Introduction

The promotion of women's entrepreneurship is an important priority for  transition economies.  It is a means to alleviate women's unemployment and poverty and also stimulate economic growth.

The UNECE programme on Women's Entrepreneurship aims at assisting countries in eliminating gender specific barriers which limits women's capacity to set up businesses. These barriers include inadequate access to information, business networks as well as the traditional attitude towards the gender role.

The programme is part of the Advisory services on Gender and Economy that were established in January 2001 at the request of member countries participating in the Regional Beijing +5 Meeting held in January 2000 in Geneva