Entrepreneurship Development support for IDPs

Entrepreneurship skill development (EBSD) training was successfully conducted from February 10 to 13, 2022 at Kombolcha. The training was organized for IDPs around the area of Kombolcha to capacitate them to start their own business. Tailor-made Training materials and Trainer Guides were prepared in the local language (Oromia) to help trainees better understand the content. Overall, the training was really inspirational for most of the training participants. 

The training was facilitated by 6 teachers who have received ToT on different entrepreneurship and business topics.

The opening remarks for the EBSD training were made by Dr Gadisa Jemal, dean of the college. He commenced his speech by extending a warm well come to the participants for showing confidence in the program. He earmarked the investment made by the project in building capacities of ATVET instructors which will have, in turn, a significant spillover effect. He earnestly addressed the objective of the training program while emphasizing the power of self-initiative as a durable solution to the vulnerable situation of the project participants. He concluded his opening remarks by wishing everyone a successful learning journey along the week.

During the workshop, closure participants have given their testimonies of the training.

“We have been here in this camp for four years. These four years have been trouble for me and my family. We have been dependent on meager daily subsistence support. I feel like we were kept in darkness to see ourselves depend on the food handout, and it aches me the see the misgivings we deal with every day. I always aspired to see the way out to better adapt to the situation we found ourselves in. I don’t want to put blame on anyone, but these four years would have been better if we weren’t dependent on food handouts but given ways in which we could make our food by ourselves.
 
Through this training program, I have learned that there are a lot of opportunities for self-initiative around us. I have learned I have to take charge of my life and family. I used to complain of the challenges and obstacles encountered every day. I now know that problems themselves present an opportunity to take personal initiative solve them and start a  business. No one has told us that before. It’s like getting out of darkness and it’s like seeing a glimpse of light at end of the tunnel. Over the four days, I have identified and developed my own business idea which I will start soon. I hope you will come and visit my shop Insha’Allah. May Allah bless everyone who brought this program to us”.

On the final day of the workshop, the BFA team Led by Mrs. Alemfrie Derese and Dr. Gadisa Jemal convened a half-day stakeholders’ workshop on the follow-up support to the IDPs after the training. The meeting participants were drawn from Mayor of the Kombolcha Woreda Administration, Head of the Jobs and enterprise development bureau, Head of the emergency and disaster preparedness bureau, Delegate from Sinqe Bank, Head of the land management and workspace support SMEs, and others.

The participants were asked to put forward their reactions and commitment to providing startup support to the 31 IDPs going through the Entrepreneurship Skills Development training.

All of the stakeholders in their turn extended a huge vote of thanks to the BFA for this noble initiative and discussed to support a sustainable solution to the problem which will at least help the IDPs create value for themselves and the community around them, and also offload a significant burden from the government side and optimize the alternative use of the resource.

The meeting was concluded by a 21-days plan for the follow-up support of the IDPS after the training: The support packages include; facilitating licensing and registration based on the business idea selected by the IDPs, access to workspace, access to small finance, and follow-up and coaching. The meeting resolution is that by 21 days most of the IDPs will see their business started and start the process of registering. Dr Gadisa Jemal was chosen to be the chairperson for the next meetings to monitor the set plan. 

About Bright Future in Agriculture
Bright Future in Agriculture is a three-year project that supports the Ethiopian agricultural technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector. The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and is managed by Nuffic as part of the Orange Knowledge Programme. There are in total 12 beneficiary institutions in Ethiopia out of which the Ethiopian Technical University and Arba Minch University are the lead partners. Maastricht School of Management from the Netherlands is the lead implementer and together with 8 consortium member institutions from the Netherlands, Ethiopia and South Africa partake as providers. For more information and updates visit the BFA website. 

Orange Knowledge Programme
This project is part of the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) which is funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by Nuffic. For more information click here.

MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies

This institutional collaboration project is part of MSM's Expert Centre on Emerging Economies. The department is an expert centre on local economic development in emerging and developing markets.​ We capacitate managers and professionals from government, private sector, NGOs, and post-secondary education in Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. We offer consultancy and customized training programs, and we manage complex projects in key sectors, e.g. water, agriculture and health. For more information click here.

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