Growing Entrepreneurs Rapidly (GER) Initiative
CHF International
www.chfmongolia.org
In March, Development Solutions (DS) GER helped to improve or expand 85 businesses, created 27 start-up businesses, and generated a total of 86 new jobs. Also this month, the GER Initiative matched 37 ger area residents to jobs. This marks the final month of the USAID-finance GER Initiative. Beginning April 1 CHF and will operate under the USDA Mongolian Agribusiness Support (MAS) Program.
Financial Services
GER facilitated 20 loans, valued at $19,451 with local partner banks and four USDA funded Capital Augmentation Fund (CAF) loans valued at $2,463, which were disbursed through local banks. CHF notified the partner banks that CHF will be handing over the loan facilitation service to DS effective April 1st. CAF loans will stay with CHF pending approval from USDA to transfer the portfolio to DS.
Training and Consulting Services
GER conducted 201 trainings with 162 clients participating, and 57 consultations were provided to 52 clients. GER held several agriculture trainings this month due to the rapid approach of the spring farming season. In Bayangol, GER organized two trainings for agriculture clients, “Preparation of Soil, Seed and Seedlings for Planting” and “Preparation of Soil for Greenhouse Use and Uncommon Vegetable Growing.” The trainings were led by Dr. Baljinnyam, a teacher from the Agriculture Extension Center of Ulaanbaatar. A total of 41 clients participated in the training, 70 percent of whom were new GER clients who wanted to start their own vegetable farming business.
The trainings took place in the GER training room and at the Extension Center's garden. During the six-hour training the clients learned about the different types of soils, methods of enriching soils using commonly available materials, selecting the right seeds, and preparing seeds in organic solutions. The trainer introduced the necessary equipment and tools used, including hands-on interactive training in soil preparation and organic seed preparation. GER also conducted a “Preparation of Seed and Seedlings for Planting” training for 22 clients in Darkhan, Erdenet and Bulgan and“Growing Strawberries” training for 13 clients in Selenge.
Trainings on pig farming were held in Choibalsan and Selenge this month. The two and one-half day training in Choibalsan was led by Dr. Bataa, the Head of the Mongolian Pig Farmers' Association. On the second day of the activity, the participants visited two local pig farms to see examples of proper pig shelters. At the site, the attendees discussed heating and ventilation systems for the shelters, feed storage, proper disposal of waste, and breeding and delivery rooms. On the last day, the 14 participants reviewed what they'd learned from the training and held a question and answer session. The participants were especially interested in disease prevention and treatment options. They were also interested in proper slaughtering methods so that they will be able to supply foreign mining companies with high quality pork.
At the request of World Vision (WV) International, GER provided a one-day Pig Farming training for 36 WV clients in Selenge. WV chose the clients from low-income households in order to assist them to run pig farming businesses to generate family income. Mr. Enkhbayar, the Darkhan's newly established agriculture trainers' team member delivered the training and clients gained general knowledge on pig farming.
In Bayangol, GER provided a training on chicken farming led by Mr. Damdindorj, Executive Director of Bukhug Company, one of the largest poultry and egg producers in Mongolia. The training lasted for seven hours and the participants gained knowledge of chickens, including the care, breeding, feeding, and nursing of chicks. The training material also included chicken shelters, conditions, heating, ventilation and hygiene. The participants also learned about intensive poultry farms.
Sukhbaatar BDC provided several business trainings for employees of two local SMEs. Eighteen employees from the Suman Gun bakery, received training on “Working Better within the Organization, Improving Customer Service and Increasing Sales.” MIH—a real estate, insurance and investment company—received “Customer Service” training for its 13 managers.
In Erdenet, GER provided three “Start-Up Business” trainings for 32 World Vision clients. Most of the participants are currently unemployed and have limited education but they are interested in operating a micro business to generate family income. The trainees learned about how to start up a business, including analyzing risks associated with different business ideas and how to promote their business activities.
GER provided 274 information services to 200 clients during the month of March. In Darkhan, GER organized two agricultural meetings with clients and agricultural specialists to introduce the upcoming USDA MAS Program. Thirty clients attended the clients' meeting to obtain information and six agribusiness specialists attended the other meeting to discuss their experiences and skills and to share opinions and ideas.
Employment Services
GER matched 37 clients to jobs and 17 clients entered the vocational training programs. A total of 56 employment trainings were held for 56 clients, and a total of 85 jobs were generated through start-up and expanded businesses.
At the request of the Khan-Uul and Sukhbaatar Districts' Labor and Social Welfare Service Departments, Tolgoit and Sukhbaatar GER provided the “New Start” trainings for the registered unemployed clients. The trainings, which lasted for 17 hours, covered topics like “Labor Laws, Writing Resumes and Cover Letters, Preparing for Job Interviews and Soft Skills.” In total, 37 clients attended the trainings.
In Darkhan GER organized a training on “Resume and Cover Letter Writing and Preparing for a Job Interview” at the local vocational college. A total of 15 participants, including school students, staff and administration attended the three-hour training conducted in collaboration with Peace Corp Volunteer Cady Sinnwell. This service was requested by the Vocational College in hopes that they could begin a Career Services office for their students.
DS will discontinue employment matching services at the close of GER Initiative in March. Employee training and job creation will, however, continue under the USDA program.
Linkages and Trade Fairs
GER facilitated linkages between businesses worth approximately $10,589 this month. In Sukhbaatar district, GER linked a carpentry client to the Asian Children's Foundation to make $425 worth of wooden furniture for its ger library. In Bayangol district, GER linked soft drink producer Altantsetseg to a wholesaler in Erdenet to supply him with buckthorn juice valued at $340. In Choibalsan, GER linked local seamstresses to Naadam, a French NGO, to produce national clothing and felt souvenirs valued at $232. CHF has notified its linkage partners that DS will be taking over the linkage activities effective April 1st.
Business Groups Development
GER worked with 99 active groups this month. One new group was established—a seamstress business group “Urlan” that was formed in Bayangol. Three women, who lost their jobs with a sewing company joined to work together as a group. They attended a GER business group training and received a consultancy on working as a group. The group members found a workplace to rent and have already started their Tailoring and Repair shop. The “Chandmani Erdene” sewing business group in Selenge received a consultancy on developing a Business Plan to expand their business by planting trees and vegetables. The group was established in April 2007 and is made up primarily of disabled adults. They submitted their proposal to the Aimag's Governor Office which was approved for a $6,570 soft loan from the Aimag Development Fund.
Development Solutions
CHF worked with DS management to prepare for their quarterly Board Members' meeting in March. At the meeting the Board approved the DS's Updated Business Plan and agreed to an Advisory Committee Members' procedure. CHF worked with DS to prepare for the transfer of linkage and lending actives to DS under the USDA.
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