OSCE Project Co-ordinator supports self-employment of women as post COVID-19 economic rehabilitation

On 20 December 2020, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) concluded a series of training courses on how to set up an online culinary business as a means of economic rehabilitation following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The courses were attended by 28 women and began on 17 December with a three-day series of culinary master classes conducted by Shirin Alimova, a self-made female entrepreneur who now runs a chain of confectionary stores and is a member of the World Association of Chefs' Societies.

The training courses were part of the OSCE PCUz’s 2020 project activities aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs through digital means, which were implemented jointly with Coca-Cola, IT-Park Uzbekistan and the Business Women Association.

Another one of PCUz’s activities in 2020 was supporting a women-led start-up, ‘Coozin’, which developed a digital platform to help women run online culinary businesses and to provide online training courses on how to start an online business. More than 70 women have taken part in the courses since the launch of the digital platform.

Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Senior Project Officer at the OSCE PCUz, said: “This unique platform will allow women to sell their products online and share their practical experiences in the format of video lessons.”