Social Innovation, Social Enterprise, Social Change, Civil Society, State and Markets in the New Paradigm - Call For Papers

International Conference
Europe 16th – 17th July 2012

Around the globe, we are all searching for ways to empower citizens and communities, build new forms of enterprise and association, and develop new models of public governance.

Papers and presentations are invited which examine these issues, either on a global or regional basis, or with a single country focus. Presentations may be papers, addresses, workshops, interactive forums, or displays.

Expressions of interest in making a presentation should be forwarded, in no more than 300 words by 31st March 2012.

Read more http://www.yipekenya.org/NewParadigm.htm

How to write a budget for your business

A budget is probably the most crucial document required for your business. 

To start on your budget you first have to define what expenses you anticipate will occur. These can be categorised into operating expenses and overheads. Operating or working expenses include items such as stationery, fuel and communications which are variable in terms of how they are used. Overheads cover the fixed costs of a business, including items such as rent and machinery.

Read more on how to write a budget for your business

East African entrepreneurs need a level playing field in the new Common Market

The regional integration of the East Africa community is finally here. With the promise of trade barriers falling, for East African entrepreneurs this bodes well in a common market of 130 million people.

After the collapse of the East African Community in 1977 due to political wrangling, there is a renewed sense of hope of expanded trade in a wider market. So far the revamped East African Community has set about the arduous task of harmonizing regulations to take into account the need to boost cross-border business and investment.

The Doing Business in East Africa 2010 report however indicates significant issues  concerning the capacity of the member-state entrepreneurs to compete on a level playing field with each other. Despite the efforts at harmonizing laws pertaining to business and coalescing tax policies, internal barriers to enterprise will affect the number of entrepreneurs competing on the common market.

For instance the ease of venturing into enterprise is easiest in Rwanda with 2 procedures and a registered business in 3 days. Compare this with Kenya and Tanzania with 12 procedures and the business registered in 34 and 29 days respectively.

Then there is the crippling cost of starting a business where in Burundi the cost is 151.6% of income per capita in comparison with Kenya or Tanzania where the cost is 37%. And even though Kenya leads in facilitating licensing with 11 procedures for the entire region, the process is still time consuming. It takes 120 days Kenya and 143 in Uganda compared with the rest of member states where the process of procuring business licenses takes well over 200 days.

It is hoped the streamlining of tax revenue collection will facilitate cross-border enterprise. However the problem of enforcing contracts continues to act as a barrier to profitable trade. Where in Rwanda it takes 260 days to resolve contractual disagreements; in Burundi the process takes a whopping 832 days! Thus there still remains a lot to be done so that all East African entrepreneurs can truly benefit from the Common Market.

Read the Doing Business East Africa 2010 report here

Africa Social Entrepreneurs awarded during the 20th World Economic Forum on Africa

Five social entrepreneurs have been recognized as Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 in Africa during the Opening Plenary session of the 20th World Economic Forum on Africa, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on 5 May. 

Shona Mc Donald, founder of Shonaquip had previously been recognized as the Social Entrepreneur for South Africa. The other four winners are Godwin Ehigiamusoe of LAPO in Nigeria, Brien Holden and Kovin Naidoo of ICEE, and Victoria Kisyombe of SELFINA in Tanzania. They received their awards in the presence of President Jakaya M. Kikwete of Tanzania and the Co-Chairs of the 2010 World Economic Forum on Africa.

Social entrepreneurs emphasize long-term sustainability instead of short-term gains. Their primary focus is to maximize benefits for society and the environment by implementing innovative approaches to key challenges. They operate social businesses or organizations that are a mixture of non-profits and for-profits in areas such as energy efficiency, education, waste management, health, education, youth and rural development.

The winners will join a group of leading social entrepreneurs from across the African continent as well as others from Europe, India and the USA, and will be active participants providing insights on sustainability and social innovation in the discussions under the meeting’s theme Rethinking Africa’s Growth Strategy.

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, an affiliate organization of the World Economic Forum, conducts the search and selection of social entrepreneurs in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, India and South-East Asia. It selects three to five social entrepreneurs per year from each region. Selected social entrepreneurs are connected to the world’s business, political and media leaders through the events and initiatives of the World Economic Forum.

The following winners were awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 in Africa:

Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO), Nigeria

LAPO is the leading microfinance institution in Nigeria with over 240,000 clients. It is recognized for delivering sound financial and social services to alleviate poverty and empowering the disadvantaged. Alongside its financial services offering, LAPO supports enterprise development in diverse areas such as food processing, craftworks, merchandising, fabrication and farming, while the LAPO Development Foundation provides social and health empowerment programmes addressing issues of empowerment, nutrition, health, discrimination, injustice and gender equality.

Brien Holden and Kovin Naidoo, International Centre for Eyecare Education, South Africa and Australia

At least 670 million people, mostly in the developing world, are blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to a basic eye examination and a pair of glasses. ICEE works in ten African countries in addition to operations in Asia and Latin America to provide screening services and glasses prescriptions through its “Vision Centres”. It focuses on capacity building in the public sector to deliver eye care services, stimulating the professional role of optometrists and eye care providers, thereby expanding and sustaining its impact to 290,000 beneficiaries. It has also developed its own global supply chain and resource centre to reduce the cost of spectacles dramatically for its own services, and also for NGOs and public providers.

Victoria Kisyombe, Sero Lease and Finance Association (SELFINA) and Sero Businesswomen’s Association (SEBA), Tanzania

In Tanzania, where 75% of the population live in rural areas, and 33% live below the poverty line, most enterprising individuals do not have scarce working capital to buy equipment upfront. Victoria Kisyombe recognized that the capital outlay to buy assets and equipment for small businesses is difficult even on a microfinance loan and thus pioneered the leasing of fixed assets to women, which has led to the development of more than 18,000 value-added businesses and wealth creation. SELFINA’s clients, 60% of whom are in rural areas, become eventual owners of leased equipment and can use it as collateral for further borrowing.

Shona Mc Donald, Shonaquip, South Africa

Shonaquip is a social business that provides high-impact support services that promote inclusion and equal opportunity employment for persons with disabilities. It promotes and supports the safe provision of appropriate wheelchairs, offering professional support services and clinical training for professionals and families. It also designs and builds Africa-appropriate wheelchairs and postural support devices suitable for use in rural, rough terrain and remote areas. Shonaquip have 40,000 clients (80% children) who have been provided with mobility devices and receive ongoing holistic postural support.

 

Source:The World Economic Forum

Entrepreneur Profile: Sospeter Amenya

Sospeter Amenya of BenCro Transition Designs is a Kenyan social entrepreneur whose work mainly involves designing websites and developing custom software to help in various aspects that are aimed at creating more opportunities for the impoverished society. 

We recently got a chance to interview him regarding the importance of determination to venture into enterprise as well as his future aspirations. 

Here is a snippet of the interview:

Yipe: When and why did you decide to be an entrepreneur?

Sospeter: After doing my IT course at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture, (JKUAT) I started my business soon after graduating in 2008. I had to tarmac (look for a job) for a considerable time before I made a decision to start a business. I also wanted to get start up capital for my business. 

I didn’t get a job though. So the idea of joblessness hit me hard and I started thinking of other means. I decided to put my skills in practice and I joined hands with my friend and started a freelancing webdesign business working from the briefcase. It was not registered though.

In the process of searching for clients, we bumped into one corporate client, an NGO that paid us Ksh 20,000. We used the cash as our starting capital to buy a desktop. And this is how we started. The business is now registered and almost 1yr old.

So the sole reason for starting is unemployment and the urge to create opportunities in future.

Yipe: What has been your learning experience in your business venture?
Sospeter: One failure makes me sharper to cut through the next and the end result is always success.

Yipe: What’s the most challenging aspect of being an entrepreneur from your perspective?
Sospeter: The challenge is lack of understanding from the people you must work with, particularly some clients. Secondly is accessing finance and the long process of business registration. Make it online would encourage others to start their businesses.

Read the rest of the interview here »»

Invitation to Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

Seed Capital Investment Ltd  has been established to offer support to young people, businesses and to entrepreneurs in Kenya. It's focus in Kenya is to offer an avenue where those who are in business or aspire to be in business can access information; advice and support that can assist them succeed. 

All projects and programs are facilitated by company directors who are entrepreneurs and managing their own businesses bringing in a wealth of practical experience in business startup and management.

As part of its objectives in supporting entrepreneurs in starting up and fine tuning their businesses, Seed Capital have organized a workshop to address the issue of acquiring funds and starting small and medium enterprises in Kenya under its Youth In Business Program. 

The workshop is on 5th and 6th May, 2010 at the company offices off Ngong road, behind Coptic Hospital.

After the workshop, participants will document their ideas and present them live to a panel of prominent investors for possible funding after which they will receive ongoing business guidance and mentorship until they have formed successful companies which will create employment to other youth.

For further information, please contact:

Rhoda Mwihaki,
Coordinator,
Youth in Business Program,
Seed Capital Investment Ltd.
1 Kindaruma Lane, off Ngong Road,
P.O. Box 4720, 00200
Nairobi Kenya
Tel 020 807 1309, 0710 492836, 0731 535018

www.seedcapitalinvestment.com

Profile: HALCHA Youth & Community Development organization

HALCHA Youth and Community Development organization is based in Garbatulla, a small town in northern Kenya where the populace are faced with poor living standards, low literacy levels, unemployment, unpredictable weather patterns that adversely impact on food security.

The group was started as a self-help group in 2006 and officially upgraded to a community based organisation in March 2007. The objectives at formation were:

• To improve the socio-economic status of the youth and wider community
• Capacity building and mentorship development.
• The promotion of environmental and wildlife conservation, and
• HIV/AIDS Advocacy.

The organization is not only committed to improving the living standards of the local community but also actively promotes the status of women in decision making by building confidence and raising self esteem so they can fully participate in their own affairs and make informed decisions.

Amongst it's development activities, HALCHA trains members in dressmaking and tailoring to promote self employment. The organization also emphasizes the preservation of local artisan culture.

HALCHA, which has 40 affiliate youth group members throughout the Garbatulla District has partnered with the Kenya Women’s Finance Trust Maua unit to reach more than 200 women, out of which 60 member beneficiaries have received loans. Another project in partnership with Kenya's Ministry of Youth Affairs has benefited more than 2,000 youth with capacity building and mentorship development, enabling 34 youth groups in the district to receive funding.

These milestones have been achieved in spite of the challenges the organization faces. These include financial constraints as well as the lack of working tools such as sewing machines for the tailoring project. Transport and logistic problems also affect the organization based in a remote rural area.

However HALCHA has the manpower and willingness to promote development and continues undaunted in it’s bid to help in the alleviate of poverty amongst the youth and wider population of Garbatulla District.

HALCHA Youth And Community Development (CBO)

Garbatulla District

Email: sirajroka@yahoo.com

P.O BOX 1 – 60300 Garbatulla

Telephone : 254 020 8015687 /0724700862

Source: Report by Ade Roga Hassan, Peacebuilding Mentor, Garbatulla District.

Entrepreneur Profile: Josphat Karinga

Josphat Karinga is the Technical Director of Ristech Solutions a Kenyan company he founded in 2003. The company provides a wide array of services for individual and business clients, including assisting them to overcome the obstacles of bureaucracy in the application for government documents, courier services and car rentals. 

 

Yipe.org recently got a opportunity to briefly interview him where he also gave some useful tips on maintaining good customer relationships.

Read the interview here

Kenya's youth fund wrangles continue

Finally ... the Yipe.org site is up & running!

Its finally done...!

Yipe.org is now online.

Right now we have news on enterprise, but its a work in progress, so be sure to check in for updates. There's also a weekly newsletter as well as the chance for your articles to be published.

Let us know what you think. You can find the site here

Notes from the bleachers at the National Youth Convention ‘08

An extraordinary session of the The National Youth Convention opened yesterday at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi. The theme of the largest gathering of Kenyan youth this year, was the reconstruction, reconciliation and reform.

Speeches by the organisers centered on the need for the youth to be more proactive in Kenya. Kenyan youth were accused of saying nothing when each election resulted in the appointment of leaders who do not have their best interests at heart. Now is the time to fix the wrongs of the past, the convention delegates were told. They were asked from now on, as leaders, to consider themselves as engines of change and to challenge the status quo.

Regarding entrepreneurship, nominated MP, Hon. Rachel Shebesh decried the slow pace of the National Youth Policy Draft being tabled in parliament seven months into the current parliament. She also advised the youth to be cautious about the proposed method of grassroot elections for the National Youth Council. Reminding the delegates of how the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake elections had in the past been manipulated by the political class, Shebesh told the youth to ensure that the election method would be inclusive and representative.

How can you have a Ministry with no policy?

The governments commitment to improving the welfare of the youth was called into question.

The Youth Ministry was termed as being there solely for “PR” purposes. Being toothless, not only does it operate without any policy, but it is there to hoodwink Kenyans of the governments commitment to the youth. Furthermore, the same Youth Ministry does not even have the creation of jobs for the youth under its mandate.

The youth fund was also termed as a “shame”, which brought loud applause from the delegates. Many participants decried the fact that they had no access to the funds and were even unaware of the process to receive the funds. Some asked, why is the government force-feeding the youth to be entrepreneurs? Why spend all those years in school in order to be given Kshs. 10,000 to have a boda boda business?

Our view is that if the fund is going to make any real impact in the lives of youth entrepreneurs, it should:

• ensure that ALL youth nationwide have access to information about the fund, skills on how to apply for the funds, and close access to the financial intermediaries.
• The fund should not only target groups. That in our view is grossly disrespecting the youth of Kenya. As Hon. Kabando wa Kabando who was present at the convention said, repayment of loans was over 90%. That intimates that the youth are not out just to be given money and not pay it back. Why lie? Why should one have to go find other youths in order to be given a pepper corn amount that will only just barely put any enterprise on the ground? Why? …

Well, Hon. Raila Odinga who also attended said that the fund needs to be adressed. Kenyan youth entrepreneurs, let’s make sure it is!

Kenyan youth UNITE … in Obama-speak: YES WE CAN!