OSCE trains directors and staff members from women resource centres in Tajikistan on business development strategy

Twenty-seven representatives from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs), of which fourteen are directors learned how to achieve organizational sustainability through engagement in social entrepreneurship income generation at a training course in Dushanbe. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the course, which took place from 13 to 17 Mach 2023.

Participants learned about the basics of social enterprise business planning and its stages; conducting the SWOT analysis of a social enterprise; determining the production programme of the planned activity, and preparing marketing and financial plans for a social enterprise.  Other main topics covered at the event were business plan analysis; organizational plan; management of risks, and determining the social impact of the project.

Natalya Faizieva, a representative from the WRC “ASTI” in Khujand said: “For me, this is an opportunity to learn more about social entrepreneurship. As a result of the training, I hope that our organization will be able to develop a social business plan and engage in income generation activities to continue supporting socially vulnerable groups of the population.”

“I consider this OSCE initiative as a solution to sustainably support the community members in rural areas. All the topics that were covered during the course are necessary to increase the level of knowledge of the participants and will further be used as a guide for the implementation of social entrepreneurship ideas in residential areas,” noted Mohsimo Abdushahidova, Director of WRC “Zanoni Sharq” (Oriental Women) in Penjikent.

“In practical classes, we were acquainted with the new concept of social entrepreneurship and developed a business plan for a social enterprise,” said Asadullo Nematov, a representative from the WRC “Rohnamo” (Guide) in the Lyaksh district. He added that the gained knowledge would help them in the process of developing a social enterprise in their district.

The Programme Office provides comprehensive support to victims of domestic violence in the regions through a network of 14 OSCE-established WRCs in close partnership with local authorities. The current activity is being implemented within the project "Supporting and Strengthening the Women’s Resource Centres in Tajikistan" of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe funded by the United States of America, Finland, Norway, Germany, and Andorra.