_Strengthening & Promoting Women Entrepreneurs in Jamaica is a 3-year project, being implemented by Women Business Owners Ja. Ltd. (WBO), and funded by the Inter-American Development Bank. The WBO is headed by some of Jamaica’s leading business women with the aim of mentoring and assisting in the growth of women-owned business in Jamaica. The project aims to educate, train and mentor women who own small and medium businesses, to facilitate the growth of their businesses. The project is targeting 300 direct beneficiaries (women who have grown their businesses), but will engage women on a national level through publicity, communications and events.
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About WBO

Women Business Owners Jamaica Limited (WBO) was established in 2003 to foster and promote the success of women business owners through education, research, mentorship and networking.

WBO aims to do the following:
  • To provide a forum for women who are owners or principals of their own businesses.
  • To facilitate the growth of female owned businesses throughout Jamaica.
  • To take part in the decision-making processes of the country and be a voice in economic and social policy.
  • To foster and engage in the study and research of issues relating to aspects of ownership of business by women.
  • To improve market access and competitiveness for women business owners in the global market place.
  • To develop linkages and affiliations with international bodies aimed at enhancing the growth and influence of the organization.
  • To enhance the visibility of female entrepreneurs who contribute to the growth and development of the economy, through job creation and education

WBO's Mission

To provide leadership in the development of women business owners through education, research, mentorship and networking.

More Information

Recent Projects

Some of the organisation’s most recent projects include:

In 2005-2006 WBO completed a study of women and family owned business in Jamaica. This was done in partnership with the Jamaica Conference Board, the Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Ltd., the United States Agency for International Development and Mona School of Business at the University of the West Indies. The themes covered in the study included the business characteristics, business leadership, business relationships, succession and resource planning, and governance and citizenship.

In October 2007 – June 2008 WBO hosted a series of sensitization and training workshops to tackle important topics in entrepreneurial leadership and management skills. The business principles examined during the series were identified by the study undertaken in 2005. This series was completed in partnership with the European Union’s Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP). By strengthening the capacity and increasing the knowledge base of existing and potential women business owners, the series aimed at increasing the competitiveness and profitability of the businesses owned by participants.

The objectives of the series were:
  1. To strengthen the capacity of women business owners through training in cutting edge business principles.
  2. To sensitize women business owners to global opportunities and partnering for access.
  3. To develop the business skills among women interested in forming and growing business enterprises.
  4. To facilitate information sharing and networking among women business owners toward deepening entrepreneurship and contribution to sustainable development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

During this period WBO also produced a small booklet of case studies on women who have successfully owned businesses in Jamaica. WBO has plans to expand this small publication to a larger book in the near future.

In January 2008 WBO was invited by the Canadian High Commission in Jamaica to organize and act as main presenters at a local Trade Mission of Canadian Women Business Owners to Jamaica.

The organisation’s current project began in 2010. The 3-year project, Strengthening & Promoting Women Entrepreneurs in Jamaica, is a project funded by the Multilateral Investment Fund that aims to provide mentorship and training to 300 direct beneficiaries – women who own small and medium-sized businesses. The project will have a national scale and will impact over 1000 female entrepreneurs across the island. Read more about the project on the ABOUT the PROJECT page.

In April 2013, WBO will participate in an extraordinary Skype meeting at  the Commonwealth Businesswomen (CBW) Caribbean Leadership Group Meeting at the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPWI) North America and Caribbean Triennial Regional Congress to be held in Puerto Rico. They will present on women economic empowerment and its opportunities and challenges in the Caribbean. 
Strengthening & Promoting Women Entrepreneurs in Jamaica