Figure 19, COVID19-Story Collection
RISEUP: Micro-Entrepreneurship Development Project The 'Rise Up Entrepreneurship Development' project, supported by MAS Capital (Pvt) Limited, is to provide funding as well as capacity building to micro entrepreneurs whose existing businesses were affected by the prolonged lockdown due to COVID-19. This initiative was launched in June 2020 and will be completed in February 2021. The project is being implemented in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Kilinochchi districts. Except for Kilinochchi, the selected districts were locked down for a prolonged duration hence the livelihood of micro entrepreneurs being largely affected in those areas were carefully selected. In consultation with MAS Capital (Private) Limited, Sarvodaya developed a logical activity flow designed to best serve the selected beneficiaries. Micro-entrepreneurs with limited access to finance and funding and at the same time those who had a micro-level business were filtered as beneficiaries. The applicant's age was not a deciding factor in the selection of beneficiaries. A gender balance of sixty percent of female candidates were anticipated and successfully achieved. Special attention had been given to candidates from a background of being differently abled, conflict affected, and women-headed households. This information was necessary to focus on those who had some sort of disability/disadvantage and that the project reaches out to the most vulnerable and deserving. Information was also obtained on the type of business, type of products/services, number of employees, whether their business was linked to another small business, business registration details (if any), income and net profit, adverse effects of COVID-19 etc. The application had to be certified by the Grama Niladari to confirm permanent residency in the Grama Niladari Division. The applications were distributed via the employees of MAS Strategic Business Units (SBU's) in the relevant districts. Due to a multitude of factors, only seventy-seven applicants were selected when the call was targeting hundred candidates. The project team investigated and found out that most small business units were shut down for more than six months since March and only SBU's continuing had been specifically selected for the grant. The interviews had been conducted at the Sarvodaya Centres in relevant districts. The interview panel consisted of the Sarvodaya District Coordinator and a representative from MAS. The selection panel strove to discover the impact of COVID-19 and their immediate financial requirements by finding out whether the applicant had a vision for future expansion and the environment impact of their business. Purposeful and environment conscious businesses were given priority leading to disqualification of some applicants. Successful candidates attended a mandatory session on entrepreneurship development. The workshop was designed to ensure that the grant would be utilised effectively to develop their businesses providing them with basic skills on how a SBU could run better and expand to the next level.
SUWODAYA Report March 2020 - March 2021
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