Authored by AIF Fellow Divya
As a Banyan Impact Fellow, my Fellowship project was with SAFA India in Hyderabad, where I have been tasked with developing a Micro-Enterprise Incubation Centre for home-based businesses run by women in the community. This project aims to address the challenges faced by informal businesses and provide crucial resources to promote their growth and sustainability.
Our beneficiaries will be Muslim women from various areas across Hyderabad, such as Talab Katta, Vattepalley, and more. However, their businesses lack a formal structure, hindering their growth potential. SAFA has started to work with some women, but a full-fledged project is yet to come.
Interventions provided
To address these challenges and create a positive impact, our project focuses on several key components:
1. Financial Support: Through this program, we intend to assist women in accessing microfinance or small business loans that cater to their needs. Additionally, we will provide financial literacy training to ensure responsible financial management.
2. Mentorship Program: We will connect the women with experienced entrepreneurs and professionals who can guide them in various aspects of business management, including planning, marketing, product development, and financial strategies.
3. Entrepreneurial Skills Training: Our program will offer comprehensive training to develop entrepreneurship skills among women. This will include business planning, market research, branding, pricing, customer relationship management, and sales techniques.
4. Government Policies and Support: We will educate the women about government policies, schemes, and initiatives that can benefit their businesses. Furthermore, we will aid in navigating the necessary procedures to access these benefits.
5. Product Development: We will work closely with the women to identify market demand and trends. Through product development, quality improvement, packaging, and branding initiatives, we aim to create market-fit products and transform them into hyper-local brands.
6. Market and Credit Linkages: Our project will establish strong connections between women and potential buyers, distributors, and women who are involved in the retail market. We will explore collaborations with local businesses, e-commerce platforms, and marketplaces to facilitate the marketing and sale of women’s products.
7. Dhanak Bazaar: We created a platform for women to exhibit their products every quarter. It provides a nurturing environment where women can confidently showcase their creations, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
8. Networking and Collaborations: We will actively foster collaborations with other organizations, industry experts, and institutions to expand the women’s network. These partnerships will create opportunities for knowledge exchange, resource-sharing, and potential business collaborations. We also collaborated with the WE-Hub initiative by the Govt. of Telangana to scale up their businesses.
9. Monitoring and Evaluation: To ensure the effectiveness of our program, we will develop a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. This will allow us to track the progress and impact of the women’s businesses, measure key performance indicators, and provide valuable feedback for improvement.
10. Support Services: We will offer a range of support services, including legal assistance, access to technology and digital tools, and ongoing business advisory services. These services will help the women overcome challenges and sustain their businesses in the long term.
By empowering these women with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources, we aim to improve their socioeconomic conditions and promote entrepreneurship within the minority community. By creating market channels and developing hyper-local brands, we will enable these women to thrive in their home-based businesses, contributing to a circular economy and enhancing their overall quality of life.