Enterprise Development

Sewalanka's enterprise development specialists provide support services for two types of initiatives:

• Microenterprises are small businesses with 5 or fewer employees. Sewalanka and Sewa Finance work through CBOs to support individual microenterprises.

• Community enterprises are usually formed for collective marketing or value addition. They generally have a transparent ownership structure of shareholding members and a hired manager responsible for daily operational decisions.

Sewalanka actively encourages women micro-entrepreneurs and the participation of women in community enterprises.

We have certified CEFE and SIYB trainers in every region who assist with microenterprise planning and development. CEFE (Competency-based Economies through Formation of Enterprise) is a micro-enterprise promotion and entrepreneurship training model developed by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). SIYB (Start and Improve Your Own Business) is a training program developed by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

In addition to CEFE and SIYB training, our enterprise development specialists also coordinate the following support services:

• Training on legal issues related to enterprise development
• Participatory value-chain assessments
• Comprehensive sector analyses
• Financial assessments and feasibility studies
• Support for business plan development
• Business counseling

For more information about Sewalanka's enterprise development training, please contact newton@sewalanka.org. For more information about community enterprise development, please contact info@sedco.lk