The project is focused on designing and updating clear, demand-driven methodologies to foster female entrepreneurship. The operational objectives are based on:

• Encourage and promote transnational collaboration. The Project connects 4 partners in 4 Eu countries. Each partner involves its own network to increase the number of stakeholders informed of the project results. The idea is to create an international network of mayors to support women entrepreneurship.
• Exchange of experiences & common analysis of the State of Art. We analyze (1) smart villages services, (2) women entrepreneurship programs, (3) survey for female unmet needs to create new value, (4) survey for mayors opinion and vision for their villages.
• Establishment of a mutual learning work methodology between innovation agencies. We develop at least 2 specific tools (better support to women and model for smart villages), and 1 DOP.
• Sharing of the results obtained and transfer of best practices to SMEs and third parties.
• In the long-term, social awareness regarding women opportunities.

SARA project proposes that small villages would be enriched with initiatives which would support women in two ways:

• From one side there would be initiatives directed to women such as meetings, webinars, educational programs. These initiatives would impact directly to women self-confidence and professional empowerment. The model advances specific actions for women. Training should be built on thorough analysis of the training needs, both prior and throughout women’s engagement into business. Training needs of women regarding entrepreneurial awareness and sensitization should be assessed. Education and training would consider gender, thus promoting learning, leadership and empowerment programs, developing self-efficacy among women entrepreneurs and promoting their role in corporate management and company boards. Education is integrated with early exposure to entrepreneurial success stories thus encouraging and inspiring new women to start new business (Training and support for women entrepreneurship, European Training Foundation, 2014).
• From the other side, small villages is designed as an ideal context in which women can find all the kind of support depending on their special needs. The supports are access to nursery or children care services even after work hours, access to laundry services, small and typical shops where find essential goods and others. In essence, small villages offer access to networks and training as two powerful elements in female empowerment and action considering gender needs.