Micro-enterprise Development

HAITIAN HANDICRAFT VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS — by Derks, Eric — last modified 2008-05-30 20:04

microREPORT # 68.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Haiti is known throughout the Caribbean, Americas and Europe for the quality and creativity of its handicrafts, especially metalwork. The capacity of the handicrafts industry to turn that advantage into a larger and growing market share is constrained by a number of factors. The objective of this assessment is to better understand the constraints and opportunities of the handicrafts industry in Haiti, and to present the findings to key stakeholders in the industry in order to develop a competitiveness strategy focused on greater efficiency, increased differentiation (including quality improvements) and accessing new markets. Information was gathered through interviews with over 50 market actors in Haiti with additional interviews of experts in the global handicraft market, with a particular focus on the US1, on trends and opportunities in the market. To permit a greater depth of analysis, interviews were limited to market actors involved in metal and papier- mâché crafts. This report focuses on the in-country assessment of the handicrafts value chain in Haiti and the stakeholder planning workshop. The end market analysis identified important opportunities for the unique crafts of Haiti to find greater market share—particularly in the home accessories markets in the U.S. The in-country analysis identified six principal constraints and opportunities for market actors to increase the competitiveness of the overall sector and to increase benefits to micro- and small enterprise (MSE) craft producers including employees of large craft production firms— focusing in particular on the U.S. home accessories markets. These constraints and opportunities are: • lack of access to product design services and timely market information for new product development • lack of capacity to identify and link with buyers in all market segments • lack of access to regular and affordable raw materials • lack of access to production financing • opportunity for intermediary agent services to link producers with foreign buyers • opportunity for designer/producers to provide design services to craft factories and workshops.... also examined closely. ...

Center for International Private Enterprise — by Jon Dale — last modified 2007-02-05 14:31

 

Center for International Private Enterprise — by Jon Dale — last modified 2007-02-05 14:35

 

USAID Environment Webpage Link to Conservation Finance — by Rose Hessmiller — last modified 2008-05-23 15:09

Innovative Financing for Forest Conservation and the Environment: Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA) Enterprise for the Americas Initiative (EAI)

Training - Energy Fundamentals — by webadmin — last modified 2006-02-22 19:49

Private sector engineering and micro-business guru Don Lancaster has posted an excellent tutorial on energy fundamentals. It describes in easily understood language basic energy concepts like work, power, energy, thermodynamics, and debunks some popular myths associated with solar- and hydrogen-based energy production.

see also - Training Materials - Energy Fundamentals — by Portal Web Editor — last modified 2007-03-15 21:14

Private sector engineering and micro-business guru Don Lancaster has posted an excellent tutorial on energy fundamentals. It describes in easily understood language basic energy concepts like work, power, energy, thermodynamics, and debunks some popular myths associated with solar- and hydrogen-based energy production.

Issues in Science and Technology — by Portal Web Editor — last modified 2007-03-08 13:34

This quarterly journal is a forum for discussion of public policy related to science, engineering, and medicine. This includes policy for science (how we nurture the health of the research enterprise) and science for policy (how we use knowledge more effectively to achieve social goals), with emphasis on the latter. The site provides free access to and a search function for the full text of articles, beginning with the Fall 1996 issue.

TRANSLINKS — by Rose Hessmiller — last modified 2008-03-13 15:38

Promoting Transformation by Linking Natural Resource Management, Poverty Reduction and Equitable Governance TransLinks is a 5-year Leader with Associates cooperative agreement that has been funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to further the objective of increasing social, economic and environmental benefits through sustainable natural resource management. This new partnership of the Wildlife Conservation Society (lead organization), the Earth Institute of Columbia University, Enterprise Works/VITA, Forest Trends, the Land Tenure Center of the University of Wisconsin and USAID is designed to support income growth of the rural poor through conservation and sustainable use of the natural resource base upon which their livelihoods depend.

Translinks — by Rose Hessmiller — last modified 2008-04-29 19:52

Promoting Transformation by Linking Natural Resource Management, Poverty Reduction and Equitable Governance TransLinks is a 5-year Leader with Associates cooperative agreement that has been funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to further the objective of increasing social, economic and environmental benefits through sustainable natural resource management. This new partnership of the Wildlife Conservation Society (lead organization), the Earth Institute of Columbia University, Enterprise Works/VITA, Forest Trends, the Land Tenure Center of the University of Wisconsin and USAID is designed to support income growth of the rural poor through conservation and sustainable use of the natural resource base upon which their livelihoods depend.

MADAGASCAR AROMATIC AND MEDICINAL PLANT VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS: COMBINING THE VALUE CHAIN APPROACH AND NATURE, HEALTH, WEALTH AND POWER FRAMEWORKS — by Juliard, Criss — last modified 2008-05-30 20:03

microREPORT #70. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Context of study. This assessment of Madagascar’s aromatic and medicinal plant (AMP) industry integrates the value chain approach (VCA) developed under USAID’s Accelerating Microenterprise Advancement Project Business Development Services (AMAP BDS) Knowledge and Practice Task Order and the Nature, Health, Wealth and Power (NHWP) framework developed under USAID/FRAME and adapted by the USAID/Madagascar Mission. The NHWP framework focuses on the nexus of natural resources, human health, economic concerns and governance as a driving force in rural development. It highlights the interlinked challenges of (a) facilitating sustainable utilization and improved management of natural resources, (b) improving standards of health and nutrition, (c) promoting economic growth and poverty alleviation, and (d) empowering rural producers and institutionalizing popular participation in public decision-making. The VCA addresses the potential of small firms and the industries they dominate to compete in global markets. It focuses on (a) the role of benefits in creating incentives or disincentives for performance, (b) the effect of relative power among firms on inter-firm cooperation and coordination, and (c) the impact of learning and innovation on the competitiveness of micro and small enterprises (MSE). The two frameworks share a concern with harnessing markets to reduce poverty and promote equity. VCA uses the industry sector as a starting point, and NHWP uses natural resource-dependent producers as a starting point. Combining the two analytical frameworks situates fundamental environmental and social issues within a broader context of competitiveness and long-term industry sustainability. One purpose of this study is to examine the potential advantages of a joint value chain–NHWP approach. Our analysis of Madagascar’s AMP sector suggests that value chain analysis can be enhanced through full consideration of the role of natural resource management, health concerns and governance issues. It also suggests that value chain analysis can be an important tool for understanding the linkages between local-level NHWP dynamics and broader market systems. ...

Value chain analysis : mapping maize, sunflower and cotton chains -- final report — by Pelrine, Richard John — last modified 2008-05-30 20:10

Introduction USAID/Uganda’s 2002-2008 strategy calls for expanded sustainable economic opportunities for rural growth, promoting a connection between productive strategies by the private sector in rural areas and expansion of financial services. Rural SPEED (Savings Promotion & Enhancement of Enterprise Development) was designed to help meet this goal. Rural SPEED’s objective is to deepen and strengthen Uganda’s financial sector in response to demand for financial services in the rural economy. Increased availability of financial services would result in the growth necessary to achieve the goals of GoU’s Poverty Eradication Action Plan. Rural SPEED is engaged in four key activity areas: 1) savings mobilisation; 2) service delivery mechanisms; 3) agriculture finance; 4) new product development. This report is concerned with agricultural finance. In spite of agriculture’s being the main occupation of the majority of Ugandans and a principal engine of potential rural growth (services are also important), rural areas, and farming in particular, are not well-served by the financial sector. Currently agricultural credit accounts for less than ten percent of the total formal financial institutions’ loan portfolio. Agriculture finance has largely remained a poorly understood concept within the financial institutions. Furthermore, few actors in the financial sector realize that the full scope of agricultural finance extends beyond production to include, input supply, post harvest processing, transport, packaging, marketing, etc. Further even when considering production alone, there has been remarkable improvement in agricultural sectors, notably cotton, grains and oil seeds, over the past decade. This progress has been catalyzed by adoption of new technologies by the farmers through the past and on-going technical assistance support by development projects, improved market linkages, infrastructural improvements and better access to inputs. However, both regulated and self-regulated financial institutions largely continue to maintain the view that agriculture is risky and are thus reluctant to venture into, or reintroduce, agriculture finance products in their portfolios. This knowledge gap is largely perpetuated by the inadequate exposure to the costs and risks embedded at different points in the value chain of the agricultural commodities. Also, these institutions lack appropriate tools and mechanisms to adequately assess, mitigate and manage agriculture finance risks. With these tools agricultural finance may well become attractive, viable and sustainable. ...