Entrepreneuriat

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Entrepreneurship
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Entrepreneuriat
   Entrepreneurship

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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.

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  • 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.

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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.

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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.

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FAQ

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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.