

Entrepreneurship
Louvain Coopération
and support for entrepreneurial initiatives
Louvain Coopération actively supports entrepreneurial initiatives by providing local entrepreneurs with the tools, skills and networks they need to thrive in their environment. This approach to entrepreneurship aims to foster economic development within communities.
- Groupes d'Epargne Solidaire (GES): are central to Louvain Coopération's initiatives in Madagascar. These groups unite members to collectively save and provide internal loans, enabling entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses and boost their income.
- Mutuelles de Solidarité (MUSO): In the Democratic Republic of Congo, provide rural communities with access to financial resources and technical training, empowering members to strengthen their resilience and actively participate in the local economy.
- Agricultural product processing cooperatives: In Benin, cassava processing cooperatives receive literacy and management support. This support enables women members to make their voices heard and take up positions of responsibility within their cooperatives.
Literacy and training are essential elements of the entrepreneurial support provided by Louvain Coopération, particularly for women and young people.
To achieve this, the functional and consciousness-raising literacy approach is used. This approach is based on the daily experience and activities of the literate, particularly in relation to themes such as environmental protection, nutrition, micro-entrepreneurship, etc.
.Functional literacy actions strengthen women's capacities and entrepreneurial dynamics in order to stimulate their empowerment while promoting their access to decision-making bodies at community level.
For example, in Benin, cassava processing cooperatives, which are predominantly made up of women, benefit from literacy courses. These courses enable them to master basic management tools for the smooth running of their cooperatives, such as record-keeping and costing, which contributes to the efficiency and sustainability of the projects.
.But the social impact is much greater, as functional literacy will eventually enable them to take up positions of responsibility within the cooperatives, such as president, treasurer or secretary...
At the end of the training cycle, participants sit an exam and receive a certificate of achievement.
To ensure the viability of these initiatives, trainers are selected and trained in the functional and conscientious literacy method to become literacy instructors. This not only enables local know-how to be put to good use, but also ensures that there are local literacy reference persons whom the literate people can consult even after the project has ended. The approach used is that of ‘functional and conscientious literacy’.
The approach used is that of ‘REFLECT’ which stands for, ‘REgenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques’. It is a comprehensive and innovative approach to empowerment for social change and learning. It combines the theories of Paulo Freire (a Brazilian educationalist) with participatory approaches. Its aim is to empower communities and enable them to take an active part in identifying problems, analysing them and developing practical solutions to remedy them.
Louvain Coopération's approach favours support at local level, taking into account the specific contexts of each intervention area.
Whether at group or individual level, initiatives are designed to meet the specific needs of entrepreneurs while taking into account the economic, social and environmental realities of the area.
This support includes practical training in business management, marketing, hygiene, and other essential skills such as literacy, as well as non-financial service structures dedicated to entrepreneurial development.
Louvain Coopération's initiatives aim to strengthen the economic autonomy of individuals and communities, by facilitating access to financial resources and supporting the creation of small businesses.
Entrepreneurs receive support and advice in managing their business. They are put in touch with banks or microfinance institutions to facilitate their access to the finance they need to roll out their business.
In the DRC, Benin and Bolivia this support is provided by a Guichet d'Économie Locale, structures set up by Louvain Coopération and now autonomous.
Nos actions


RDC
Our goal: Increase coverage of the basic socio-economic needs of local populations by improving their incomes, while managing ecosystems and agro-ecosystems sustainably and inclusively.
To achieve this, together with our local partners, we take part in research and promote agricultural innovations to solve problems linked to the activities of the beneficiaries. We experiment with and adapt the most relevant profitable and sustainable agro-ecological practices to their contexts.
We support the conservation of ecosystems and agro-ecosystems, in particular by supporting the development of agro-ecological principles in production activities, but also by promoting techniques for protecting and conserving soil and biodiversity. To the same end, we support agroforestry and reforestation initiatives.
We teach farmers to use the Environmental Integration Tool (EIT) producer and to respect the commitments they have made.
Partners : ASOP

Burundi
Our aim is to strengthen the participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) in improving policies, managing natural resources and biodiversity sustainably and promoting good practice among the population.
To achieve this, we are working with our local partners to strengthen and structure CSOs active in environmental protection and conservation. These organisations are being identified and strengthened to develop a strong network. Their skills are developed and multi-stakeholder dialogue forums are created.
In addition, micro-projects led by these CSOs and designed to protect natural resources and biodiversity, the local environment and sanitation are financed. These projects include, for example, the protection of natural areas, the promotion of measures to combat erosion (reforestation, agroforestry, improved stoves, etc.), hygiene and sanitation in households and/or communities, and the treatment and recycling of solid waste.
Finally, awareness-raising initiatives are being carried out to encourage local people to adopt practices that promote biodiversity and protect natural resources, the local environment and sanitation.


Madagascar
Our aim is to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources, particularly mangrove areas, by working to protect biodiversity, safeguard ecosystem services and promote socio-ecological resilience, with the involvement of local authorities and communities. A great deal of thought is being given to this issue within our consortium of university NGOs, Uni4Coop.
To achieve this, together with our local partners, we are working to improve the governance of mangrove areas, through advocacy in favour of these ecosystems, as well as raising local awareness of regulations.
To strengthen shared knowledge in this area, awareness-raising campaigns on ecosystem development and management plans and environmental education in schools are being set up. We also organise consultation and knowledge-sharing sessions on the proper management of ecosystems. Access to this knowledge requires the ability to read and write. Functional literacy and consciousness-raising courses are therefore offered to adults who have not had the chance to go to school.
To encourage the sustainable use of mangroves, we are working to improve the incomes and living conditions of the people living in these areas. This involves supporting sustainable economic activities that do not destroy the ecosystem, setting up and developing group savings schemes, and supporting fishermen's cooperatives. We also organise exchange visits on mangroves and open days in these areas.
Finally, to encourage the conservation and restoration of mangrove areas, we have set up a "green fund" to support local initiatives. We are also distributing a toolkit of best practices and promoting an economic model that reconciles exploitation and conservation.
Partners : FIVOI, FIAME, OPCI Alokaina, FIDEV, ALEFA MENABE, DRPEB (Direction régionale de la Pêche et de l’Economie bleue) et DREDD (Direction régionale de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable).


Bénin
Our objective is to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources, particularly mangrove areas, by working to protect biodiversity, safeguard ecosystem services and promote socio-ecological resilience, with the involvement of local authorities and communities.
To achieve this, we work with our local partners to inform local communities about mangrove ecosystem management. This involves training and awareness-raising activities on the issues involved in the sustainable management of these resources.
We carry out reforestation activities and raise awareness among the various actors involved about regulatory texts, management plans and water body restoration operations.
We take part in consultation frameworks involved in ecosystem management and support the mangrove ecosystem governance authority in its mission.
We combat the destruction of mangroves by developing sustainable economic sectors, energy production alternatives and nature-based adaptation solutions, while at the same time carrying out environmental restoration and conservation actions.
Partners : ACTION PLUS, ECO BENIN
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FAQ
The entrepreneurship programmes are based on the IOE Approach presented above. They also include training and resources to raise entrepreneurs' awareness of green practices. For example, participants can receive advice on waste reduction, sustainable use of resources, and the environmental impact of their activities.
Louvain Coopération facilitates access to finance by promoting self-managed micro-credit savings systems and partnerships with micro-credit institutions. These options enable entrepreneurs to obtain finance when they do not have access to traditional banking channels.
MUSOs provide a safe and supportive framework for savings and credit. They enable women to come together to save and invest in economic projects, thereby contributing to their financial independence and social status within their community. MUSOs also include a solidarity fund, a social protection tool.
Selection criteria may vary depending on the programme and the country. In general, Louvain Coopération favours individuals and groups with a strong potential for local impact and a willingness to integrate sustainable development practices. Training courses can also be organised at the request of entrepreneurs, to meet specific needs identified.
Louvain Coopération's entrepreneurial projects not only promote the financial independence of participants, but also create local jobs, improve living conditions and stimulate the local economy. These initiatives contribute to a virtuous circle of sustainable community development.
The training provided by Louvain Coopération covers a wide range of skills: financial management, basic marketing, product development, as well as legal and administrative aspects. These skills strengthen their ability to manage a business independently.
Louvain Coopération supports a diversity of local businesses, individual, family and collective, including agricultural cooperatives, small service businesses, and micro-entrepreneurs in food processing. The aim is to meet the specific needs of each community and support sustainable income-generating activities.
Literacy enables entrepreneurs to understand financial documents, communicate effectively with their partners and customers, and manage the administrative aspects of their business. It is essential to the autonomy and success of their projects.