Building Capacity

Building the capacity of people to thrive in micro and small enterprises includes access to technical and business management skills, technologies, marketing linkages, other services, and to information on all of these in a form that's appropriate.

It may involve supporting the self organization of very small enterprises, as producer groups or associations. This helps them to influence policies, and access a variety of business services. This might include:

• linking with others for bulk purchases or sales, and to secure a fairer deal for themselves; or
• lobbying for better services from their local district council, such as sewage collection, or clarity on licences so people can operate legally and without harassment.

For our work to be sustainable, we need to build the capacity of those providing services to micro and small businesses. We help them to be more affordable and more accessible to small scale producers. Such service providers would include small firms, credit providers, local authorities and other government bodies. Examples include:

• improving the sale of milk products from small scale producers, by legitimising and licensing the small scale traders that serve them.
• Establishing viable links - with information on standards - between large firms and small scale farmers.

  Addressing the stigma faced by people with disabilities, or those affected by HIV/AIDS, so that they can participate in small enterprises

It also means building the capacity in other areas of people's lives, such as in health, education and their environment. There is a myriad of challenges to persistent and increasing poverty. Working with, and building the capacity of, government bodies or community organisations aiming to improve health, education or access to other services, is an important component of linking with the work of others and widening our impact. A fundamental aspect of poverty is inequality and discrimination. Addressing the stigma faced by people with disabilities, or those affected by HIV/AIDS, so that they can participate in small enterprises, can help to address widespread discrimination. This is helped by combining with strong publicity of successful role models and working with key opinion leaders in communities, or at national policy levels.

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Phone: 44 (0) 1386 700130    Fax: 44 (0) 1386 701010   
e-mail: info@aptenterprise.org.uk