Training of Enterprise Support Teams (TEST)

Udyogini flagship program to train personnel of NGOs, government and others, is the TEST. TESTs can be customized to the needs of the client and can be as long or as short as the client requires. The norm has been a five-day orientation TEST with additional modules for more detailed knowledge and application. Orientation TEST gives an overview of such aspects of microenterprise as business idea generation, qualities of an entrepreneur, feasibility, business plan, value chains, market survey, and marketing. An innovative feature of Udyogini's TEST is a module on gender and entrepreneurship. TESTs can be followed up with handholding during the implementation by the trainees in their field areas. Alternatively, refresher TESTs are conducted periodically to identify areas of difficulty and conduct training to improve knowledge and application capacity.

Grassroots Management Training (GMT)

GMTs are offered for leaders of women's groups and federations. The curriculum for the GMT is similar to the ones in TEST. However, the modules are spaced over a longer period depending on the absorptive capacity of participants and their schedules. The materials are also different-audio-visual, and interactive--hence, engaging for illiterate clients. Training materials include posters, games, short-plays, role-plays, and exercises. Videos and CDs are also used. An interactive computer based marketing quiz has also been developed. The TEST for literate and aware SHG leaders is a "hybrid" (in terms of materials used) of TEST and GMT materials. Business people are also involved as resource persons in TESTs and in the "hybrid" TESTs. The training programs are completely participatory and are delivered with the help of posters, charts, games, case studies, and videotapes.

Udyogini has also offered advanced TESTs as spaced modules (over several months) with GMTs in between to enable trainers to transfer and apply the learning among grassroots producers. Udyogini provides review and support to trainers during GMTs. TESTs are offered at locations at or nearest to where the clients are. GMTs are completely in field locations.

A separate Training Needs Assessment (TNA) is undertaken prior to curriculum development for the entire program.

Udyogini training programs have been conducted in almost all the states of North India, in Orissa and Assam in the East and in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in the south. Examples of programs are:

NGO, Avani in Uttarakhand for a TEST series, GMT counseling and refreshers;
SEWA in MP on a similar pattern;
Indian NGO partners of the UK charity Find Your Feet in UP and Uttarakhand for a program of TESTs and counseling during business plan preparation by the trainees;
Government of Uttarakhand for TESTs for business promoters created under the IFAD-funded Aajeevika project and handholding during enterprise promotion for SHGs by the trainees.
TESTs for staff of various NGOs affiliated with Rashtriya Grameen Vikas Nidhi (RGVN) and the Center for Microfinance and Livelihood, Guwahati.



NGO staffs working with the disabled and part of the network of Arunim, a platform for the disabled, were among the participants. They had this to say about the training: "Reviews were taken from each participant and exercises were given in micro enterprise solutions and development. These exercises helped to evaluate the existing status and how to develop in micro businesses as well." "An invaluable learning from the workshop was the understanding that when an NGO starts a micro enterprise, it should not be addressed from a social aspect. It should be addressed from a business point of view."

A longer-term training and handholding support is being provided to The Ant (see http://www.theant.org) and National Alliance Mission (see http://www.namone.org) in Assam. The services to be provided by Udyogini is likely to include situation analysis, feasibility analysis, market research, business plan, comprehensive mapping of the market for the livelihood services as well as a financial model and plan of action Through these initiatives, Udyogini hopes to reach a large number of marginalized women belonging to the Rabha and the Bodo tribes with whom The Ant and the NAM work.