UNDP with HSBC India launched the Business Enterprise Leadership and Management Programme (BELMP) for social entrepreneurs in Northeast to mark the World Entrepreneurs Day on Friday.
The programme was launched under the project PROSPER (Producers in Organized Supply Chain Enterprise).
PROSPER is designed in partnership with Dasra, Industree Foundation along with IIM, Shillong as an academic partner.
The BELMP is designed for social entrepreneurs who are working in the natural fibre value chain in Northeast India.
To apply, social entrepreneurs need to either be working directly with natural fibres such as jute, bamboo, coconut, eri, water hyacinth, among others, or their related/ value-added products, in the handloom, handicraft and agriculture and allied sectors.
UNDP will hand-hold the entrepreneurs for a year and a half till 2022.
During this time selected entrepreneurs will go first through a six-month training programme (considering current conditions, through online mode) with IIM, Shillong, which will include practical, theory, field and reflection-based learning.
This course is designed to build individual and institutional competencies, develop management skills, learn marketing tools and enhance self/organisational orientation for further development.
After the 6-month programme UNDP will support the selected entrepreneurs to scale their businesses through another year of deep mentoring for creating market linkages and developing financial capital, said a press statement.
It will also give an opportunity for social entrepreneurs to work closely with their producer communities to build their capacities.
This is a unique opportunity to be part of a larger network of social entrepreneurs, supported by experts, building managerial capacities and scaling their business.
The BELMP application process, launched on Friday, will end on October 2 2020, through the following application https://bit.ly/3l4UrPo and the IIM, Shillong website.
It is applicable for social entrepreneurs from all Northeastern states.
