Here’s what we teach you how to do.
After 13 years in the field we know that these variable conditions (to the left) can quickly be identified by end users livingin the project area in dialog with our trainers. The constant is ‘sustainability’ which means local entrepreneur must make a profit. We have over a 90% success rate facilitating business start-ups in Lao PDR. We always work with local implementers who have qualified plans for scaling.
Jhai consultants will work for as long as is necessary (typically two to four days) with a village’s residents to understand what they view as their needs. The villagers’ input is key at this point. It is essential that any business plans developed be based on the villagers’ own needs, as they see them, and not on their needs “as seen by external experts”. As a result, Jhai consultants will draw extensive input from the villagers before designing any particular solution with them.
We work with villagers, especially women, to make their voices heard. Almost invariably their priorities have been better health and education for their children and parents and more income for their family. In most regards they want their traditional life to continue. It works for them. We try to work with them within these boundaries so that the work products created are most likely to be sustainable by them.
People move towards their self-defined futures.
Once the villagers’ needs are understood, the Jhai consultants will then:
- Work with the villagers to develop a vision,
- Work with them to develop a viable business plan,
- Offer any needed training (in technology, management, accounting or finance, for example),
- Seek any needed technical support from local and (last resort) international consultants.
Jhai’s approach to technical support is quite entrepreneurial in itself. We help our partners in villages build on assets identified by them. In each case we facilitate planning and are a junior partner in the implementation phase. In addition to its support for rural entrepreneurs, Jhai develops customized participatory planning and training programs for management of special situations in developing areas. One example is a program currently under development with Somali refugee families affected by rape in war, post-war migrations and camps in Kenya.
On a fee for services basis Jhai will work with you hand-in-hand and virtually. We will train you. Jhai’s sustainability comes from our mentoring, not from owning projects or methods. We share what we learn in order to learn more and pass that on. Jhai is able to share world class knowledge about poverty reduction that works.