What problem or need is the project addressing?
Social enterprises are small businesses that have a mission to provide employment and benefits to disadvantaged groups, such as disabled people and widows. They play an important role in poverty reduction in a country that has been devastated by three decades of civil war, with limited opportunities for income generation in rural areas, and a high incidence of landmine-related disabilities.
Social enterprises however face a number of problems that prevent them from achieving their potential, such as a lack of key business skills, limited understanding of different markets and changing market trends, products that do not appeal to consumer tastes, and trade policies that prevent them from trading effectively.
What is the project doing?
Traidcraft Exchange is training local business and product development consultants who then work with social enterprises to help them overcome such problems. These consultants are an important local resource and will be able to provide appropriate, affordable assistance to social enterprises in the long term.
There is also an advocacy element to our programme in Cambodia, building the capacity of social enterprises to engage effectively with decision-makers to ensure that policies take their needs into account.
What impact has the project had?
Over the lifetime of the project, 10 local business consultants, 5 local product development consultants, and 40 social enterprises with approximately 1,200 workers will benefit. Many more social enterprises will benefit from the assistance of the local consultants in the future.
Here are some quotes from the training workshops so far:
"The trainer was really great, active, skilled, very proactive and makes us enjoy the training very much. Really appreciated."
"I got more than I expected at the beginning of the workshop."
"This workshop will not only help in my work as a consultant but will guide my future in a "bright" consulting business."
Our local partner
The project is being implemented in collaboration with our local partner, the Artisans Association of Cambodia (AAC). AAC is an association of social enterprises, and aims to facilitate opportunities for its members to gain training, improve their businesses, access new markets, and increase their economic sustainability.
How is this project funded?
This work in Cambodia is funded by the European Commission, grant-making trusts, and donations from companies, church groups and generous individuals.
