Catalyzing growth in the women-run small and medium enterprises sector (SMEs)
Evaluating the Goldman Sachs '10,000 Women' initiative
2012
ICRW conducted an initial evaluation of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative in India to identify early results of the program on women entrepreneurs’ business skills, practices and growth. While in no way representative of the thousands of women taking part in 10,000 Women, this qualitative study does provide a snapshot of what impact looks like for some of the program’s earliest participants.
Launched in 2008, the initiative aims to provide 10,000 women who run small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with high-quality business and management skills training. Research shows that these women are often underserved, in terms of access to business or management training and entrepreneurial networks, despite the enormous potential they have to help grow economies in developing countries.
This brief presents a summary of ICRW’s initial evaluation of the India program, which shows how the 10,000 Women initiative — in combination with a number of other factors — is making a difference in graduates’ businesses and lives.