Final report : employment and income opportunites [i.e. opportunities] for women in Cape Verde -- a review of options, constraints, and program implications for USAID/CV

According to this report, small-scale enterprise development appears to offer an effective and feasible approach to achieving this goal. As in other countries, Cape Verde"s small enterprise sector is characterized by low initial capital investments, relatively high job creation potential, and relatively easy entry. However, the realization of this potential is constrained by several major structural factors. Yet all but the macroeconomic constraints (limited markets, excess capacity in the garment and shoe industries and other key sectors, and limited raw materials) can be effectively addressed by a relatively small-scale, low-intensity effort to: (1) train women business managers and entrepreneurs; (2) provide training and technical assistance to private sector intermediary institutions to support women"s enterprises, especially in the areas of marketing and business management; and (3) provide small amounts of credit to women entrepreneurs through cooperatives and other specialized credit mechanisms.