Women from Indigenous and Tribal Villages in Suriname Receive Business Coaching Workshop
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Participants engage in an ice breaker activity before the start of one of the sessions. Photo Credit: UN Women/Leah O’Reilly
Women from Indigenous and Tribal Villages in Suriname are making strides toward economic empowerment through a business coaching workshop tailored to their needs. Hosted by the UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) - Caribbean, the workshop equipped participants with essential entrepreneurial skills, including business planning, marketing fundamentals, customer service, and financial management. This initiative was part of the SDG Fund Joint Programme: Leave No One Behind (JP LNOB), under Output 1.3, which aims to improve livelihoods and enhance food security for female farmer networks in targeted Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (ITPs) communities.
Workshop participants and facilitators. Photo compliments: UN Suriname
The workshop, delivered by a mission team from UN Women MCO – Caribbean, resulted in tangible outputs such as business plans, budgets, marketing strategies and networking opportunities. The workshop also fostered collaboration among Indigenous and Tribal women, promoting joint advocacy efforts. Support from the Suriname Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Ministry of Economic Affairs provided guidance on business registration and licensing, improving access to government services for ITP women entrepreneurs.
With support from a translator, Lisa Hinds contributes a point during one of the sessions. Photo Credit: UN Women/Leah O’Reilly
Participants expressed their gratitude for the workshop, highlighting the practical knowledge gained and its potential impact on their businesses. Entrepreneur Lisa Hinds shared her experience:
"I came here with an expectation to learn more about marketing, how to reach my clients better, good customer service, and how I need to communicate. This workshop has truly inspired me to better understand my clients' expectations. That is really important for my business, as it will help me expand and improve my customer service. I had a great time and learned a lot. My advice to others is: Don’t give up, and continue with what you’ve started."
Many of the participants said they will share the knowledge gained with their communities, ensuring that the valuable insights and skills gained, extend beyond those who participated in the workshops.
UN Women MCO – Caribbean staff member assists a participant during an exercise. Photo Credit: UN Women/Leah O’Reilly
This workshop marked the final activity under the current phase of the programme, which is set to conclude in 2024. Recognizing the ongoing need for capacity-building and business development, UN Women MCO Caribbean will host follow up virtual workshops, covering topics such as social media, resource mobilization, and project management—areas specifically requested by the participants.
The business coaching workshop was informed by a needs assessment conducted in 2023, which involved surveys of over 50 ITP leaders, village members, and government representatives to identify gaps and critical needs in ITP communities, with a focus on women entrepreneurs. The findings overwhelmingly highlighted the need for training to help women to scale up their businesses and equip them with the skills to start new ventures.
Participants work together on a group exercise. Photo Credit: UN Women/Leah O’Reilly