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Employee Immersion Experience Brings Deeper Understanding of the Importance of Corporate Partnership
Nine employees from The Toro Company participated in an immersive experience in Zambia for an opportunity to learn and engage with iDE programs in the field.
Corporate partners like The Toro Company play an important role in iDE’s ability to create an impact in its programs around the world. This immersion in Zambia gave nine employees a chance to see first-hand the value of their company’s partnership.
Read more: TTC employees engaged with entrepreneurs, farmers and other Zambian market actors in the field. -
In Rural Kenya, Winfred Builds Better Business from Maize Shelling
For Winfred, entrepreneurial success meant supporting farmers in her rural community.
Agness Ndililwa, a single mother of seven in Zambia, helped support her family by enrolling in a training program with iDE, which helped her develop business skills, connect with agricultural suppliers, and diversify her product range. Through partnerships with iDE and the 'Farm to Market Alliance,' she expanded her business, supported local farmers, and contributed to agricultural resilience in her community.
Read more: Agness Ndililwa, a single mother of seven in Zambia, boosted her business and supported local farmers by enrolling in iDE's training program, connecting her with suppliers, while becoming a Farm Business Advisor (FBA). -
Mother of Seven Becomes Leader and Entrepreneur for Family and Community in Zambia
“My determination and hard work paid off after receiving support from iDE through capacity building as a Farm Business Advisor.”
Agness Ndililwa, a single mother of seven in Zambia, helped support her family by enrolling in a training program with iDE, which helped her develop business skills, connect with agricultural suppliers, and diversify her product range. Through partnerships with iDE and the 'Farm to Market Alliance,' she expanded her business, supported local farmers, and contributed to agricultural resilience in her community.
Read more: Agness Ndililwa, a single mother of seven in Zambia, boosted her business and supported local farmers by enrolling in iDE's training program, connecting her with suppliers, while becoming a Farm Business Advisor (FBA). -
In Nepal, Earthworms Foster Entrepreneurship For Bimala
How organic waste is helping communities thrive in the Himalayas.
Bimala from Chisapani, Nepal, has transformed her family's life through an agricultural vermicomposting project. Now a successful entrepreneur, she supports her family, shares her agricultural knowledge with her community, and advocates for women's financial independence through farming.
Read more: Bimala from Nepal, has transformed her family's life through an agricultural vermicomposting project. Now a successful entrepreneur, she supports her family, shares her agricultural knowledge with her community, and advocates for women's financial independence through farming. -
Single Mother Builds Her Agricultural Supply Business After Earning The Trust of Farmers
“I provide an important service to the farmers. When they encounter problems with their crops, they call me or bring me the infected plants to look at.”
Sieng Sophanna, a mother of three, increased her family's income when she opened a small shop. After enrolling in the iDE agribusiness accelerator, she boosted her skill set, which has helped her grow her business and build trust with her clients.
Read more: Sieng Sophanna from Cambodia enrolled in the iDE agribusiness accelerator where she gained valuable skills that helped her grow her sales by supporting local farmers. -
Despite Social Barriers, a Bangladeshi Mother Finds Success as an Entrepreneur
Momena opened a thriving small business and wants other women to do the same
With more than four decades of experience, iDE believes incubating and enabling women-led businesses will significantly accelerate human progress and deliver economic benefits for underserved communities.
Read more: Momena enrolled in an iDE and partner-led program which aims to enhance the employability of 1,500 women garment workers facing challenges from automation and digitization. -
Growing a Business After Fleeing Conflict in Mozambique
Maiasa built a new life from a barren plot to support her family
After fleeing violence in 2020 and losing her father, 30-year-old Maiasa Nahoda Abdala resettled in Nacala, where she transformed her plot into a thriving source of income through resilient agricultural techniques learned from iDE's PROMARE project.
Read more: Maiasa transformed her plot into a thriving source of income through resilient agricultural techniques -
gLOCAL Evaluation Week 2024
iDE’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning team shares insights and learnings with a diverse global community
Over the course of a week, members of iDE’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning team shared insights and learnings with participants joining from around the world during gLOCAL Evaluation Week 2024, hosted by Global Evaluation Initiative.
Read more: iDE’s MERL team shares insights and learnings with a diverse global community -
Impact Entrepreneur Luminarias Webinar
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the Global South
In developing nations, the stark reality for women reveals entrenched barriers to entrepreneurship that, if surmounted, could unlock a staggering $5-6 trillion global opportunity. To discuss the critical barriers impeding women entrepreneurs, iDE’s CEO Lizz Welch and Global Director of MERL Jennifer Roglà, PhD, joined Impact Entrepreneur’s Laurie Lane-Zucker as featured guests on the Luminarias webinar, “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the Global South.”
Read more: Creating opportunities for women entrepreneurs around the world -
Market-Based Menstrual Solutions Can Unlock Options for Women and Girls
Addressing the needs of menstruators around the world
At iDE, we power entrepreneurs to end poverty, including period poverty. To be successful, it is essential to create an ecosystem of products and services that are designed by women and menstruators for women and menstruators.
Read more: Addressing the needs of menstruators around the world -
To earn a living Nepali women leave gender norms and housebound stereotypes behind
iDE is engaged in a broad effort across rural Nepal to support women becoming small scale entrepreneurs
As part of a broad effort across rural Nepal, iDE is engaged in a range of gender transformative projects that support women to become small scale entrepreneurs.
Read more: Investing in women can also bring about positive change – not only for women themselves but whole communities -
Postharvest technologies provided by women entrepreneurs benefit Kenyan farmers
Switching from manual to mechanized processing saves time and increases profits
The She Feeds Africa project, funded by Zinpro Corporation and the Anderson Foundation, provides women entrepreneurs with access to financing, tools, and training, equipping them to improve postharvest practices and incomes across Kenyan communities
Read more: Switching from manual to mechanized processing saves time and increases profits -
Business training provided to women under a new iDE Cambodia program
iDE plans to further roll out SHE’s expertise in training and coaching women entrepreneurs
By focusing on women entrepreneurs, iDE and the SHE program can empower whole communities, boosting prosperity and wellbeing.
Read more: Evidence shows that women are more likely to invest their earnings in their children’s health and education -
Women find vocation cleaning up Cambodia's floating villages
iDE is powering locals to monetize the collection of plastic
One third of project project funding is aimed at WASH interventions, which support efforts of small-scale entrepreneurs to build flood-resistant, pour-and-flush pit latrines, distribute water filters, and manage solid waste.
Read more: iDE is leading improvement efforts for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) under the European Union-funded project. -
Empowered women in three African countries
Women entrepreneurs deliver greater business results
The US$6.4 million ($8.5 million CAD) project, being implemented by iDE and funded by Global Affairs Canada, has been designed to enhance economic empowerment, well-being and inclusive growth by providing support to women involved in agricultural value chains.
Read more: 25,000 women are being targeted across Sub Saharan Africa – in Zambia, Ethiopia and Ghana -
Women economically empowered in three African countries
Women entrepreneurs deliver greater business results
The US$6.4 million ($8.5 million CAD) project, being implemented by iDE and funded by Global Affairs Canada, has been designed to enhance economic empowerment, well-being and inclusive growth by providing support to women involved in agricultural value chains.
Read more: 25,000 women are being targeted across Sub Saharan Africa – in Zambia, Ethiopia and Ghana -
Women economically empowered in three African countries
Women entrepreneurs deliver greater business results
The US$6.4 million ($8.5 million CAD) project, being implemented by iDE and funded by Global Affairs Canada, has been designed to enhance economic empowerment, well-being and inclusive growth by providing support to women involved in agricultural value chains.
Read more: 25,000 women are being targeted across Sub Saharan Africa – in Zambia, Ethiopia and Ghana -
Sylhet’s Resilient Market Ecosystem
Bangladeshi Region Characterized by Sufi Shrines and a Changing Climate
This Sylhet market ecosystem map shows the location of more than 2,360 iDE-powered touchpoints – local business advisors, livestock service providers, agricultural collection points, sales agents, entrepreneurs and latrine producers – all engaging with market actors, communities, and individuals – spread across Sylhet.
Read more: Sylhet’s Resilient Market Ecosystem -
Microloans Help Zambian Farmers Cover Their Nuts
iDE Works With Communities To Establish Catalytic Savings And Loans Groups
Tryness Nsofwa, 57, proudly inspects her field of groundnuts. She uproots a clump of pods from the damp, red earth and is pleased with what she sees. Cracking open a husk to reveal edible fruit inside, Tryness notes the nuts are well formed and plentiful. “It’s looking very nice,” she says of her crop. “I will keep some for my family and I will sell some.”
Read more: iDE is working with 379 community savings and loans groups across six Zambian provinces -
Young pastoralists expand business
Eager entrepreneurs want to work but are unaware of or unequipped for job opportunities
While both men and women in the lowlands of Ethiopia have increased their engagement in local markets, they often lack access, agency, and commercial scale.
Read more: Livelihood variety for the next generation -
Transitioning out of Pastoralism
Nomadic communities in the southern lowlands of Ethiopia diversify their income
Pastoralist communities can no longer rely on traditional livestock and agriculture for high-quality, nutritious food production and consistent income generation.
Read more: Opportunities need capital and technical know-how -
Nutrition Boosted By Income Generation in Bangladesh
Most households receiving training on poultry farming
Farhana Yeasmin, 24, remembers what it was like when her husband was the family’s sole earner. Because he was a day laborer and made little money, they struggled to even pay for basics. And if he couldn’t find work, the family sometimes skipped meals.
Read more: Gender discrimination leadings to poor nutritional status among women and children -
Nepali Women Fetched Water Before Daybreak
But an iDE program now pipes it to their villages
Kamala Magar’s day began before dawn. The Nepali farmer would get up and walk miles in the cold to fetch water for her family. It would take her most of the morning to retrieve just one jar, which she’d use to make breakfast before setting out for more.
Read more: A proven approach to build resilience among Nepalese farmers -
Expanding Nepal's Business Access to Improved Technologies for Agriculture (ENBAITA)
Post Project Sustainability, Impacts, and Food Security During the COVID-19 Crisis
Utilizing the ENBAITA networks is a proven and cost effective way to help Nepal agriculture to recover from COVID-19 and to re-invigorate trading and exchange between Nepal and India to support food security in Nepal.
Read more: Expanding Nepal's Business Access to Improved Technologies for Agriculture (ENBAITA) -
How gender affects sales
Research suggests that matching sales agent gender to different target households can increase sanitation uptake
Research suggests that matching sales agent gender to different target households can increase sanitation uptake
Read more: Learn more about how understanding gender issues can accelerate WASH sales -
Increasing women’s roles in household decision-making in Mozambique
Involve the entire family in order to achieve gender equality
Involve the entire family in order to achieve gender equality
Read more: Learn more about how to increase women's roles in household decision-making -
Emerging Women Leaders
Ethiopia’s women leaders find confidence and hope to achieve their visions
This model economically empowers women as they invest and save money for the future, but also addresses aspects of social empowerment through new relationships and increased agency.
Read more: Women step into leadership positions by joining Women Economic Groups -
Juddy rising
ENTREPRENEUR PROFILE: Empowering female farmers in Zambia
Juddy has been working with John Muta, a Farm Business Advisor (FBA), for the past few years, and through talking with her we came to understand how the FBA program is affecting women’s empowerment in the household. Using the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI), which measures empowerment across domains ranging from decision-making power to control over income, we asked Juddy about her roles.
Read more: ENTREPRENEUR PROFILE: How Juddy Mukumbi is creating a family agricultural business -
A system solution for sanitation
Building a winning team of donors in Bangladesh
By using a portfolio approach, iDE demonstrates and delivers effective solutions that meet the goals of multiple partners and stakeholders, such as improved sanitary latrine coverage in populous Bangladesh.
Read more: Leveraging the strengths of different partners to achieve greater results