Unlocking Potential: Real Impact of Virtual Training for Women Entrepreneurs in LAC Lessons Learned from the project WE3A: Strengthening Women Entrepreneurs in Value Chains

This Technical Note builds on the key insights from the endline evaluation of the WE3A Improving Women-Owned Small and Medium Enterprises (WSMEs) Access to Value Chains project and distills lessons from its implementation across six Latin American and Caribbean countries: Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, and Honduras. Anchored in the Aspire, Activate, and Accelerate framework, the project sought to address systemic barriers faced by women entrepreneurs at various stages of maturity through a combination of awareness-raising efforts, digital training, mentorship, and targeted capacity-building strategies. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative insights from beneficiaries and stakeholders, the publication highlights how digital tools enabled inclusive, scalable training that generated tangible benefits. It identifies best practices in outreach, engagement, and retention, showcasing how tailored approaches supported women entrepreneurs at different growth stages. The publication also assesses the institutional capacity of local executing agencies, underscoring the critical role of strong partners in ensuring reach and effective delivery. It concludes with a synthesis of cross-country lessons learned and elaborates actionable recommendations to inform the design, implementation, and replication of gender-inclusive entrepreneurial programs in comparable socio-economic contexts.