Project Demonstrates Multiplier Effect of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Advancing the SDGs at Local Level
(BUSINESS
WIRE) -- Rural women comprise a quarter of the world’s population and
are the backbone of their economies, comprising an estimated 40% of the
agricultural labor force in developing countries as farmers, wage
earners, and entrepreneurs.1 Despite their critical contributions to
local economies, they continue to face structural barriers to asset
ownership, equal pay, participation in decision-making forums, and
access to resources and markets. Cultural norms also result in women
shouldering most of the responsibility for unpaid care and domestic
work.2
Recognizing that improving the lives of rural women is key
to fighting poverty and achieving sustainable development, UNDP China
and Mary Kay, in collaboration with the China Women’s Development
Foundation, the China International Center for Economic and Technical
Exchanges, the Women’s Federation of Yunnan Province and Yongren County
Government, launched the SDG Pilot Village Project in Waipula, Yunnan
Province, China in 2017.
The joint project, entitled “SDG Pilot
Village Project: Women-focused Poverty Reduction and Sustainable
Development” (2017-2021), addressed the structural barriers to women’s
labor market participation, including through the provision of social
protection and the creation of green entrepreneurial opportunities
through ecotourism, coupled with efforts to enhance women’s leadership
in community decision-making forums.
Women from the Yi ethnic
group became the drivers of economic growth and poverty reduction
through targeted gender-specific interventions that advanced an
inclusive local economy and the preservation of their cultural heritage.
These activities brought about transformational changes at the local
level, advancing gender equality and accelerating sustainable
development.
“This project shows how entrepreneurship can be a
powerful tool in addressing the income gap between men and women while
fighting poverty in rural areas,” said Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident
Representative in China. “Yi women have gained the right skills and
resources to leverage their cultural heritage, built solid economic
foundations for themselves, and become leaders in their communities,
paving the way for future generations.”
The pilot highlights the
potential of multi-stakeholder partnerships, including the private
sector, in advancing the SDGs while maximizing the development impact of
women’s entrepreneurship. UNDP China, together with Mary Kay China and
local public sector partners, worked with women entrepreneurs to ensure
they were equipped with the tools and education necessary to become
economic actors. The barriers to their participation in community
decision-making structures were also addressed so that they could
actively contribute to creating an inclusive and sustainable local green
economy.
“The SDG Pilot Village Project demonstrates how the
private sector can play a critical role in helping achieve the SDGs with
a strong focus on women’s economic empowerment and provides a blueprint
on how companies can leverage their unique strengths and accelerate
development results through public-private partnerships,” said Deborah
Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer, Mary Kay Inc.
“The
women-focused approach of providing entrepreneurial opportunities to
rural women proved to be transformative. When women started
participating in economic development and consequently gained status in
their communities, the whole village benefited,” said Wendy Wang,
President, Mary Kay Asia Pacific Region.
The outcomes of Phase 1
of the project provide compelling evidence of the transformational
effect that a gender-responsive approach can make to localizing the SDGs
and in the design of policy and programmatic responses for a
post-COVID-19 green and inclusive recovery.
The project contributed to the following 12 SDGs:
Goal 1. No Poverty
Goal 2. Zero Hunger
Goal 3. Good Health and Well-Being
Goal 4. Quality Education
Goal 5. Gender Equality
Goal 6. Clean Water and Sanitation
Goal 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
Goal 9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Goal 10. Reduced Inequalities
Goal 15. Life on Land
Goal 16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Goal 17. Partnerships for the Goals
The SDG Pilot Village Project - Key Achievements Phase 1 (2017- 2021)
With the project contributing to China’s poverty alleviation campaign,
the proportion of villagers living below the national poverty line fell
from 28% in 2017 to 0% in 2020 in Waipula;
Through training and
capacity building, 60 households and 193 individuals living under the
poverty line were lifted out of poverty by 2020;
210 seasonal
migrant workers and 120 long-term migrant workers, the majority of which
comprised women, were able to return home to find a job or start their
own business;
607 local women found employment and raised their
income with some emerging as community leaders, taking up roles as
members of the village committee and managers in local hospitality and
the arts, and
People’s per capita income grew to be RMB 14,128 in 2021.
To share the story of the SDG Pilot Village Project, Mary Kay and partners have released:
An Impact Report on Phase 1 entitled “Piloting SDG Localization at the
Village Level – A Women-focused Poverty Reduction and Sustainable
Development Project in Yunnan Province, China” which highlights the
genesis, means of implementation and outcomes of the project advanced
through a multi-stakeholder supported development process. Read the
Impact Report here.
A video entitled “Daughters of the Moon”
featuring three women leaders from Waipula: Yongyan Zhu, Xuefang Xia and
Shiqiong Han who speak of the changes they have personally experienced
through entrepreneurship. Partner representatives also describe the
economic, environmental and social transformations that have taken place
in the village. Watch the 11-minute video here.
UNDP China and project partners will soon move to Phase 2 (2022-2024) which aims to:
Accelerate entrepreneurship: enhance the capacity of villagers, especially women, and raise their income;
Promote diversity and inclusion: safeguard the local ethnic culture and empower women, and
Advance green development: protect the natural environment and promote sustainable villages.
For
the second year in a row, the SDG Pilot Village Project has been
shortlisted for the Reuters Events Responsible Business Awards under its
“SDG Pioneer Award” category. The Awards ceremony will take place on
13th October in London.
About Mary Kay
One of the original
glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company
in 1963 with one goal: enriching women’s lives. That dream has blossomed
into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales
force members in nearly 40 countries. As an entrepreneurship development
company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey
through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation.
Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and
manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional
supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today
for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around
the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer
research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors of domestic
abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow
their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook,
Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.
About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
As
the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works
in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce
inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills,
partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build
resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP’s work is
concentrated in three focus areas: sustainable development, democratic
governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.
www.undp.org
About China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE)
Operating
directly under the Ministry of Commerce, CICETE was founded in 1983
with the approval of the State Council. CICETE's main function,
delegated by the Ministry, is to coordinate the cooperation between
China, UNDP and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO) including executing their assistance programs in China, and
managing projects of general goods supply, South-South Cooperation
Assistance Fund projects, and capacity building projects under the
China-Aid program to other developing countries. www.cicete.org.cn/en/
About China Women’s Development Foundation (CWDF)
The
China Women's Development Foundation is an AAAAA foundation set up by
the All-China Women's Federation in 1988. It is a national public
foundation which raises funds from China and other countries and
regions. The mission of CWDF is to safeguard women's rights and
interests, improve women's quality of life, and promote the development
of women and women's causes in China to contribute towards building a
harmonious society. www.cwdf.org.cn/en/
1 International Labour
Organization. (2018). Rural women at work: Bridging the gaps.
https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/equality-and-discrimination/publications/WCMS_619691/lang--en/index.htm
2 United Nations. (2021, October 21). International Day of Rural Women. https://www.un.org/en/observances/rural-women-day
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Contacts
Mary Kay Inc.
Corporate Communications
media@mkcorp.com
+1-972-687-5332
Mary Kay China
Leo Zhou
Director, Public Affairs
leo.zhou@mkcorp.com
+86 1068349333
