WHAT IS THE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME?

Oxfam’s Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) is an innovative model that provides support to entrepreneurs in some of the world’s poorest countries to help them create and build viable, sustainable businesses. The resulting jobs and associated opportunities provide benefits for both the employees and the wider communities around them, lifting some of the world’s poorest families out of poverty.

GET INVOLVED

FOCUSSING ON FOOD PRODUCTION

Oxfam is prioritising businesses in the food sector that help women and young people.

EDP IN RWANDA

INVESTING IN AGRICULTURE

Our programme in Honduras will help develop markets for small farmers and create jobs for women and young people.

EDP IN HONDURAS

PROVIDING TRAINING AND SUPPORT

Increasing farmers’ income and resilience through modern fish farming techniques.

EDP IN BANGLADESH

GROWING BUSINESSES

Working in private sector development, and helping create jobs for women in food production.

EDP IN NEPAL

BEEHIVES AND EDIBLE OIL

In a country suffering from food insecurity, we are supporting food production cooperatives including one producing oilseed crops and another making beehives.

EDP IN ETHIOPIA

CASE STUDY: THE PAVITRA CO-OPERATIVE, NEPAL

“We just used to throw the seeds on the land; we did not know anything about organised plantation, sowing seeds and nursery. I was earning about 5,000 rupees a year.

“Trainers from the cooperative taught us about farming techniques. Now I am growing commercial seeds like radish and I am earning 30,000 rupees a year from this land. That’s a big improvement, a big achievement for me.

“Even if there is nobody to look after me, I stand on my own feet. Even if I don’t have any education, I can farm, earn a living and support my children. I pay their tuition fees and their school expenses with the money I earn.

I have already achieved a little part of my dream and I am determined to make the rest come true.”

The Pavitra cooperative has gone from producing just a few hundred kilos of seeds to over 30 tonnes. Working together, the Oxfam team and the co-operative have developed groundbreaking relationships with private sector partners including a major national bank (which now provides finance to farmers), national seed buying companies, and professional business mentors.

Kalpana Oli with her daughter Binita. Credit: Aubrey Wade — Kalpana Oli with her daughter Binita. Kalpana is a farmer and member of the Pavitra co-operative, Oxfam’s partner in Surkhet District, Nepal. Credit: Aubrey Wade

IDENTIFY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

The EDP helps entrepreneurs develop and implement sustainable business plans.

UNLOCK POTENTIAL

An intelligent mix of loans and grants is provided to small and medium enterprises.

DRIVE CHANGE

Helps thousands of people – especially women – work their way out of poverty.

We’d love to talk with you about how you can be involved in changing people’s lives and provide them with a stable future.