Principales Políticas Contables de La Fundación

tools but basic usage

points to training

opportunities to help

women entrepreneurs

leverage information

and communication

technologies more

effectively for their

businesses

2.  The potential for better integration of information and

communication technologies

When asked about plans to grow their businesses in the next 12 months, and the constraints on growth (Figures 13 and 14), many women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan expressed the desire to expand their businesses directly through the use of ICT (Figure 13)—for example, 36% wish to better integrate ICT into their

Figure 13 Kazakhstan: Areas for Future Business Development

0% 0% 20% 27% 34% 36% 36% 38% 39% 50% 74% 77% 86%

Decrease the number of workers Reduce the range of products/services Move to larger premises Develop a website to do more of my sales online Improve the employment conditions for workers Integrate information technology to improve the efficiency and marketing capability of the business Implement practices to be more environmentally sensitive Invest in new equipment or technology for the business Increase the number of workers Expand into new markets Don’t know Expand the range of products/services Not planning to make any changes

Source: Data generated from Appendix 3: Women Entrepreneurs’ Interview Questionnaire, question 62.

Figure 14 Kazakhstan: Perceived Constraints on Business Growth

48.2% 47.4% 41.1% 40.0% 34.3% 32.9% 21.1% 20.0% 12.5% 12.0% 8.1% 5.1% Accessing financing

Finding qualified and trusted workers Finding advisors, consultants, and mentors to give growth advice Using ICTs for my business Finding a more suitable business location Finding customers Finding information on new markets Accessing new markets Dealing with government regulations and

compliance costs Taxation issues Transporation issues Getting support from my family ICT = information and communication technology.

Women Entrepreneurs and Information and Communication Technologies



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business, and 27% wish to develop a website and/or online sales)—or through avenues where ICT could play a greater role (e.g., accessing financing, finding qualified and trusted workers, and finding customers). However, the fourth most common constraint on business growth, as mentioned by 40% of respondents, was their inability to successfully use ICTs in their business. This conflicting data suggests a real need for ICT training programs that help women entrepreneurs leverage ICTs to grow their business and overcome the constraints they face.

Most participants requested education and training so that they could use ICTs more effectively in their business.48 _{Consistent with the findings outlined in Figures 13 and}

14, when asked about the specific business tasks they would like to learn to undertake with ICT tools, women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan showed the highest interest in ways to promote products and services using the internet, ways to use the internet for business, and ways to use computers for business (Figure 15). This finding points to a need for programs that help women entrepreneurs learn to use the internet for market access.

For modes of training delivery, respondents from Kazakhstan, regardless of location, listed face-to-face training for computer-based topics as their preferred option, with 57% listing it as their first choice. However, nearly a third of participants are interested in online learning through the internet on a computer, indicating that there are opportunities for delivering training online as well.49

48 _{The percentage of requests for education/training ICT support was 72%. Other requests included}

better connections (19%) and financing (9%). T. Nguyen. Detailed Analysis of Findings. p. 106.

49 _{T. Nguyen. Detailed Analysis of Findings. p. 108.}

Figure 15 Kazakhstan: Information and Communication Technology Skills Training

4.2% 22.7% 31.9% 36.4% 36.4% 37.5% 47.0% 52.8% 69.4% 77.3%

How to send and receive SMS How to do research for production technologies (e.g., design, recipes, etc.) online How to use the internet on mobile phone How to set up and operate online stores (e-commerce) How to search for suppliers online How to use mobile phones more for business needs How to do market research online How to use computers more for business needs How to use the internet for business How to promote your products or services using the internet

“Which specific computer/ICT skills training topics are you interested in?”

ICT = information and communication technology, SMS = short messaging service.

Figure 16 shows that the majority of women entrepreneurs had never participated in any business support programs for women entrepreneurs primarily because they either did not know these existed (76%), or felt they had no need for them (20%).50

This finding points again to an opportunity to promote existing schemes more effectively and to adapt them more specifically to women entrepreneurs’ needs. As for promoting training programs and communicating effectively with women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan, Figure 17 shows that the top channel for reaching them appears to be the internet, followed by newspapers, television, and word of mouth.

50 _{T. Nguyen. Detailed Analysis of Findings. p. 105.}

Figure 16 Kazakhstan: Participation in Business Support Programs for Women Entrepreneurs

22% 5% 4% 4% 2% 1% 78% 95% 96% 96% 98% 99%

Entrepreneurship (or self-employment) training program for women entrepreneurs Loan program for women entrepreneurs Business counseling or mentoring program for women entrepreneurs Services of a women’s business support or enterprise center Women’s trade fair or exhibition (regional, national, or international) Government procurement program targeted to women business owners

No Yes "Have you ever participated in business support programs that were offered

specifically to women entrepreneurs?"

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Figure 17 Kazakhstan: Sources of Business-Related Information

"Where do you get most of your information on business-related matters?"

0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 4.9% 5.9% 6.9% 8.8% 9.8% 11.8% 14.7% 16.7% 18.6% 21.6% 22.5% 36.3% 42.2% 43.1%

Chamber of commerce or industry Mentor Lawyer or attorney Independent professional business adviser Accountant Other business owner (male) Radio Mobile phone (SMS or calls) Government publications Business development or enterprise center Internet (on mobile phone) Business association Other business owner (female) Family, friends, and neighbors TV Newspapers Internet (on computer)

SMS = short messaging service.

Source: Data generated from Appendix 3: Women Entrepreneurs’ Interview Questionnaire, question 44.