Coalition of Women Business Associations in Romania Program (2004-2005)

CIPE started to support the initiatives of the Romanian women business organizations during the 2000 – 2003 USAID-funded project that focused on building the capacities of the Romanian business associations. As part of the project, CIPE organized several meetings, conferences and roundtables for these associations that became increasingly aware of the importance of working together in order to change and influence public policies. During this period of time, CIPE helped strengthen connections and cooperation between women business associations in Romania, providing them with training in organizational development and advocacy.

In 2004, at the request of prominent women associations from Romania and with funding from National Endowment for Democracy, CIPE started a project aiming to strengthen the Romanian women’s ability to participate more actively within the democratic society, and to build broader public understanding and support for their efforts. CIPE provided on-going technical assistance and training to women business associations, supported the Coalition of Women Business Associations in Romania (CAFA) activities and further evolution, and coordinated an education program that enhanced women’s capabilities and involvement in the business and public policy arena.

CAFA was founded by nine associations and has now 19 members, which indicates that Romanian businesswomen are beginning to understand the importance of their role in the business and political arenas and how combining their efforts has a greater impact on local and central governments. The Coalition does not replace the particular activities of association members, but instead it gets involved in major initiatives and events that require grassroots support such as public hearings, public debates, legislative proposals, amendments, and participation in dialogue with government officials.

CAFA is an informal coalition with no president or officers and with a three-leveled membership system: founding members (the nine task force representatives), full members (any women business association that would like to join), and supporters (women associations that have a business program or agenda). The management of the Coalition is represented by a Secretariat that acts mainly as a coordinator and communication center. In the first two years CIPE took over the Secretariat role, but once CAFA became stronger CIPE’s support diminished in order to increase the leadership role of the women business associations involved. Since January 2006 CAFA has been fully sponsored by its members.

CIPE was in charge of CAFA’s Secretariat for two years (2004-2005), acting as a facilitator for a series of strategic planning sessions and providing trainings on advocacy, public image and members’ involvement. Over 150 women participated in these trainings. Gaining corporate & association sponsorships, CAFA proved that it can work as a self-sustainable entity in the future.

The Secretariat of the Coalition is transferred each year to a different member: Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Romania (2006); Association for Women Entrepreneurship Development in Romania (2007) and Association of Business Women and Top Managers in Brasov (2008).  

The Women in Business Conference, fourth edition June 3-4, 2005

The event attended by 120 businesswomen from Bucharest, Cluj, Timisoara, Constanta, Rimnicu Vilcea, Galati, Piatra Neamt, Giurgiu, Calarasi, Fagaras and Brasov was entirely sponsored by CAFA members. The Association of Business Women and Top Managers Brasov (AFAFCI) has been in charge with the organizational aspects of the conference, while CIPE provided the agenda and the speakers.  The agenda included a presentation of CAFA's activity since the last conference, a presentation of CIPE's new regional project, very animated plenary sessions on important business issues: finances (Napoleon Pop, Board member of Romania's National Bank); financial and investments policies (Stere Farmache, General Director of the Bucharest Stock Exchange); powerful presentations (Mark McCord, Director CIPE Afghanistan Office).The second part of the conference was dedicated to working groups on topics like the press release, strategic planning, recruitment, CAFA's legislative agenda.

The Women in Business Conference, 3rd edition May 12-14, 2004

The three-day conference provided a forum for discussions during which nearly one hundred participants exchanged ideas, shared experience and received information on topics related to their field of activity. The workshops concentrated on issues such as branding, staff recruitment, project planning and assessment, and strategies for business development.

Barbara Barrett, member in CIPE Board of Directors and Mark McCord, Chief of Party CIPE Afghanistan, were invited as guest speakers.

“Women of Success” CD 3rd edition

The 3rd edition „Women of Success” CD showcased more than fifty women that have had an impact on Romanian’s economic development. Romanian women entrepreneurs and managers that had been nominated by business association presented their stories, achievements, challenges and lessons learned.  The CD emphasizes that success is possible at all levels, and encourages women to start a business and make it successful. The CD was produced in Romanian and English in 250 copies, and was distributed to business associations, government and Parliament officials, media representatives, business students, entrepreneurs. The CD was also distributed to  every international conference or forum attended by representatives of the Coalition of Women Business Associations.

Advocacy Efforts

CIPE and CAFA organized a public debate on salary taxes. The event was attended by more than 60 participants: CAFA members, other business associations (representing tourism, ITC sectors, as well as chambers of commerce), media representatives, Romanian Government delegates (Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labor, National Agency of SME’s), Parliament representatives, as well as representatives of the Institute for Finance and Monetary Research which is part of the Romanian Academy.

The event’s objectives were: to provide a professional framework for input collection from business association representatives and relevant authorities on the topic, to build on the public-private partnership effort initiated by CAFA and the Romanian business associations, and to enhance the skills of CAFA members to conduct professional advocacy campaigns.

A comprehensive Study on Salary Taxes and the Romanian Social Insurance System was produced in order to assess the impact of the future legislation: the amendments to the Fiscal Code that will come into force at the beginning of 2005, and the new employment systems within the new Labor Code.

Position papers of CAFA and of other participants in the debate were integrated in a final document, together with the Study, that was forwarded for analysis to the relevant Ministries as per the request of their representatives present at the event.

Was acknowledged by The Presidency of Romania, that invited CAFA to a conference on “Women’s Political Empowerment”, March 19, 2004

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• Was invited to amend the Code of Conduct of the Control Officers within the National Authority of Control;
• The Ministry of Finance invited CIPE and CAFA to participate and give input on drafting legislation regarding income taxes deductions
• The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection invited CAFA for a future Cooperation with The Division of Equal Chances
• CAFA will sign a protocol with the National Authority of Control. This protocol gives CAFA the means to cooperate with NAC, and put in place a procedure as to protect the interests of the business women with respect to economic control abuses and. bureaucracy
• The National Agency for SMEs and Cooperatives (ANIMMC) invited CAFA to explore possibilities for collaboration on the new legislative initiatives to be promoted for SMEs and build a partnership on the new program of ANIMMC regarding women entrepreneurship.
• Members of the Parliament of Romania expressed their interest in the CAFA activities and their support for the future initiatives of the Coalition: Minodora Cliveti, Deputy; Lucia Lepadatu, Deputy; Liana Naum, Deputy; Napoleon Pop, Deputy; Maria Petre, Senator;  Simona Marinescu, Senator; Doina Badica, Counselor.

For more informations, please visit www.cafa.ro.

Click here to see more pictures from the events organized during this program.
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