Women’s empowerment is the foundation of sustainable development. When women are empowered, they contribute significantly to economic growth, social stability and the well-being of their entire communities.
However, in developing countries in general, and outside metropolitan areas in particular, women often face unique challenges that limit their potential. These regions, where productive opportunities are limited, labour migration is high, and stereotypes about women’s roles in society persist, require innovative solutions to harness their capabilities.
Despite existing development constraints and limited budgetary support from local governments, communities can generate value-added products that drive development by leveraging local resources (including social capital, cultural norms, and intangible assets such as brands) that can be monetized through creative expression. And women can contribute significantly to that process.
UNDP / Kyrgyzstan
The creative economy has great potential to boost GDP and employment by enabling individuals to innovate and create valuable products and services. These industries create jobs, improve quality of life, benefit from greater female participation and foster inclusive societies.
According to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, 40% of people working in the creative industries are women, most of whom work informally. However, a UNDP survey on creative skills conducted in 2023 found that despite respondents expressing a strong interest in creative employment, half of women cited “lack of financial support” as a major barrier to skills development.
Furthermore, 59% of women highlighted the need for safe creative spaces to meet, share ideas, support each other and exchange experiences as a key institutional measure to increase women’s engagement.
UNDP / Kyrgyzstan
To address these challenges, UNDP launched Women Creative Labs (WCL), the first of its kind in Kyrgyzstan, a co-working space for women with a highly supportive and nurturing peer environment. Run in partnership with local NGOs and local government, the lab serves multiple functions, including providing access to seed funding sources to test or accelerate women’s business ideas in creative enterprises, conducting specialized training and mentoring support programs, and providing a conducive environment for the exchange of information and knowledge on topics of interest such as financial literacy, gender equality, legal rights, and even sexual and reproductive health.
The success of the lab in Osh in 2022 makes it possible to open labs in Jalal Abad and Batken in 2023. By applying a human-centered design approach and principles of inclusivity, the lab aims to effect change at multiple levels, from the bottom up, from beneficiaries to partners to communities. Participating women are the primary beneficiaries, gaining the resources and skills they need to empower themselves economically, emotionally and psychologically.
Jalal Abad and Batken Institute Director Gursana Abitova
UNDP / Kyrgyzstan
“We are very grateful to the researchers for their support,” said Gursana Abitova, director of the Jalal Abad and Batken Institute.
“We were keen to solve women’s problems of unemployment, lack of employment opportunities and lack of income through their strengths – practical skills such as kulak, syrdak, souvenir making and providing tourist services. Women need to meet like-minded people, share ideas and experiences, learn new things from others and get support and positivity. It is important for women to be recognised for their work, skills and abilities, which is not easy in rural areas. At the institute you can find all this.”
The words of Aidalbek Alishelov, head of Ketomen Dobo village in Toktogul region, are further proof of the recognition of the institute’s contribution to regional development.
“In 2023, women from the village of Ketomen Dobo will join the Institute of Women’s Creativity, already active in other parts of the republic, with a focus on tourism and tourist service guesthouses. As a result, four guesthouses have been opened in rural areas, one of which is seasonal.”
“The women are not only involved in tourism, but also in the production of traditional items such as carpets and patchwork, which have long been part of Kyrgyz culture. The Institute for Women’s Creativity supports the participants by organizing trainings and workshops, and by creating an environment in which rural women can work in various fields, including tourism and craftsmanship. This has allowed the women to develop the potential of their region, draw attention to its tourism potential, and create the conditions for it to thrive.”
UNDP / Kyrgyzstan
The institute also enables grassroots NGOs to advance their development agenda on the ground. Through grant funding, the initiative provides local partners with the opportunity to test a combination of traditional and innovative context-specific methodologies and approaches towards inclusive economic development. Grassroots organizations, largely represented by women themselves, gain credibility, a strong voice, and partner with local authorities to advocate for change as a unified force.
“We are very grateful to the people who helped us,” said Nurrambek Yunusov, head of the unemployment assistance bureau in Nuqat city.
“This year, we held a series of events dedicated to women’s employment. The most active participants were the coordinators of the Women’s Creative Lab. They contributed greatly to our events, actively participated, shared their ideas and helped us achieve good results. Wherever we went, many women listened to the advice of our leaders, asked for their contacts, expressed interest in our activities and approached us with a strong desire to work. Therefore, we highly value their contribution.”
The Kyzylkiya Women’s Cooperative brings together women working in garment production
UNDP / Kyrgyzstan
The journey continues with the hope of creating a wider impact by building a network of Women’s Creative Labs across the country, with over 300 women already resident in the labs and over 1,000 women participating in the network in various locations.
WCL has proven to be a unique, scalable model that can be adopted by grassroots organizations and customized to local contexts. Monetizing residents’ creativity and supporting local governments has enabled WCL to stay operational and achieve both financial and content sustainability.
A compelling example of this sustainability is the creation of the Kyzylkiya Women’s Cooperative, inspired by the laboratory model, which brings together women working in garment production.
UNDP / Kyrgyzstan
Another lab effort aims to develop Toktogul into a tourist destination, revitalizing the local economy and community. Inspired by the success of this model, three new labs are scheduled to open in the Naryn region this year, not only validating the model but also creating opportunities for future synergies and sustainability beyond UNDP’s contribution.
Building a network of labs not only fosters a community of practice with opportunities for information exchange, deeper expertise, and efficient use of resources, but also changes the perspective on women’s role in rural communities. The network envisions women as empowered, active community actors, and equal decision-makers. In our next blog, we will explore how the Women Creative Lab contributes to changing norms and behaviors in rural communities by challenging gender-based stereotypes.
This blog was co-authored with Aikerim Motukeeva, Knowledge Product Development Consultant at UNDP.
Tara Thomas Agency stands at the forefront of the entertainment industry, with years of experience dedicated to nurturing the most exceptional talents and successful acts.
