Capacity Building Key to sustainable development
PEDGroup consultants believe that sustainable development can only be achieved when the capacity of those involved in the development process/ beneficiaries is built. All decisions in regard to community participation in development matters, environmental sustainablity, managing of development projects need people who understand them and this makes capacity building a vital tool to achieving success in such areas.
Markets that Serve the Poor
Markets can have a powerful positive impact on the lives of the rural poor. PEDGroup consults observes that the most successful smallholders- those who have lifted themselves out of poverty are those who participate more fully in markets by purchasing more inputs, making effective use of technical knowledge and market information, and developing stable linkages to output markets.
In all our consultancies, PEDGroup therefore seeks to create market conditions that enable the rural poor to become successful market participants. Concepts and practices usually associated with private business are applied to the problem of poverty as PEDGroup consults works to:
- Identify market opportunities that can be exploited by the poor people especially farmers.
- Develop technologies that the poor can use to generate income
- Establish supply chains to deliver technologies to the poor at affordable prices
- Conduct promotional campaigns to convince smallholders to invest in income generating activities
- Establish linkages with output markets
- Ensure that every one in the market network especially the smallholder receives a fair
Environmental Sustainability for Sustainable development
Environmental sustainability is a key component for promoting sustainable development and fighting against poverty in developing countries. Environmental resources such as land, forests and water resources must therefore be looked at as effective and strategic entry points for addressing rural poverty.
PEDGroup consults will work with the rural poor in ensuring that natural resources within their communities are well managed and utilized in a sustainable many.
Pro-Poor Technologies
A continuous process of research and innovation is a key element to PEDGroup consult’s strategy. The constraints to agricultural production and livelihood improvement that smallholders face often require specialized technological solutions that do not yet exist in the marketplace. PEDGroup consults specializes in identifying and developing pro-poor technologies to fill these gaps and disseminate them through market channels.
PEDGroup consults will work with smallholders to identify and develop appropriate technologies that will increase productivity, generate cash income and/or improve quality of life for the rural poor.
PEDGroup consults will train and equip local smallholders in the production and distribution of pro-poor technologies.
Every entrepreneur knows that great ideas do not guarantee success- it must be sold. Similarly, appropriate pro-poor technologies will have only limited impact unless they are effectively marketed.
PEDGroup consults will therefore promote appropriate technologies to rural poor through a variety of methods including:
- Printed promotional materials such as billboards, posters, pamphlets, calendars etc
- Media such as newspapers, radio, television, outdoor video presentations and live theatre
- Live product demonstrations in market places and agricultural fairs
- Demonstration plots, community meetings and farmer field – days.
