A.

Economic Empowerment
 
   
1.

Womenomics is a new program that will be launched by NCWP during its General Assembly 2007 to promote women’s active involvement in economy recovery. Womenomics means women and economics. It means giving economic value to women. The term was developed by economists themselves during an international conference of economists held last year.

The NCWP has decided to adopt the womenomics as a mechanism to promote women’s contribution in economic recovery. The new program aims to:
 
   
a.

Assist women entrepreneurs in marketing their products through operationalization of APEC Women’s Electronic Business (We-Biz) Center Project in the Philippines;
 

 
b.

Promote women’s active involvement in micro-enterprises through entrepreneurship training, fora and other capability building activities to be undertaken by the NCWP Commission on Economic Empowerment;
 

 
c.

Develop guidebook, manual and other information materials that can help women entrepreneurs to professionalize their business operations;
 

 
d.

Document best practices in women entrepreneurship for dissemination to concerned women’s groups.
   
2.

Women’s Electronic Business (We-Biz) Center Project. We-Biz is in line with the region-wide implementation of a project initiated by Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC. This project entitled, “APEC Initiatives for Women’s Participation in the Digital Economy” is being undertaken by the Asian Pacific Women’s Information Network Center or APWINC and the Asia Pacific We-Biz Center in selected countries in Asia Pacific region since 2006. One of its objectives is to provide women the access to information and communications technology (ICT) and ensure their integration in the digital economy.

 This APEC Project focuses its initiatives in developing the capability of women entrepreneurs in the area of e-Business to be able to expand their market and establish linkages with potential business partners in the global market.

 The National Council of Women of the Philippines (NCWP), the Philippine Women’s University (PWU) and the Philippine Federation of Business and Professional Women (PFBPW) are currently initiating the said Project in the Philippines under the auspices of APEC and in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) of Korea and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

 The NCWP, PWU and PFBPW are committed to pursue the creation of the We-Biz Center in Metro Manila with We-Biz Satellites in selected local government units (LGUs) to be able to contribute to our country’s economic recovery. This can be realized through:

 
   
1.

empowering women entrepreneurs in the fields of ICT and e-Business operations;
 

 
2.

improving the quality of local women’s products to meet the global market standard; and

 

 
3.

promoting export of quality women’s products to generate financial resources for their families and their communities.
   

 

Webiz Traning
   
   
B.

Women Human Rights
   
 

NCWP’s contributions in promoting women’s human rights involve:
 
   
1.

Development, printing and distribution of IEC materials such as:
 
   
a.

Comic-strip publication on Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Act of 2004 in partnership with Australian Direct Assistance Program; and
 

 
b.

Comic strip publication on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
   
2.

Holding of fora, symposia and round table discussions on VAWC, CEDAW, girl-child and other activities.
   
3.

Advocacy for formulation or effective implementation of laws and policies on women.
   
 

   

AT LAST
I CAN BE FREE

SA WAKAS
MAKAKALAYA NA AKO
   
C.

Education and Training of Women
 

 
 

NCWP conducts advance and basic computer tutorial sessions for women in partnership with the Philippine Women's University.
   
 

Through its Commission on Economic Empowerment, the NCWP conducts Livelihood Training in selected cities and municipalities nationwide.
   
D.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
   
 

NCWP develops technical capability of its affiliates through:
 
 

 
1.

facilitating the conduct of Strategic Planning Workshops for their leaders;
 

 
2.

holding Seminar on Project Proposal Preparation;
 

 
3.

conducting fora on fund sourcing for women’s projects;
 

 
4.

conducting fora on professionalizing NGO operations; and

 

 
5.

holding of lectures on transformative leadership, spiritual journey and other activities that can strengthen the technical skills of its affiliates as well as the leadership capabilities of its members.
 

 
E.

GLOBAL NETWORKING
   
 

NCWP provides its affiliates/councils and other women’s networks the opportunity to participate in the international and regional conferences on women.

   
 

As a member of the ASEAN Confederation of Women’s Organizations (ACWO), International Council of Women, The International Alliance of Women (TIAW) and a partner of the APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN), Asia Pacific Women’s Information Network Center (APWINC) and the AP We-Biz Center, the NCWP was able to access information from various sources and disseminate these to its affiliates/councils and other interested groups.