Microenterprise Development

In a country where most people have less than a third grade education, there is very little understanding of how a business should work. ICDI's microenterprise development program helps individuals understand how to start a small business that can provide for their family and meet the needs of their community. By teaching the very basics of business practices and providing small loans to jump start small businesses, ICDI hopes to bring economic growth across the country.

Granting loans to small groups which already have an infrastructure in their village helps local people have an income from these small businesses. This brings hope and confidence in their own abilities which are not dependent on outside funds. These people have tremendous abilities to survive in very difficult situations and it is important for us to add value to those skills.

ICDI has been working in the areas of small pushcart projects, a sewing center, small resale markets of palm oil and donuts, and a small cell phone business. Training villagers how to run an effective business is one of the most difficult parts of this project. Many Central Africans have personal initiative but have never had the education necessary to run a viable business. Often they cannot even read or write—sometimes because their parents could not afford to send them to school and sometimes because no schools were even available. With the proper education and encouragement from their peers, most nationals can run a successful business. Working in groups at these enterprises seems to be a great encouragement and provides an accountability structure.  

Video by InterVasity Team 2007