Evaluating the Effectiveness of Livelihoods Programs for Refugees in Ethiopia, Final evaluation, Social Impact Inc. 2015, Washington, DC

2.3 DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES

2.3.2 Entrepreneurship: Capacity strengthening on economic activities

Recommendation: 3. Share training model for people dependent on the IE with relevant local training authorities for wider replication.

Reference: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Livelihoods Programs for Refugees in Ethiopia, Final evaluation, Social Impact Inc. 2015, Washington, DC, projects: 1) International Rescue Committee (IRC) Livelihoods project; 2) Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) Livelihoods project; 3) Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Livelihoods project in Ethiopia

Evidence sample: The evaluation concluded that participants of the small business training and start-up program as well as graduates of the vocational and entrepreneurship programs should learn how to keep an organised budget log of their expenses, revenue, and profit. Graduates should be provided with the necessary materials to support this practice. Agencies should require graduates to provide them with monthly reporting of these figures, as well as information about how they have spent or saved any profit they have made. This practice will improve the IPs’ ability to monitor their graduates’ income generation and asset development. 

Projects delivering small business start-up and entrepreneurship training must provide more robust support for the development of feasible business plans.

All graduates who receive start-up grants or who are awarded start-up kits to implement a small business should receive an on-going package of services and support from the IP including routine coaching, technical guidance, and assistance securing peer to peer mentoring.

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2.3 DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES

2.3.2 Entrepreneurship: Capacity strengthening on economic activities

Recommendation: 17. Be aware that some informal economy operators are more interested in receiving consulting/advisory services as opposed to attending training.

Reference: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Livelihoods Programs for Refugees in Ethiopia, Final evaluation, Social Impact Inc. 2015, Washington, DC, projects: 1) International Rescue Committee (IRC) Livelihoods project; 2) Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) Livelihoods project; 3) Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Livelihoods project in Ethiopia

Evidence sample: The evaluation noted that peer-to-peer mentoring should entail facilitated sessions where successful program graduates provide graduates who may be struggling or looking for inspiration, with insight, examples, and recommendations for trouble-shooting from their own experience as small business owners.