BENIN GPRA REPORT: AFRP WOMEN IN BUSINESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COTONOU 000268 PARIS FOR ARS (DWINTON) DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY),ECA/PE/V/R/A (EBUTLER),AF/W (ACOOK) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL BN SUBJECT: BENIN GPRA REPORT: AFRP WOMEN IN BUSINESS REF: STATE 34838 ¶1. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY: Benin's participants in the May 11-29, 2009 Women in Business Program, Dede Lea Edith Medji, Director of "Benin Chips" and Awahou Codjo Alabi, "Awa Fish" Manager, returned to Benin and debriefed the Public Affairs Officer, the Political and Economic Officer and Acting DCM, and the Economic and Cultural Affairs Assistants about their visit to the U.S. Both women were very pleased with the program and assured us of their personal commitment to use the lessons learned from this enrichment experience in America to initiate follow-up activities, in collaboration with the American Cultural Center, to enhance young women's capacity building. ¶2. DATE OF ACTIVITY: May 11-29, 2009; Third Quarter, FY 09. ¶3. PROGRAM JUSTIFICATION/OBJECTIVES: The program was a good opportunity for both participants to explore the gender dimensions of international economics, trade liberalization and international finance and the essential role of international of non-governmental organizations in supporting women's development and empowering women professionally and personally. ¶4. MPP UMBRELLA THEMES AND AUDIENCE REACHED: Subject program meets Post's objectives in promoting the status of Women, Economic Growth and Development, Human Rights and Mutual Understanding. ¶5. ACTIVITIES/IMPACT/RESULT: During the debriefing session, both participants said they were impressed by America's great ethnic diversity, the differences between the different states as well as by Americans' kindness and open-mindedness. They highlighted their appreciation for the dynamism and determination to go further despite all the difficulties demonstrated by American businesswomen. By way of example, they cited the positive attitude of the women business owners and the respectful way they treat their clients and their employees in the management of their businesses. They also had high praise for the spirit of volunteerism that prevails in the U.S. and the association of networks that work to support and promote women's empowerment and leadership. The U.S. experience intensified their conviction that Beninese women need to work together, not individually, in order to raise their status and help each other achieve their respective goals. ¶6. As an immediate result of their participation in this program, Dede Lea Edith Medji prepared a list of planned activities for the short and midterm which includes the following: --To share her experience with her personnel and the Business and Professional Women Association in Cotonou; --To send some Beninese books and CDs to Berea College; --Identify Beninese students who could correspond with American students; --To invite her fellow IV from Guinea to Benin to visit her enterprise and eventually partner with her; --To facilitate a partnership between the Promotion Center of Artisans in Cotonou with Pangea at Berea, in Kentucky; --To put Ursuline Academy into contact with Notre Dame Girls High School in Benin. ¶7. Awahou Codjo Alabi's enterprise has already benefitted from the business management principles she learned from reading the book, "Mary Kay Ways," which she won as a prize during the visit in Dallas. She is aspiring to raise her small business to the status of a medium one and the trip to the U.S. gave her good ideas and hints about ways to achieve this goal. As a member of the Islamic Chamber, she intends to work on establishing a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce in Dallas and the one in Cotonou. As the President of the Association of Sea Products Business Owners, Alabi will organize a debrief session to raise the members' awareness on the need to change Beninese business owners' attitudes towards their clients. During the debrief, we discussed the possibility of sponsoring a women's business owner's conference at the American Cultural Center and developing a skit to dramatize positive customer service approaches to enhance business. Alabi also discovered that Mills College in San Francisco awards 2-year scholarship to girls and she would like to publicize this so that Beninese girls could take advantage of this opportunity. ¶8. The participants expressed their gratitude to the organizers for such a well organized and tightly focused program. COTONOU 00000268 002 OF 002 ¶9. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING/IN KIND SUPPORT: None ¶10. QUALITY OF USG SUPPORT: Excellent. The participants were very impressed by the quality and professionalism of the speakers, ELOs and programs. RAWLINGS