(Originally published on 06/30/2015)

The @Her Entrepreneurship Plan was launched today in agreement with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), China Women Development Foundation (CWDF) and All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF). @Her is as an integrated resource platform aimed at mobilizing new thinking, new technology and new public-private mechanisms for female entrepreneurship.

Under this new strategic partnership between UNDP and CWDF, the Program aims to improve women’s social-economic status through combining resources from various fields in coordinated efforts to create a supportive environment for women.

Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Country Director celebrated the platform stating that “@Her Plan is a product of this new era. It will serve as the resource hub that converges intelligence, innovation, human and capital resources for women entrepreneurship and empowerment.” Looking ahead to the post-2015 goals, he reiterated Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s message that “the world will never realize 100 per cent of its goals if 50 per cent of its people cannot realize their full potential.” Keynote speeches were also given by Ms. Huang Jingyi, First Party Secretary of CWDF and Ms. Qin Guoying, Secretary General of CWDF.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been a long-time partner to China Women’s Development Foundation (CWDF) in supporting women entrepreneurship in ethnic minority regions. Most recently, UNDP and CWDF have worked together in Yunnan Province on a project that promotes culture-based livelihood for ethnic minority women.

At the launch event, handicrafts and products made by Chinese ethnic minority women were showcased. Representatives from ACWF, State Council’s Poverty Alleviation Office, as well as Mary Kay, Coca Cola and other private sector representatives participated.