According to data provided by NBS^[1], in 2020 there were 57.2 thousand of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which represent about 98.6% of the total number of enterprises, of which approximately 86.7% are micro enterprises. In 2017^[2], about 33.9% of small and medium enterprises were owned or managed by women. Women rarely own medium and large businesses, but much more frequently than men initiate micro businesses with 0-1 employees. Thus, out of the total number of enterprises owned or managed by women, almost 42% of the micro enterprises in the country belong to them. Businesses owned by women have about 2.6 times lower profits, almost 2 times lower sales revenue and a 17.5% lower level of labor productivity compared to those owned by men^[3].

The current crises that have affected the Republic of Moldova in the last 3 years – the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis and the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine – hit micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises the hardest. For example, the pandemic crisis particularly affected medium and small enterprises, with their stock decreasing by 0.9% and 2.5%, respectively[4]. Micro-enterprises[5] were the hardest hit by the pandemic crisis, with 64% of companies saying they would have to close their business. About 86% of SMEs experienced a decrease in turnover during the COVID-19 crises.

Considering that women’s entrepreneurship is mostly focused on launching and running micro, small and medium enterprises, the effect of these crises is especially felt by women entrepreneurs, who, in addition to the barriers they faced in the entrepreneurial field, encounter new challenges, which they should cope with. In this respect, one of the five priorities selected by the Alliance for the Economic Empowerment of Women in the Republic of Moldova focused directly on advocacting for fiscal incentives for micro-enterprises affected by regional crises. This priority was reflected in the advocacy campaign planned and organized by the Association of Entrepreneurs with Disabilities “European Abilities without Limits” (AEFL), a member of the Alliance.

Accordingly, on November 15, AEFL, on behalf of the Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment, organized the first dialogue session between the representatives of central, district and local public authorities and the business sector on the recommendations included in the Women’s Legislative Agenda on supporting micro-enterprises affected by the current crises and to collect other recommendations. The event took place in Străseni district, with the participation of 27 people, including Marina Morozova, MP and member of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance, the president of Străseni district, 5 mayors from Străseni districts, representatives of UN Women and the business sector.

On December 9, AEFL organized the second dialogue session in Balti, where 17 people participated, out of them being representatives of the business sector and civil society. The third round table was held in Comrat district, with the participation of 10 people, including Marina Morozova, MP and member of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy, Budget and Finance, and Viorica Antonov, gender expert and work group on women’s economic empowerment within the Economic Council to Prime Minister.

During the round tables, the participants discussed the public policy recommendations included in the Women’s Legislative Agenda regarding the support of the business sector affected by the crisis, but also the participants came up with other recommendations for the regulatory framework. All the new recommendations were collected in a document, which was later sent to the Economic Council to Prime Minister to be included in the legislative initiatives.

^[1] Activitatea întreprinderilor mici și mijlocii în Republica Moldova în anul 2020, BNS

^[2] Raport analitic privind participarea femeilor și bărbaților în activitatea de antreprenoriat, Rodica Nicoară, BNS

^[3] Ibidem

[4] Studiul aprofundat asupra micilor producători, AIM

[5] Ghid și bunele practici pentru întreprinderile mici și mijlocii din Republica Moldova care furnizează produse eficiente din punct de vedere energetic și echipamente pentru energie regenerabilă, UNECE