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

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.

The “Women in Business” Challenge is targeted at women who seek finance for their start-up or established business in a developing country in Africa, Asia or Latin America. They seek finance in the range of US$ 10,000 and US$ 1 million. They either already have a full business plan or need help in developing their business plan. They have the ambition to grow the business in sales and numbers of employees. Plans will be accepted in English, Spanish and in French and will have to meet Social and Environmental requirements.

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: