By Eline Poels
On Thursday, October 29th I took part in the Entrepreneurship Development Conference in Rotterdam. Presented by SPARK, Triodos Facet and INHolland Rotterdam. Central question: Do Entrepreneurs need support? An interesting day with many participants, including our partner BSC Armenian claims, including charming and inspiring leadership of Samvel Gevorgyan. Below some provocative statements that I've recorded during the day, as food for thought, and links to the presentations on the website for a more complete picture.
In brief: Business plans are not sacred, entrepreneurs do not need help, failure is an option (A lesson for donors?!)
Alan Gibb, Chairman of the Foundation for SME Development at Durham University (UK) Presentation
* Give meaning to experience: that is the challenge of working with entrepreneurs.
* China grew so quickly due to big number of entrepreneurs; without enabling environment.
* Business Plan: good to get money from banks, but it is NOT the heart of a business.
Mistakes in working with (foreign) entrepreneurs until now:
* We did not fully appreciate where and how entrepreneurs learn as learning organisation
* The neglect of know who
* Neglect of emotions in learning
* Lack of empathy with ways small enterprises do, feel, organise, communicate, think and learn.
Needed:
* Adapt language to entrepreneurs
* Managing interdependency amidst day to day uncertainty.
* Not market planning. Teach how to.
* Vocational colleges for small business design.
Nils de Witte, Director Business in Development Network. Presentation
* To breed entrepreneurs you need entrepreneurs (peer networking)
* Entrepreneurship is not a science. You can’t tell entrepreneurs what to do, need to make own choices.
* They only need some guidance. AID does not do the trick
* Most successful businesses start in times of crisis.
* Until now, business incubators have not shown any changes on macro level.
Danny Melic, 2009 Dutch best entrepreneur under 25 years. Presentation
* Meeting other entrepreneurs, instead of attending (another) Business Plan training.
* It is not about the Plan, it is about planning
* Entrepreneurship is a Way of Life
* Help is not appreciated by entrepreneurs. At maximum: facilitation.
* A Safety-net is important
Paul Iske, Institute of Brilliant Failures, Dialogues ABN AMRO. Presentation
* Remove barriers for enterprises. Biggest barrier: fear.
* Climate for innovation & entrepreneurship
* Keywords: Diversity; Selection; Perpetuation; Co-evaluation; Unlearning Disruption Simplicity; Spare capacity; Timing
* Pace of learning should exceed rate of change.
Some loose remarks made during workshops:
* 2nd loop learning: knowledge of experience not used when partners are afraid to share mistakes with donors.
* All entrepreneurs are incomplete, you can not do everything alone. Need support to do things they can not.
* An entrepreneur is selfless: not looking for financial rewards (that is the right motivation).
* Important in re-emerging countries: how to deal with the survived companies instead of starting new ones.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
ILEIA verlegt aandacht naar Family Farming en presenteert nieuw Magazine: Farming Matters
Last Tuesday I visited the 25th anniversary of ILEIA, which they celebrated with a conference in The Hague. Edth van Walsum, presented a new focus for ILEIA: More social and economic (so less focus on agricultural production technology), more policy change oriented (instead of internal networking amongst like minded professionals) and with a focus on family farming. Furthermore, Mrs. Van Walsum told the audience that more and more the international edition is filled with articles generated in the 9 regional editions.
In the end of the day, ILEIA presented the nee lay out and set-up of it's magazine, which is from now on: Farming Matters.
In the end of the day, ILEIA presented the nee lay out and set-up of it's magazine, which is from now on: Farming Matters.
Friday, December 4, 2009
The crisis as an opportunity
Last week I visited, an expertmeeting called by the smallest coalition party of our present government, the "Christen Unie".
In the meeting, a group of young christian professionals in development-cooperation, fair trade and environment, that call themselve "the aid an trade guild", presented 3 key issues from their Momentum Manifesto. (a) Fiscal and monetary valueing of social and ecological values
(b) North-South and BRIC (Brasil, Russia, India, China: How to stop the south-north net transfers and (c) Production, Trade and Social Responsibility.
It was an interesting mix of participants, young and old orthodox protestants (CU members and officals or representatives at provincial or municipal levels), the young signatories of the manifesto, and high level representatives from trade unions, private sector umbrella's and academe.
In the third workshop that I attended, we discussed the issues 4, 5 and 6 of the manifesto: (4) Chain-responsibility, (5) Transparancy on the whole chain and (6) government's role in regulating the market (Market Master).
It was interesting to see how the official representatives of larger bodies tried to position: The private sector refers to the European Union for issues of "fair competition", which led the labour union to reply "there your representatives prevent any steps in this direction".
I pressed for the inclusion of more sectors and products in initiatives such as IDH / (Dutch) Initiative for Sustainable Trade . In my view, creating a bottom-line in the market regarding sustainability is a multi-stakeholder process, where the innovators should get a premium, and after a certain period (7 years) the late-comers should be forced to comply.
Once the minutes of the meeting are ready, we may take initiatives towards other political parties and meanwhile we will stay in touch with the Aid & Trade Guild.
In the meeting, a group of young christian professionals in development-cooperation, fair trade and environment, that call themselve "the aid an trade guild", presented 3 key issues from their Momentum Manifesto. (a) Fiscal and monetary valueing of social and ecological values
(b) North-South and BRIC (Brasil, Russia, India, China: How to stop the south-north net transfers and (c) Production, Trade and Social Responsibility.
It was an interesting mix of participants, young and old orthodox protestants (CU members and officals or representatives at provincial or municipal levels), the young signatories of the manifesto, and high level representatives from trade unions, private sector umbrella's and academe.
In the third workshop that I attended, we discussed the issues 4, 5 and 6 of the manifesto: (4) Chain-responsibility, (5) Transparancy on the whole chain and (6) government's role in regulating the market (Market Master).
It was interesting to see how the official representatives of larger bodies tried to position: The private sector refers to the European Union for issues of "fair competition", which led the labour union to reply "there your representatives prevent any steps in this direction".
I pressed for the inclusion of more sectors and products in initiatives such as IDH / (Dutch) Initiative for Sustainable Trade . In my view, creating a bottom-line in the market regarding sustainability is a multi-stakeholder process, where the innovators should get a premium, and after a certain period (7 years) the late-comers should be forced to comply.
Once the minutes of the meeting are ready, we may take initiatives towards other political parties and meanwhile we will stay in touch with the Aid & Trade Guild.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Writeshop on Value Chain Development Programmes
By Angelica Senders
Since the re-organization in 2007, when the SFED department was created, we made a great leap in the development of SFED programmes all over the world. Now, three years later it is time to look back and foreword.
What have we achieved? What are our successes, what difficulties did we face? What are the challenges for the future? Which possible directions to take?
In order to make this analysis and translate them into recommendations, we will organize a workshop on value chain development programmes.
The workshop will have the character of a writeshop. Lessons learned as well as recommendations will be recorded and put on a wiki during the workshop.
Participants
ICCO staff directly involved in Value Chain Development Programmes of ICCO (GO staff as well as programme advisors and facilitators in the South).
When and where
Date: 2-3 December 2009
Place: The Netherlands, Stay Okay Bunnik
More information
• Outline of the workshop
Since the re-organization in 2007, when the SFED department was created, we made a great leap in the development of SFED programmes all over the world. Now, three years later it is time to look back and foreword.
What have we achieved? What are our successes, what difficulties did we face? What are the challenges for the future? Which possible directions to take?
In order to make this analysis and translate them into recommendations, we will organize a workshop on value chain development programmes.
The workshop will have the character of a writeshop. Lessons learned as well as recommendations will be recorded and put on a wiki during the workshop.
Participants
ICCO staff directly involved in Value Chain Development Programmes of ICCO (GO staff as well as programme advisors and facilitators in the South).
When and where
Date: 2-3 December 2009
Place: The Netherlands, Stay Okay Bunnik
More information
• Outline of the workshop
Women in Business Challenge, by Angelica Senders
One of the projects I am currently involved in is the “Women in Business Challenge”. This business plan competition will be organized by the BID (Business in Development) network, the ING bank and ICCO.
Procedure
All proposals are assessed in the bidnetwork.org assessment system. I wil participate in this procedure on behalf of ICCO. The entrepreneurs are given feedback by the assessors. The best entrepreneurs are offered business plan coaching by coaches that match the entrepreneurs’ background.
The best women entrepreneurs are selected by an expert jury. The jury members are experts in the field of business and investing and development impact. They will select 5 finalists that are all attractive to investors, banks and funds. The 5 finalists will be invited to the Award event in the Netherlands where the best 2 will win prize money. The Small and medium Enterprises that are most attractive for investors will be proposed to investors locally and internationally.
Promotion
I kindly ask you to promote this Business Challenge for women. Please find attached flyers for recruitment of women entrepreneurs who would like to participate:
- English version:
- Spanish version:
- French version:
- Asian version:
Procedure
All proposals are assessed in the bidnetwork.org assessment system. I wil participate in this procedure on behalf of ICCO. The entrepreneurs are given feedback by the assessors. The best entrepreneurs are offered business plan coaching by coaches that match the entrepreneurs’ background.
The best women entrepreneurs are selected by an expert jury. The jury members are experts in the field of business and investing and development impact. They will select 5 finalists that are all attractive to investors, banks and funds. The 5 finalists will be invited to the Award event in the Netherlands where the best 2 will win prize money. The Small and medium Enterprises that are most attractive for investors will be proposed to investors locally and internationally.
Promotion
I kindly ask you to promote this Business Challenge for women. Please find attached flyers for recruitment of women entrepreneurs who would like to participate:
- English version:
- Spanish version:
- French version:
- Asian version:
Friday, September 11, 2009
Updating SFED wiki re. financial services
Dear friends,
In view of making accessible information for outsiders, we have now updated the wiki on financial services with Terrafina's annual reporty 2007, and with some recent slide shows and papers on rural fuinance and value chain finance. A nice example of "voortschrijdend inzicht", (incremental insight? in English).
In view of making accessible information for outsiders, we have now updated the wiki on financial services with Terrafina's annual reporty 2007, and with some recent slide shows and papers on rural fuinance and value chain finance. A nice example of "voortschrijdend inzicht", (incremental insight? in English).
Monday, June 29, 2009
Survival and Microfinance
In gesprek met Cor Wattel van Terrafina, bleek dat de issues van Survival entrepreneurs daar al wat langer op de agenda staan, zoals ook Johannes Solf in de discussie afgelopen donderdag al liet doorschemeren. Op het raakvlak social security/safety nets en microfinance hebben Syed Hashemi en Richard Rosenberg een lezenswaardige samenvatting gegeven van enkele ervaringen. Zie Focus Note 34 Feb.2006
Met dank aan Cor!
Rob
Met dank aan Cor!
Rob
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Lunch Session on the logic of survival entrepreneurs
This afternoon Dr.Peter Knorringa of ISS (The Hague) was invited to discuss the distinction between growth oriented entrepreneurs and survival oriented entrepreneurs.
In efforts of entrepreneurial trainings, small business development and value chain development quite often the distinction between the two categories is not made, or at least not explicitly. Peter Knorringa argues that by pushing survival entrepreneurs into specialisation, Business Development Service providers may actually increase the risks these survivalists are exposed to, instead of reducing risks, which is often what they are looking for.
In terms of policy implications that came out of the discussion, I want to mention a few:
- In microfinance survivalists and growth oriented entrepreneurs are already provided with differing services, the Business Development sector may learn from this.
- Keeping an eye on the inclusion or exclusion of the poorer segments is not yet a strong point of M&E systems of economic interventions. Can we improve on that?
Please find the presentation here:ISS
In efforts of entrepreneurial trainings, small business development and value chain development quite often the distinction between the two categories is not made, or at least not explicitly. Peter Knorringa argues that by pushing survival entrepreneurs into specialisation, Business Development Service providers may actually increase the risks these survivalists are exposed to, instead of reducing risks, which is often what they are looking for.
In terms of policy implications that came out of the discussion, I want to mention a few:
- In microfinance survivalists and growth oriented entrepreneurs are already provided with differing services, the Business Development sector may learn from this.
- Keeping an eye on the inclusion or exclusion of the poorer segments is not yet a strong point of M&E systems of economic interventions. Can we improve on that?
Please find the presentation here:ISS
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Capacity Development and Learning in the SFED department
By Angelica Senders
On May 11 a considerable part of the Specialist Meeting (OEPS) was dedicated to report 2008 and planning 2009 on Capacity Development and Learning in the SFED department. (Full report)
To start with we looked into the relation between our learning activities in the SFED department, the internal capacity building to be achieved and its intended effect on our programmes. See the logical framework .
Subsequently we briefly looked at the learning activities implemented in 2008 and the way they are appreciated, see e-survey
Two major lessons were drawn:
• Learning events in general are appreciated, but their application into practice proves to be difficult
• COMPART flower tools are not used very often.
Furthermore we looked into the effect of this internal Capacity Development on our work ‘in the field’, Very important as this is the proof of the pudding. Major lessons with regards to this are:
• Only few programmes have clear capacity development strategies
• The gender sensitivity of our programmes is poor
• The development of coalitions, be it around chains or for programme development is still in a very early state.
Monitoring of programmes is difficult, look here for an attempt to give an overview of programme development progress. With R&D we are in the process of developing a Programme-scan
Finally we brainstormed on plans for 2009. Major issues will be:
1. The training of staff of the RWOs and experts (e.g programme facilitators) in programmes.
2. The development of a (or several) global knowledge networks to continue the process of knowledge development in a decentralised organisation
Please look also at the Powerpoint presentation
On May 11 a considerable part of the Specialist Meeting (OEPS) was dedicated to report 2008 and planning 2009 on Capacity Development and Learning in the SFED department. (Full report)
To start with we looked into the relation between our learning activities in the SFED department, the internal capacity building to be achieved and its intended effect on our programmes. See the logical framework .
Subsequently we briefly looked at the learning activities implemented in 2008 and the way they are appreciated, see e-survey
Two major lessons were drawn:
• Learning events in general are appreciated, but their application into practice proves to be difficult
• COMPART flower tools are not used very often.
Furthermore we looked into the effect of this internal Capacity Development on our work ‘in the field’, Very important as this is the proof of the pudding. Major lessons with regards to this are:
• Only few programmes have clear capacity development strategies
• The gender sensitivity of our programmes is poor
• The development of coalitions, be it around chains or for programme development is still in a very early state.
Monitoring of programmes is difficult, look here for an attempt to give an overview of programme development progress. With R&D we are in the process of developing a Programme-scan
Finally we brainstormed on plans for 2009. Major issues will be:
1. The training of staff of the RWOs and experts (e.g programme facilitators) in programmes.
2. The development of a (or several) global knowledge networks to continue the process of knowledge development in a decentralised organisation
Please look also at the Powerpoint presentation
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Gender and SFED
By Angelica Senders (Programme Specialist Capacity Development and Learning)
On April 23, a meeting was held on gender and SFED. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the gender plans of the SFED department.
We started with a presentation on the Agri-profocus (APF) gender learning network, in which ICCO plays an active role. This network started about a year ago with the aim to jointly:
1. develop a conceptual framework for gender and value chains;
2. make tools and instruments accessible;
3. develop ways to monitor and evaluate our successes.
A very informative learning history was made about the experiences of the network druing the first year. The document is downloadable from the blog on the Ning (website) of the gender network: http://genderinvaluechains.ning.com/ I herewith would like to recommend this ning. Don't forget to click on the icon for the 'tools wiki'.
Furthermore we discussed the plans to describe in-depth a variety of value chains from a gender perspective. Together we generated a number of ideas, in the three continents, which will be worked out jointly with Margreet Mook, gender specialist of ICCO.
More reading? Look at the following Powerpoint (don't forget to select the 'full screen' option, below on the right)
On April 23, a meeting was held on gender and SFED. The objective of the meeting was to discuss the gender plans of the SFED department.
We started with a presentation on the Agri-profocus (APF) gender learning network, in which ICCO plays an active role. This network started about a year ago with the aim to jointly:
1. develop a conceptual framework for gender and value chains;
2. make tools and instruments accessible;
3. develop ways to monitor and evaluate our successes.
A very informative learning history was made about the experiences of the network druing the first year. The document is downloadable from the blog on the Ning (website) of the gender network: http://genderinvaluechains.ning.com/ I herewith would like to recommend this ning. Don't forget to click on the icon for the 'tools wiki'.
Furthermore we discussed the plans to describe in-depth a variety of value chains from a gender perspective. Together we generated a number of ideas, in the three continents, which will be worked out jointly with Margreet Mook, gender specialist of ICCO.
More reading? Look at the following Powerpoint (don't forget to select the 'full screen' option, below on the right)
Gender DREO 23 April, 2009
View more presentations from Compart User.
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