Grants and Contributions:

Economic Equity Alliance

NA21164

$699,976.00

Aug 3, 2021 - Mar 31, 2024

This 30-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic change. The Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CanWCC) will achieve this by bringing together organizations with similar goals to engage into and operate a national advocacy network of feminist equality-seeking organizations called the Economic Equity Alliance (EEA). The EEA will identify and prioritize key issues, legislation, policies and practices, and develop recommendations to advance marginalized communities and underrepresented women entrepreneurs. In addition to the advocacy network, the project will also create a community of practice of women entrepreneurs and mentors to provide support and share knowledge. Furthermore, an advocacy strategy and public knowledge mobilization campaign will be developed to share the project’s learnings. At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers and issues impacting women entrepreneurs, and to supporting women’s equity-seeking organizations to advance and accelerate systemic change, with a particular focus on economic security and independence. The intended results will advance inclusive policies and practices, encouraging more equitable and effective sharing of resources. It will increase networks and collaboration to accelerate systemic change, supporting a positive distribution of authority, voices, and decision-making power, to support women’s equality. The project will address discriminatory legislation, policies, and practices that prevent women and girls from fully participating in the social, political, and economic spheres. Member organizations will work together to review policy and adopt recommendations to create a national advocacy strategy focused on an intersectional women’s economic recovery, with communications and assets disseminated across the country. CanWCC will pool resources, eliminate duplication of efforts, and strengthen each organization’s impact on key issues. Women and girls with lived experience will be engaged to influence pandemic recovery responses. The voices of women-identified entrepreneurs, particularly underrepresented women, will be reflected in the work of the EEA. A community of practice of women entrepreneurs and mentors will be developed. Also, a public knowledge mobilization campaign will be set up to share and disseminate project learnings. CanWCC aims to convene and strengthen the feminist movement and build relationships between organizations and other stakeholders to collaborate across sectors to advance gender equality. One of the key project activities is to build and strengthen effective partnerships across the ecosystem. The EEA will promote policies and practices which increase women’s labour market participation and opportunities, and women’s leadership in democratic, civic, public, or private sectors. The Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) are two key partners that will contribute to communication, promotion on social media, research, engagement, and knowledge and information gathering. A key indicator of success will be the number of partnerships created and sustained, which will be measured by membership, participation, and outcomes of the EEA.

Women and Gender Equality Canada

Women and stakeholders have access to supports to address issues relating to equality between women and men.

Toronto, Ontario, CA M5E 1W7

001-2021-2022-Q3-00068

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Not-for-profit organization or charity

Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce

Women's Program

The purpose of the Women’s Program is to advance equality for women in Canada by working to address or remove systemic barriers impeding women’s progress and advancement. The WP supports the Government of Canada’s goal of advancing gender equality in Canada. It is consistent with Government of Canada priorities related to economic prosperity, and supports Canada’s international commitments related to gender equality.