D1.1.1 Strategic diagnostic review and contextual analysis

Across the Danube Region, women are increasingly becoming drivers of change in their communities. They are not only building businesses, but also developing solutions to social challenges creating services that respond to care needs, local development gaps, rural decline, and community resilience.

A significant part of this reality has been explored within the IMPACTA project, which focuses on strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and supporting women in vulnerable situations across Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine.

As part of this work, the Strategic Diagnostic Review and Contextual Analysis, led by AFAM Moldova, examined the broader conditions that influence women’s entrepreneurship across the region. Rather than looking only at individual support programmes, the analysis focused on how socio-economic structures, care responsibilities, access to resources, and institutional frameworks shape real entrepreneurial opportunities.

One of the clearest findings is that women are already active drivers of social innovation. In many cases, they are creating solutions to challenges that are not fully addressed by formal systems, particularly in areas such as care provision, community services, inclusion of vulnerable groups, and rural development. These initiatives often combine economic activity with a strong social purpose, even if they are not always recognised as “social innovation” in formal policy terms.

This highlights an important shift in perspective: innovation is not limited to technology or high-growth sectors. It also emerges in local, everyday contexts where women identify needs and respond with practical, community-based solutions. However, these forms of entrepreneurship often remain under-supported and under-financed.

Another key insight from the analysis is the importance of mentorship. Women entrepreneurs consistently benefit from long-term, structured mentoring relationships that go beyond technical training. Mentorship helps build confidence, supports decision-making, and provides continuity during critical stages of business development. When combined with access to networks and supportive policy environments, it becomes a key driver of sustainable growth.

The study also shows that policies and programmes are most effective when they reflect real-life conditions. Women entrepreneurs are often balancing business development with care responsibilities and limited time resources. When these realities are not considered in design and implementation, even well-intended measures may have limited reach.

Across the seven countries analysed, a common pattern emerges: social innovation plays a much larger role in women’s entrepreneurship than is often acknowledged. Strengthening recognition, financing, and support for this type of entrepreneurship can therefore contribute not only to gender equality, but also to more resilient and inclusive local economies.

Ultimately, the findings underline a simple but powerful message. When mentorship is strengthened, when social innovation is recognized, and when policies are aligned with everyday realities, women entrepreneurs are better positioned not only to participate in economic life, but to actively shape its transformation across the Danube Region.

When countries come together around a shared understanding of reality, change becomes more than a vision—it becomes a process. By looking at challenges through a common lens, learning from different experiences, and recognizing what works in practice, we can move beyond fragmented approaches toward more coherent and effective responses. This kind of cooperation helps strengthen the voice of women entrepreneurs, builds the capacity of support systems, and turns knowledge into action. In the end, real progress happens when we act together, not in isolation, so that ideas, opportunities, and ambitions can truly grow into lasting impact.