IP and women leaders from Bukidnon to join business planning workshop

Indigenous people leaders, particularly women will be trained in business proposal preparation to enhance their planning and management skills

Indigenous people leaders, particularly women will be trained in business proposal preparation to enhance their planning and management skills

Forty-four participants from the National Commission on Indigenous People, women and IP leaders, Municipal Agricultural Office, Bukidnon Environment and Natural Resource Office (BENRO) and the Department of Trade and Industry have been invited to attend the training-workshop on preparing simplified business plans for livelihood micro-enterprises from 29 Jan to 2 Feb 2013 at Haus Malibu in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Dr. Rafael Creencia (Agrofrestry and Small Medium Enterprise Specialist) will discuss coffee rejuvenation while Dr. Rosa Perez (Climate Change Specialist) will talk about climate change as a threat to micro enterprise.  Both are consultants for the Decentralized Framework on Sustainable Natural Resources and Rural Infrastructure Management project  funded by ADB and the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.

Mr. Antonio Peralta, Executive Director of the Foundation for Rural Enterprises and Ecology Development for Mindanao will serve as the resource person for business planning.

IP and women leaders are the intended beneficiaries of the four-day event which aims to respond to the lack of business planning and management competencies as well as their inability to access funds to capitalize existing livelihood industries. The local government units and the BENRO have identified existing businesses which need technical and funding support for women including bagmaking,  beadwork, banana chips making, and handicrafts made from abaca. For IP men, the skills gained will be applied to business proposals on goat dispersal, livestock-raising, and coffee production.

Aside from learning the how to’s in simplified business planning, the  workshop will be a venue to discuss the impact of climate change on agro-forestry and livelihood initiatives and local responses as well as the concept of value chain in livelihood/enterprise industry. Participants are expected to prepare an action plan for a cascading training in barangays.

Ms. Elda Montera (Capacity Development Specialist), and Ms. Lourdes Caballero (Knowledge Management Specialist) will also attend the workshop.