RE-FEM – Upskilling pathways for REsiliency in the post-Covid era for FEMale Entrepreneurs is an Erasmus+ project dedicated to strengthening the role of women entrepreneurs across Europe. The initiative responds to the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit women-led businesses particularly hard and made it even more difficult to balance professional and personal life.
In the European Union, women still represent only one-third of all entrepreneurs, and many faces additional obstacles in accessing tailored support and training. To address these gaps, RE-FEM aims to provide practical, high-quality and transformative training tools that help women entrepreneurs enhance their digital competencies, develop resilience and crisis-management strategies, gain access to supportive networks, and sustain their businesses in the long term.
The project also supports trainers and mentors working in business support and adult education, equipping them with innovative methodologies and resources to better assist women entrepreneurs.
As the continuation of the iFEMPOWER project (2018–2021), RE-FEM is coordinated by the Hungarian HETFA Research Institute, with the collaboration of eight partners from seven European countries. Over the past years, the partnership has created several key outcomes, including a Training Manual with adaptable learning materials, a freely accessible Online Course for women entrepreneurs and trainers, consisting of five modules, which supports the development of women entrepreneurs with up-to-date and relevant topics and a series of World Café events fostering innovative dialogue and policy innovation across Europe. Looking ahead, the partnership will soon publish a Final Policy Study based on the lessons learned and insights gained from implementing the RE-FEM project, and launch an updated version of the RE-FEM Open Education Platform, an online hub offering a wide range of resources for women entrepreneurs, educators, mentors and trainers in multiple languages.
As the project approaches its conclusion, the partnership will present its results at the final multiplier event entitled “Women Entrepreneurs: From Knowledge to Action. RE-FEM Multiplier Event”, which will take place in Seville on the 1st of October, 2025, at the Marqueses de La Algaba Palace. D. Rodrigo Room from 10:30 to 13:30 CET. This event will showcase the project’s achievements, share best practices, and open discussions on how to translate knowledge into concrete action for women entrepreneurs. Importantly, the multiplier event will be organised in a hybrid format, allowing participation both in person in Seville and online via Zoom. Registration for online participants is available at the following link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OcQE-gKHQYu9_ixC9TUATw#/registration
By bringing together research, training, and collaborative dialogue, RE-FEM has created a solid foundation for supporting women entrepreneurs and those who work alongside them. The project’s results not only respond to the challenges of the post-Covid era but also contribute to building a more inclusive and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem in Europe. The upcoming multiplier event in Seville marks both the closing of this successful journey and the starting point for further initiatives that continue to empower women entrepreneurs and ensure their voices are heard in shaping the future of business.