The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention Project Phase 11 (USAID/GHARP 11) has engaged four local NGOs to complete the Business Planning for Health (BPH) programme, a press release from USAID said on Wednesday.
The BPH is an initiative designed to help organizations learn how to systematically assess their existing services and products, management systems, and organizational practices, and ultimately to find ways to generate new business opportunities based on market research and client needs.
The programme culminated at Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, with the four NGOs – Hope for All of Region 2, Agape Network of Region 4, FACT of Region 6, and Hope Foundation of Region 7 – presenting their business plans to national, private sector entities and representatives of various local and international organizations.
According to the release, the initiatives outlined in these business plans represent a product or service that is in high demand within the communities and which will be offered at a low cost to generate both financial returns for their organizations and social returns for their target populations.
The successful implementation of the plans will contribute to the sustainability of the NGOs, especially as donor funding decreases.
This event will provide a forum for the organizations to present their business ideas to potential investors and begin discussions that can lead to long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships.
The NGOs are currently funded by USAID to deliver HIV prevention, care and support services and over a seven-month period they have received virtual and face-to-face coaching from facilitators in Boston, Massachusetts and in Guyana to carefully craft and complete their business plans, the release concluded.
