Enterprise Development Program
Enterprise Development Programme stems from the core issue of helping people reduce their poverty and economic disparity. It opens doors to economic freedom and self-sufficiency, channeling irrepressible desire
of the poor to improve their situation and take responsibility for their livelihood and security. By investing in micro-enterprise, is to invest in the future of poor families, to lift them out of poverty.
There is immense potential of Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) in 'development'. The only hurdle is using the right support for people to utilize their potential for social and economic environment. A program which could then enhance upon people's capacity not only to ensure technology transfer at the skill/product level but also management of that skill, where actually the skills transferred could be run as a micro business. Micro Enterprise development program becomes a result of that need.
SRSP's EDP
SRSP had been involved in various micro-enterprise related activities at community level with quite a few success stories, but never the less, scattered results. Initially, SRSP was using
conventional approach towards micro-enterprise development that mainly focused on 'Skill development trainings'. It did not yield the broader results as predicted. Therefore, SRSP's, Enterprise Section had to revamp its enterprise approach with vital track changes to take vital lessons learnt on to the next level. Since the past few years, SRSP has adopted an EDP, which is based on holistic approach with a systematic set of intervention, working in a defined framework of operation. This shift was towards creating competent 'entrepreneurs' as part of a multiple intervention strategy using a "production plus" approach that builds on existing resources and innovatively marketing it.
SRSP, on the basis of its new approach strategy, developed a 'concept paper' advocating a 2-year specialized model for Entrepreneurship Development by the name EED project (Empowerment through Entrepreneurship Development). The model consists of a set of interlinked interventions that addresses major constraints/barriers in micro-enterprise development. The model also incorporates
remedies based on practical lessons learnt in the field. This concept paper was shared with different donors in the form of a proposal and was widely appreciated. As a result, RSPN, DFID-Gep and CIDA-Page separately fund this project in Haripur, Abbott bad, Mansehra and Peshawar Districts.
RATIONALE FOR EDP (in context to entrepreneurship development)
A program that is merely skill development focused leads to 'surplus produce' at producers' level. If the producers are unable to market their surplus products, it leads to both wastage and decline in the price due to excess supply. However a decade long experience of working in the field and a number of studies have demonstrated that unless the marketing constraints are adequately addressed, the producers would not be able to take full advantage of the support they receive.
It was clearly evident through a base line survey conducted by SRSP that most rural producers are not entrepreneurs. They continue to remain dependent on entrepreneurs or middlemen to support them in the marketing of their surplus produce. There is also a general absence of 'common business sense'
among the producers themselves, for they have never needed to be in the role of a businessperson. Most producers are not aware of the markets, and they do not have the confidence to interact with them, or the middlepersons. They are therefore prone to exploitation. Most such middlepersons are outsiders, from well-established cities and markets, who exploit rural producers out of their earnings and resources.
SRSP through its EDP suggests that skill development be incorporated as a means and not as an end in itself. It also proposes to train and develop
a cadre of entrepreneurs from within the community who can link the rural produce with the concerned market through their own businesses. |
