Enterprise and Skill Development

2. Enterprise and Skill Development

In the face of shrinking landholdings and climate-related livelihood risks, promoting non-farm income opportunities has become essential for rural and tribal communities. Recognizing this need, ISWA focuses on enabling a broader ecosystem of enterprise development by building capacities of grassroots organizations, frontline workers, and rural communities themselves.
Rather than providing direct vocational training, ISWA plays a catalytic and capacity-building role, supporting ecosystem actors to deliver quality enterprise development services in underserved areas. Our interventions are designed to nurture rural entrepreneurship, strengthen community institutions, and facilitate access to markets, finance, and mentorship.
ISWA’s work in Enterprise and Skill Development includes:

Local Resource-Based Enterprise Promotion

We promote entrepreneurship models based on local raw materials and skills, such as bamboo products, herbal formulations, agro-processing units, and eco-crafts. Our aim is to support green, inclusive, and scalable enterprises.

Training of Trainers (ToT)

We conduct specialized ToTs for partner NGOs, SHG federations, FPOs, and community institutions on topics such as entrepreneurship promotion, business planning, value chain awareness, and market engagement. Our training modules are designed to be practical, contextual, and replicable.

Community Enterprise Awareness and Mobilization

ISWA runs community-focused programs to identify entrepreneurial potential, raise awareness on non-farm income opportunities, and build foundational skills in idea generation, risk-taking, and resource mobilization.

Handholding for Micro and Group Enterprises

We support local collectives (like SHGs, FPOs and youth groups) and individual entrepreneurs with business development guidance, linkages to inputs and services, and market-readiness training, ensuring that enterprises are grounded in both local realities and economic viability.

Market Linkage Facilitation

ISWA plays a proactive role in identifying and facilitating market access opportunities, including local exhibitions, trader linkages, buyer-seller meets, and partnerships with digital platforms for rural products.