Training of Women Start-ups in Bamenda, Buea and Bafoussam
Small enterprises in Cameroon have been identified as a vehicle to deliver broad government policy objectives of poverty alleviation and income generation for the rural population through developing small scale diverse businesses. However, the small enterprises are confronted with many challenges. Central among them is the management of the business itself as a means of generating sustainable income to increase household income levels. Women are found to play a vital role in the care and support of their families and as such there is the need to develop their businesses. Nevertheless, these women are faced with business risks and challenges that reduce their capital or cause them to lose their capital entirely.
It is against this backdrop that SACOD Within the framework of its strategy to “Facilitate Sustainable Livelihood through empowerment and wealth creation” and with the support of Mission21, successfully trained 30 women start-ups in Bamenda, 15 in Buea and 30 in Bafousam on basic business skills and management.
The training program was to equip the participants with requisite skills to strengthen their businesses to effectively manage their finances. The objective of the training was to:
1) Providing knowledge on best business management practices
2) Provide participants with knowledge for increased revenue while reducing expenses
3) Enable participants to keep proper records
4) Build the capacity of participants to ensure good financial management
5) Empower participants to practice best practices for marketing
6) Provide knowledge to participants for increasing capital and investments
7) Improve communication skills and customer care services
8) Provide knowledge and information to participants to create and manage business networks.
9) Provide knowledge to participants and accompany them to elaborate simple business plans
The knowledge gained gave the participants the right skills and best practices needed for business growth to ultimately increase profit, and improve their lives. All these women were given start –up capital of 50,000fcfa each.