”. Theplanting,growingandharvestingprocesswasmonitoredbySHE-ERAalongwith continuous advice by the agronomist until the yield of the finalproduct,theTOMATO.

Supporting Women Farmers with Industrial Tomato Seeds

April,2014

The Fifth Steering Committee Meeting was held within the four-year program

“Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture 2012-2015”. During the

meeting, the Executive Director, Mrs. Kusari-Purrini presented to the Steering

Committee the Annual Progress Report for 2013, the achieved results, the

annual audit report for 2013, the work plan and budget for 2014, and informed

the members of the Steering Committee on the challenges and the request of a

large number of women to benefit from this project. It is foreseen that during

the period 2012-2015, 1440 women entrepreneurs in agriculture benefit from

this project. The Steering Committee congratulated SHE-ERA on the

achievements on an ambitious project during the year 2013.

The Fifth Steering Commitee Meeting

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Women entrepreneurs in agriculture, beneficiaries of the monthly training continue to positively contribute to the private sector with their business. Antigona Avdiu from the village of Cërmjan (the municipality of Gjakova) shares her experience in agriculture; her family owns 7.5 ha. of land where she cultivates all kinds of fruits such as: apples, cherries, pears, grape, and plums. Each tree yields 50-60 kg. of fruit, meanwhile she also cultivates wheat and corn that yield around 7,000 – 8,000 kg. during the season. When the climate is more favorable the amount of the grains significantly increases. In addition, Mrs. Avdia, possesses nine cows, and she sells the milk to her clients in the market. Beside all the challenges and problems that Antigona faces, same as other women in agriculture she manages to be successful and she declares that the business training has helped her to develop her entrepreneurial skills and evaluate the opportunities for access into the market where she will place her products.

SHE-ERA has converted its internet web page into an effective tool through which it will enable its members to promote their work and to set up collaborations with different local and international actors, the business community, development partners and networking among the SHE-ERA members and women entrepreneurs from other countries.In the web page has been created the database of SHE-ERA partners (http://www.she-era.org/antaret.php) and for Women Entrepreneurs in Agriculture (http://www.sheera.org/mod.php?mid=31), where are included the data of women farmers which are updated monthly. Through this link, women in agriculture will greatly benefit toward the project realization process, and their entrepreneurial capacities as women entrepreneurs will be emphasized through access with cooperation opportunities with local programs and international agencies focused on women economic

Antigona Avdiu ‐ A Woman with Enteprenurial Initiative

SENIOR ADVISER FOR ECONOMIC AND GENDER ISSUES:Glynis Long

Jocelyne Talbot

WOMEN'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATION SHE‐ERARr.Ismail Qemali nr.9 (Çarshia e Jupave)

Tel: +381 (0) 390 323 194Fax: +381 (0) 390 323 194

Email: wsheera@gmail.comWeb: www.she‐era.org

Fcb: www.facebook.com/WBA.SHEERA

SHE‐ERA board members:Xheraldina Vula – Board PresidentProf. Dr. Justina Shiroka PulaDr. Lulzim CelaLuljeta VuniqiBurbuqe Berisha

Honorary Member:Naxhije Buqinca

The SHE‐ERA staff:Mirlinda Kusari Purrini – Executive DirectorArdiana Qela – Project managerYmrane Nura – Finance adiministrator Edita Axhemi – Training Co‐ordinator Marigona Stavileci – Training assistant Ardita Rizvanolli – Trainer ( The Region of Mitrovica)Sabrie Jagxhiu Zhubi – Assistant (The Region of Mitrovica)Bujar Haxhibeqiri – Driver & logisticsKosovare Sahatqija ‐

THE LINK FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN AGRICULTURE