Project Name：Assisting the Economic Empowerment of Women Project in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Post COVID-19 Era Project/St. Kitts and Nevis

Project status：Projects in Operation

Cooperating Country：Caribbean, St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis

Project Description：

To support the post-pandemic economic recovery of our allies in Latin America and the Caribbean, and to maintain social stability through enhancing women's economic empowerment, this project aligns with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' policy planning. By integrating financial services with employment and entrepreneurial capacity building, it aims to assist women and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in coping with the impact of the pandemic, thereby promoting economic recovery and social stability in our allied countries. The main components of the project include:

1. Institutional capacity enhancement
2. Vocational skills training for women
3. Women's entrepreneurship incubation and guidance
4. Relief guidance for MSMEs

Implementation Start Date：2021-08-01

Implementation End Date：2025-12-31

Project Objectives：

1. Enhance institutional functions.
2. Provide vocational skills training for women.
3. Offer women’s entrepreneurship incubation and guidance.
4. Provide relief guidance for MSMEs.

Executing Agency：

Taiwan Technical Mission in St. Kitts and Nevis/ Ministry of Social Development & Gender Affairs; Youth Empowerment Ageing and Disabilities

Current Progress：

By the end of June 2025, the project had reached the following key milestones:

1.     Strengthened key institutions, including the Advanced Vocational Education Center (AVEC), the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU), and the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Affairs. A cumulative total of 48 vocational educators and administrators, 132 business consultants, 49 institutional managers, and 57 financial professionals have completed training, enhancing local capacity in vocational education, entrepreneurship services, and financial literacy promotion. This provided improved employment and entrepreneurship support for women and unemployed individuals.

2.     Provided vocational skills training for women and unemployed individuals, with a total of 285 graduates from training programs on nine subjects, including business management, digital technology applications, professional beauty services, commercial cooking, project management, electrical work, welding, carpentry, and air conditioning. The program also offered entrepreneurship subsidies and professional certification support to enhance participants’ employability and business capabilities.

3.     Conducted five entrepreneurship coaching and business management training programs, training 120 entrepreneurs and providing one-on-one business diagnosis and consultation services for 176 startups and SMEs. To support women entrepreneurs and business stability, the project distributed women’s entrepreneurship grants and angel funding, benefiting a total of 96 women and businesses.

4.     Promoted international women’s advocacy and empowerment efforts by supporting two NGOs in implementing women’s development projects. A Caribbean regional forum was organized, bringing together government officials, international organizations, and NGO representatives from six countries to discuss women’s economic empowerment and sustainable development. Additionally, 14 project beneficiaries showcased their entrepreneurial achievements through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Exhibition, further amplifying the role and influence of women in economic development.

Project Contact：Andy Chen

Phone：02-28886038

E-mail：y.a.chen@icdf.org.tw