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ISSUE PROGRAMMES

Making it happen: Developing sustainable businesses in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago and improving livelihoods through enterprise development (Phase III)

Title: Making It Happen: Developing sustainable businesses in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago and improving livelihoods through enterprise development (Phase III)

Country                         Trinidad and Tobago

Dates/ Term                  June 2013 - June 2014

Funders                          JB Fernandes Memorial Trust I

Amount                          USD 75,000

Goal and objectives

The purpose of this project is to influence policy and practice to support the development of rural livelihoods in Trinidad and Tobago based on the sustainable use of natural resources to contribute to poverty reduction and rural development.  The four communities are Blanchisseuse, Brasso Seco, Heights of Aripo and Speyside. 

The project objectives are to:

• Catalyse support for the start-up of small businesses based on the sustainable use of natural resources by assisting communities to develop proposals to seek assistance from support agencies.
• Facilitate networking among rural communities and support agencies to improve understanding of best practices to establish small businesses in rural communities.
• Evaluate the results and lessons learnt on establishing small businesses in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago.
• Document and disseminate lessons learnt on establishing small businesses in rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago to key target audiences.

This project is a continuation of a project that began in 2010 that helped people in rural districts in Trinidad and Tobago to identify natural resources found in their communities and the feasibility of businesses that can be based on their sustainable use.

Project Activities

The project activities are:

• Assessment of the needs of the seven rural community groups involved in the project.
• Meetings to support networking among the rural communities and support agencies where participants will have an opportunity to discuss implementing the business plans- what works and recommendations for improvement and action.  Participants will be asked to implement recommendations and lessons learnt before the subsequent meeting as part of the process.  Includes session planning, facilitation and reporting for 4 – 5 meetings (one in each community).
• Two workshops to evaluate results, lessons and best practices. One workshop at the start of the third phase to facilitate participatory development of the evaluation framework for the programme and to assess where communities are after the first two phases of the project and one at the end to evaluate results from the third phase of the project and to document overall programme lessons.
• Documentation and dissemination of lessons and best practices.  At least one case study will be developed to document the lessons and disseminated throughout the region. A livelihood analysis will also be conducted on at least three of the communities involved in the project.