Launched in 2010, IRM’s Entrepreneurship and Value Chain services aim to drive economic growth and income generation in rural Pakistan. These services enhance the performance of small-scale enterprises, improve their market access, and boost their competitiveness. By successfully establishing Business Development Groups (BDGs) in marginalized areas, IRM fosters entrepreneurship and strengthens local value chains, ultimately creating employment, generating income, and contributing to the broader economic development of rural communities.
The core objective of the Entrepreneurship and Value Chain initiative is to improve the performance of small enterprises by forming skilled labor clusters, known as Business Development Groups (BDGs), under the guidance of qualified Business Development Officers (BDOs). These groups, which include both men and women, play a pivotal role in achieving higher economic growth, reducing poverty, and meeting social objectives by providing equal opportunities to all community members. Through this approach, IRM empowers rural communities to thrive and build a sustainable future.
Objectives:
These services are designed to instigate economic empowerment in the rural and underprivileged communities of Pakistan through various ways.
- To create linkages between the trained community and the market;
- To initiate smart business planning in the rural communities;
- To deliver business services and financial assistance to empower both rural men and women towards entrepreneurship and economic self-sufficiency.
IRM’s team of professional business advisors is committed to providing rural entrepreneurs with the guidance and support they need to grow and sustain their businesses over the long term.
Through its Business Development Services (BDS), IRM has established strong connections between these business groups and the broader market, facilitating their access to opportunities and resources.
The Initial Start-Up:
Newly trained and aspiring entrepreneurs, whether they have recently established businesses or are in the early stages of development, benefit significantly from the support provided by IRM’s Business Development Services. Through a variety of approaches, including business and entrepreneurial training, enterprise development, strategic business planning assistance, and targeted guidance sessions, IRM helps these entrepreneurs refine their skills, strengthen their businesses, and unlock sustainable growth.
Support for Economic Sustainability of Rural Business enterprises:
Once the newly formed Business Development Groups (BDGs) are operational, the key challenge becomes ensuring their consistency and long-term sustainability. The survival of small-scale businesses during the critical first two to three years is essential. To address this, Business Development Services (BDS) steps in by closely monitoring these groups with the support of a designated Business Development Officer (BDO). Continued supervision and specialist guidance are then provided to help ensure the ongoing growth, stability, and financial viability of the businesses.
BDS Training Courses and Facilities:
As the Business Development Services (BDS) program is closely aligned with IRM’s vocational training unit, nearly all of the training courses offered are integrated with industrial and market linkages, as well as entrepreneurship development through specialized Business Management Skills Training (BMST). These courses are tailored to meet the specific needs of the businesses involved.
The BMST curriculum covers a wide range of essential topics, including an introduction to business, types of businesses (such as trade, production, and services), the business cycle, marketing and market research, resource mobilization, profit-making strategies, and personal skills development, among others.
Women in Business Development:
Women’s entrepreneurship development is crucial for achieving key developmental goals, such as economic growth and empowerment. The introduction of micro-credit and the provision of business development services (BDS) are transforming the business landscape for both rural and urban women.
The BDS sector plays a vital role in supporting skilled rural women by:
– Creating programs that promote and empower women entrepreneurs.
– Implementing initiatives to challenge and change gender biases and discriminatory social and business practices.
– Actively involving women and women’s business organizations in economic policy-making processes.
– Building the capacity of rural women through targeted skills and leadership development.
– Addressing the specific demands and service needs of rural women entrepreneurs.
– Strengthening women’s influence in planning and decision-making processes related to small and medium enterprise development.
– Investing in communication channels and infrastructure that make BDS accessible to rural women workers.
By fostering an inclusive business environment and empowering women, these efforts contribute to broader economic growth, gender equality, and social progress.
Youth- tapping into their potential:
IRM’s Business Development Programme empowers youth in Pakistan by encouraging a positive mindset towards entrepreneurship and fostering a greater willingness to start their businesses. Over the long term, the BDS programme aims to reduce youth unemployment by enhancing the employability of young women and men—whether by preparing them for wage employment, equipping them with the skills for self-employment, or helping them establish their businesses.
The key objectives of providing business development services to youth are to:
– Cultivate positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship and self-employment.
– Raise awareness among secondary school students and vocational/technical trainees about entrepreneurship as a viable career option.
– Equip young people with the knowledge and practical experience needed to overcome the challenges of starting and running a successful enterprise, especially small businesses.
Through these efforts, the programme not only promotes self-reliance but also contributes to broader economic growth by unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of Pakistan’s youth.
Contact Information
Email: anwar@irm.edu.pk
Address: IRM Complex, #7, Sunrise Avenue, Park Road, Near COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Contact number: +92 51 8742201-7
