Thinking small

Small businesses matter. They play valuable roles in economies and in the lives of people around the world, contributing to inclusive growth, employment, a more resilient economy, poverty alleviation and better development impacts for foreign direct investment.

CAFOD's 'think small' work explores the ways in which small businesses and farming enterprises can be supported and empowered so that they are more successful and offer better outcomes for women and men living in poverty.

We have also started to work more closely with our programme staff and partners around the role that advocacy and policy can play in livelihoods programmes. Towards this, we have developed an animation which can be used as in introduction to this theme.

Resources

Think Small Animation Resources

Our Think Small animation can be used in a workshop or in discussion around how to integrate advocacy into livelihoods programmes. This document provides the guidance for using the animation. This film can then be viewed in full or in three parts; Part 1 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o_OAnaYO-A ): Introduction of key concepts: livelihoods, small businesses, business environment. Part 2 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeHd4vtcHmo&feature=youtu.be ): Think Small research findings. Part 3 ( http://youtu.be/jTvnk83I4bw ): Advocacy, livelihoods and the business environment. Animation by sketchpadstudio.com ( https://sketchpadstudio.com/ ).

Think small: A pro-poor business enabling environment Zambia case study (July 2014)

Governments and donors are increasingly focusing on creating strong business enabling environments. This CAFOD-JCTR paper looks at the context of Zambia and makes the case that a pro-poor business enabling environment is essential.

Think small 2 (September 2013)

This paper presents the views of 336 small business owners about what a pro-poor enabling environment for business would need to look like.

Think small 1 (February 2011)

This paper highlights the role that small businesses play in economies and in people’s lives and makes the case for greater support to go to this sector.