A micro-enterprise is generally defined as a small business employing nine people or fewer, and having a balance sheet or turnover less than a certain amount. The terms microenterprise and microbusiness have the same meaning, though traditionally when referring to a small business financed by microcredit the term microenterprise is often used. Similarly, when referring to a small, usually legal business that is not financed by microcredit, the term microbusiness is often used. Internationally, most microenterprises are family businesses employing one or two persons. Most microenterprise owners are primarily interested in earning a living to support themselves and their families. They only grow the business when something in their lives changes and they need to generate a larger income. According to information found on the Census.gov website, microenterprises make up 95% of the 28 million US companies tracked by the census.
The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) is an independent U.S. government agency established by Congress in 1980 to invest directly in African grassroots enterprises and social entrepreneurs. USADF's investments aim to increase incomes, revenues, and jobs by promoting self-reliance and market-based solutions to poverty. USADF targets marginalized populations and underserved communities in the Sahel, Great Lakes, and the Horn of Africa. It partners with African governments, other U.S. government agencies, private corporations, and foundations to achieve transformative results.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a multilateral agency which has a joint mandate with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations (UN) through the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Inclusive entrepreneurship is about a set of attitudes, competences and skills which allow people to turn their dreams into concrete projects or “enterprises” and then see these through to fruition. It is about more than starting an individual business. Inclusive entrepreneurship can be applied to self-employment, starting or growing micro or small enterprises and to social enterprise using business based approaches driven by social mission. Indeed, the personal qualities required for entrepreneurship are essential for success in the knowledge economy – whether this be in the private or public sectors.
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is the ministry in the Government of India. It is the apex executive body for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to micro, small and medium enterprises in India. The Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is Narayan Rane.
Youth Business China, abbreviated YBC, is a non-profit program in the People's Republic of China that aims to promote youth entrepreneurship. It is headquartered in Beijing.
Swisscontact – Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation is a Swiss non-profit-organisation, which carries out projects aiming at reducing poverty in developing and transition countries by private sector development. It has been founded in 1959 as a politically and denominationally neutral organisation and has 60 employees in Switzerland and approximately 1,400 staff abroad. The main fields of activity are fostering skills development, small and medium enterprises, financial services and resource efficiency.
Microfranchising is a business model that applies elements and concepts of traditional franchising to small businesses in the developing world. It refers to the systemization and replication of micro-enterprises. Microfranchising is broadly defined as small businesses that can easily be replicated by following proven marketing and operational concepts.
The Technology Innovation Agency was created by an act of the South African parliament on 24 November 2008.
National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM-T), formerly Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), is an academic institution with Institute of National Importance (INI) status, functioning under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India located at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The institute offers academic and research programmes in the field of food processing technology. The institute has National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited food quality testing laboratory which is also notified Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Referral Food Laboratory. Food product development laboratory, food microbiology laboratory, post harvest pest management laboratory, food processing incubation center, Central Instrumentation Laboratory and food engineering laboratories are in its main campus at Thanjavur. NIFTEM-T is operating liaison offices at Guwahati, Assam and Bathinda, Punjab. These liaison offices have facilities to give skill development trainings, incubation and consultancy services to the farmers, entrepreneurs and students in the field of value addition of agricultural produce and food processing technologies.
The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is a poverty alleviation project implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, a branch of the Government of India. This plan is focused on promoting self-employment and the organization of rural poor. The idea behind this program is to organize the poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and make them capable of self-employment. In 1999, after restructuring the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) launched Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) to focus on promoting self-employment among the rural poor. SGSY is now remodelled to form NRLM, thereby plugging the shortfalls of the SGSY programme. This program was launched in 2011 with a budget of $5.1 billion and is one of the flagship programs of the Ministry of Rural Development. This is one of the world's most prominent initiatives to improve the livelihood of the poor. This program is supported by the World Bank with a credit of $1 Billion. The program was succeeded by Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana on 25 September 2015.
Silatech is an organization based in Qatar, founded by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser. The current CEO of this organization is Mr. Hassan Al Mulla. Silatech means "your connection" in Arabic. The initiative seeks to create jobs and economic opportunities for young people in the Arab world, targeting 18- to 30-year-olds. by 2016, Silatech claims to have helped 200,000 young Arabs to obtain jobs. The initiative’s model involves building partnerships with governments, private companies and NGOs.
Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) is a Canadian charitable organization and social enterprise that provides technology, entrepreneurship and leadership training programs for young people in East Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Canada. The organization's headquarters are in Ottawa, Ontario, with local operations around the globe. Since the organization was founded in 2001, DOT has directly affected more than 6,000 young people worldwide, who have gone on to reach over 1 million of their fellow community members. More than 90% of alumni go on to either secure employment or start their own businesses within six months of completing DOT programming.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is a ministry of the Government of India which came into existence on 26 May 2014 after the formation of the First Modi ministry under the premiership of Narendra Modi. The ministry is responsible for coordination of all skill development efforts across the country. The ministry was formed with matters pertaining to industrial training, apprenticeship and other skill development responsibilities which earlier belonged to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The ministry aims to remove the disconnect between demand and supply of skilled manpower, to build the new skills and innovative thinking not only for existing jobs but also for jobs that are to be created.
The Minister of Small Business Development is a Minister in the Cabinet of South Africa.
Skill India or the National Skills Development Mission of India is a campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is managed by the National Skills Development Corporation of India.
The Nigerian Capital Development Fund (NCDF) is an independent social investment financial intermediary institution. This hybrid organization was set up mainly to address the challenges of poverty in low income rural communities in Nigeria. The institution mobilizes capital from the public and private sectors to invest in projects, businesses and social enterprises with the intention to generate good financial returns and measurable positive social-environmental impact, as well as act as a champion to help increase awareness and confidence on the advantages of impact investing.
Social entrepreneurship in South Asia involves business activities that have a social benefit, often for people at the bottom of the pyramid. It is an emerging area of entrepreneurship that is supported by both the public sector and the private sector.
National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ni-msme) is a national institute aimed to foster the progress of micro, small and medium enterprises in India under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. NI-MSME is registered in Hyderabad, Telangana, under Public Societies Registration Act I of 1350 Fasli with effect from 1 July 1962. The affairs of the Society are managed, administered, directed and controlled through Governing Council constituted by the Government of India as per Rule 22(a & b) of Rules and Regulations of the Society. The Society, as provided under Rule 3 of Rules and Regulations, was constituted by the Government of India. The Institute has been working in the areas of capacity building, research, skill upgradation, job enrichment training in the field of Entrepreneurship and Skill including the development of women pursuing small trades at the cottage industry level from an Incubation centre at NI-MSME.
