• Title: AWARE - Advancing Women in Agri-Food Rural Environments
• Funding Programme: EU ERASMUS + KA202 - Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training
• Duration of the Project: 30 months
• EC Co-financing: 323,145 EUR
• Start Date: 31st December 2020

Aim and objectives

The project is a partnership between Galway-Mayo Institute Of Technology (Lead partner, Ireland), University of Bedfordshire (UK), Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori Toscana (Italy), PROPEL Europe (Belgium), the Polish Farm Advisory and Training Centre and Macra na Feirme (Ireland).

The project will assess and study the needs of women living in rural areas, who are willing to start up farming and forest activities. The main objective of the project is to support the growth of women entrepreneurs in the Agri-Food sector across Europe. This will contribute to achieving social inclusion for this group and closing the gender gap in agri-food entrepreneurship.

The project's objectives are in line with the recommendations of the Social Inclusion and development of rural economies - European Network for Rural Development (ENRD), Bruges Communiqué on enhanced European cooperation in VET for 2011-2020, in particular Fostering innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, as well as the use of ICT.

Outputs

The project team will develop the following outputs which will be available as online resources to women entrepreneurs in the Agri-Food sector, VET educators, business mentors and the wider agricultural community:

• Curriculum for an online training course “Start your own Food Business” designed specifically for women in the Agri-Food sector
• Module content for the training course
• Research report on the importance and benefits of engaging with a business mentor
• Video of testimonials from Mentors/Mentees in Agri-Food businesses across partner countries
• Infographic booklet of supports and resources for women entrepreneurs in Europe’s Agri-Food sector

The project outputs will also support women that currently own and run a food business.

Expected results

The overall result of this project will be to equip women entrepreneurs in the Agri-Food sector with the knowledge, skills and confidence to foster their business concepts right through to fruition by providing access to specific training and outlining the importance of engaging with a business mentor(s). The following project's achievement are expected:

• Needs Analysis Review for the development of a detailed curriculum and module content
• Project website and social media platforms that will support project dissemination activities and allow for engagement with the target audiences and stakeholders
• Dissemination and Promotional material
• Database of women entrepreneurs, mentors, educators and enterprises
• Output Prototype and Piloting
• Online Marketing and Search Engine Optimisation
• Project reports
• Research reports

Project website

• agriwomenaware.eu

Project links and news

• First transnational project meeting
• First Learning, Teaching and Training Activities event
• Second transnational project meeting
• Third transnational project meeting
• Second Learning, Teaching and Training Activities event
• Fourth transnational project meeting
• Multiplier event 'Mentoring Women Entrepreneurs in Agri-food'
• Fifth transnational project meeting
• AWARE final conference

Contact Information

Professor Yanqing Duan
E: yanqing.duan@beds.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1582 743134