13 Nov 2013

The North West District Council (NWDC) and the Hultsfred Municipality from Sweden have launched a business training manual which will guide and ensure a consistent transfer of knowledge to entrepreneurship in the informal sector.

The project was funded to the tune of P489 000 per year by the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy and will run for three years. The two municipalities had a twinning agreement. The project was geared towards local economic development; poverty alleviation through capacity building in the informal sector.  

Speaking at launch of the project, the acting deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Stephen Ludick commended North West District Council for the good initiative. He noted that the project was a step in the right direction as it would assist the district in realising the President’s initiative of poverty eradication.

Mr Ludick commended the council, saying its initiative was in line with the ministry’s local empowerment policy. “It is pleasing that you have started the implementation while we have started looking at the policy guidelines,” he added.

He thanked the council’s position in promoting the growth of local empowerment within the communities with an aim to uproot abject poverty.   Mr Ludick said such good initiatives could help beneficiaries in informal sector by giving them the technical knowhow on business management. He said poverty hampers families from meeting their individual daily basic requirements like food, shelter and clothing and ultimately lower their self- esteem, dignity and render them powerless.

The manifestation of poverty, he said, is concentrated in Botswana’s rural areas, hence the government’s move to come up with poverty eradication programmes. He however said such programmes require a multi-sectoral approach and urged all to emulate the Hultsfred Municipality. He also encouraged the trainees to use the skills acquired for their business growth.

They were also urged to be open minded, share ideas and experiences amongst themselves and above all ensure that they understand the business training manual. Mr Ludick said the skills they acquire will ensure sustainability of their projects which would enhance their economic status and improve their livelihood. Trainees were urged to use training as a weapon to fight poverty and also show commitment and perseverance.

The acting deputy permanent secretary applauded the two municipalities for their contribution towards the realisation of Vision 2016 pillar of being a compassionate, just and caring nation. For his part, the chief executive officer of the Hultsfred Municipality, Mr Lars Ronnlund said they found it fit to come up with an initiative to improve the lives of the Ngamiland community.

He said the district is rich in natural resources and there are lots of business opportunities which the two councils could use to reduce the impact of poverty among the communities. Hultsfred Municipality, he said, has realised that the NDWC efforts to alleviate poverty are hampered by lack of business skills resulting in lack of sustenance of projects.

Mr Ronnlund said the manual is very crucial to emerging entrepreneurs and urged all to join hands and ensure the project produces the expected results. ENDS