Indigenous and Local Community Women Entrepreneurship Program
The WIPO Training, Mentoring and Matchmaking Program on Intellectual Property for Women Entrepreneurs from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities aims to encourage women entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity related to traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions by strengthening the capacity of indigenous and local community women entrepreneurs to make strategic and effective use of intellectual property tools in support of their entrepreneurial activities.
The Program provides participants the opportunity to:
build capacity in intellectual property and acquire the skills necessary for an effective use of the intellectual property system, including in the digital economy;
acquire basic knowledge of related fields useful in an entrepreneurial context, such as business modelling, marketing and digital storytelling;
benefit from the support of a mentor to further develop and implement projects and businesses based on traditional knowledge and/or traditional cultural expressions that have an intellectual property component; and
meet amongst Program participants, share and learn from each other's experiences, but also meet potential partners who can provide support with the implementation of the intellectual property components of their projects and businesses.
Video: Presenting the Indigenous and Local Community Women Entrepreneurship Program
Eunice Nabebek Koin Loita Maasai community | Entito Creations, Kenya
Credit | Olosinyati photographs
Eunice is from the Loita Maasai community of Narok, a predominantly pastoralist community closely connected to its cultural heritage with distinctive clothing, jewelry, and traditional way of life.
A marketer by profession, and a fashion design enthusiast, Eunice founded Entito Creations Ltd, to incorporate traditional Maasai patterns and beaded products with modern fashion designs.
Eunice works with a group of women in her village, and together they undertake beadwork, as a source of livelihood for the group’s families. They support and teach beadwork to preserve their culture and empower the community, enabling girls to enroll in school.
Nenita Kinan T’boli | Cooperative of Women in Health and Development (COWHED), the Philippines
Credit | Nykee Kyla G. Kinan
Nenita belongs to the T’boli and works as the Local Culture and Arts Coordinator of the Municipality of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, in the Philippines. She is engaged with fellow members of her community in the promotion, protection, preservation, and conservation of the T’boli Culture.
In her capacity as a Civil Society Organization Desk Officer, Nenita empowers some 80 civil society organizations and NGOs in the locality to actively participate in the local governance.
Additionally, Nenita is currently the chairperson of the Cooperative of Women in Health and Development (COWHED) aiming to empower the T’boli women to become entrepreneurs and promote cultural tourism.
Soguiguili Díaz Ustupu | Indigenous Tourism Network of Panama (REDTURI PANAMA), Panama
Credit | Gilberto Alemancia
Soguiguili was born in the Ustupu community in the Guna Yala region. She is the co-founder and president of the Indigenous Tourism Network of Panama (REDTURI PANAMA). In that capacity, her focus lies in shaping Indigenous tourism initiatives that uplift local communities, fostering a supportive and sustainable economy. Soguiguili seizes opportunities to serve as a cultural and Indigenous tourism ambassador through various initiatives.
Soguiguili is an artisan herself, skilled in the textile art of the molas. Leading the traditional Guna USKALU dance, Soguiguili safeguards the liveliness of her people's customs and traditions. Her community holds a strong conviction in the enduring strength of their living culture against identity challenges.
Shivani Ragavoodoo Canee Cahaya, Mauritius
Credit | Shivani Ragavoodoo Canee
Shivani is a designer and founder of Cahaya, a brand focused on valorizing local craftsmanship and the use of locally sourced materials, while striving for continuous innovation. Operating mainly via e-commerce and seasonal markets, Cahaya also provides services like creative workshops to locals, schools, corporates, and tourists.
In 2023, Cahaya launched its first training program entitled Weave, Wove, Woven, upskilling a group of women beneficiaries on how to weave the pandanus leaves. The products created during the training have been exhibited locally and internationally.
Emily Waqalevu Na I Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei Cakaudrove (SVTC), Fiji
Credit | Debra Waqalevu
Emily lives in Soqulu village, Fiji Islands. She is a dedicated member of the Na I Soqosoqo Vakamarama I Taukei Cakaudrove (SVTC), a registered NGO focusing on empowering rural Indigenous women and promoting I-taukei traditional knowledge through cultural practices./p>
Emily is renowned for her groundbreaking achievement as the first person in Fiji to recreate the iconic "tagimoucia flower", using mulberry bark called "tapa" and acrylic paint. This beautiful red and white orchid, native to Fiji, inspired a thriving enterprise after garnering widespread interest. Emily's creations expanded to include diverse products like earrings, necklaces, hairpieces, garlands, and more.
Mansura Shams Kho & Kalashi, Chitral, Pakistan
Credit | Naveed Yousafzai
Mansura is a social entrepreneur and the director of the not-for-profit enterprise Kho & Kalashi.
For the past eight years, she has been working for the benefit of vulnerable local communities in the district of Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the objective to empower local community women by providing them with a safe space to pursue entrepreneurship in the creative arts.
Her organization works with 500 artisans from all over Chitral and counts 40 women-led businesses as registered members. Her enterprise is a community hub with a significant social impact in the area in which it operates. Mansura aims to expand it and create more opportunities for the local communities.
Program structure
The Program has a practical approach, consisting of two phases:
(Photo: WIPO/Berrod)
Training phase
The training phase consists of a practical workshop that includes a mixture of short presentations, case studies and group work.
During the training phase, participants acquire basic knowledge of the main principles, systems and tools of the intellectual property system as they relate to traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.
The practical workshop also provides the opportunity for participants to network and share experiences with other indigenous and local community women entrepreneurs from around the world to further develop their projects and businesses.
(Photo: WIPO/Berrod)
Mentoring and matchmaking phase
During the mentoring and matchmaking phase, participants are expected to implement the intellectual property components of their projects and businesses.
Mentors are assigned to individual participants to provide guidance and support in the implementation of the intellectual property components of the participants’ projects and businesses.
As needed, WIPO facilitates additional assistance through its Program Partners who bring deep and valuable experiences to the table.
Throughout this phase, participants can benefit from several follow-up activities, including booster sessions and clinics.
