The percentage of Vietnamese women entrepreneurs within the business community is quite high (26%), yet only a small proportion of women start businesses, and they still face many barriers that not only limit their own prospects but also the country’s overall development. In regional women’s entrepreneurship rankings, the country lags behind its closest neighbors. Research shows that a significant proportion of women and girls lack a stable economic foundation and education. They lack knowledge and business skills, financing, information about modern digital sales channels, and the skills to create and use them.
Therefore, the project “Enhancing Digital Skills of Women and Girls, Acquiring Universal Competencies in the Increasingly Digitalized Business Sector in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (URM)” aims to increase the currently insufficient number of business women who can become creators of independent businesses, establish themselves, and compete in international trade. The pandemic has moved many businesses into the online space, making women more vulnerable. It will create conditions to leverage social media and other digital channels for sales and, taking into account Vietnam’s cultural and business perspective, better understand proven and functioning models for digital business development in European Union member states.
The project’s objective is to empower women and girls in Vietnam to create and develop their own digital businesses. Direct beneficiaries are the women and girls participating in the project; indirect beneficiaries are partners strengthening their capacities and knowledge, as well as educational and commercial ties with the European Union (EU) and Lithuania. The target group consists of English-speaking women and girls, likely living in more urbanized areas, who have internet access and can use basic social media functions, seeking independence and wishing to test their potential in creating a digital business. Attention will also be given to revealing specific EU digital business, consumer rights, data protection, and other regulatory and cultural aspects relevant to participants seeking to successfully conduct activities oriented toward EU markets. The project will strengthen women’s and girls’ digital capabilities and independence, and encourage their entrepreneurship. The expected impact includes equal opportunities in achieving financial independence/income equality and strengthening interstate and interregional educational, commercial, and collaborative ties.