Social Enterprise Approach to Eco-Tourism
Full Solution
Consultant/Trainer - Rodney Grant providing one on one support to Sade Deane of Step Up Sustainable Solutions
Pinelands Creative Workshop "Social Enterprise Approach to Eco Tourism Project" with funding support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) implemented by UNDP - March 2020
The Blue Economy concept seeks to promote economic growth, social inclusion, and the preservation or improvement of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability of the ocean and coastal areas.
To realize this, Non-Governmental Organisations were introduced to the social enterprise concept to enable the creation of sustainable and innovative enterprises/businesses that can positively impact sustainable livelihoods, specifically the most vulnerable. In addition, this was recognized as a further way of examining alternative funding modalities to attend to organisational sustainability and at the same time promote an inclusive or whole of society approach to the growth and development of the Blue Economy and the eco-tourism sub sectors.
Last update: 09 Aug 2021
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Contexto
Défis à relever
- Little eco-tourism operations
- Lack of understanding of civil society in issues of business development
- Weak financial position of NGO’s
- Dependency on funding from donors
- Sustainability of social initiatives
- Threat of cessation of NGO operations
- Consistent support to beneficiaries
- Unemployment
Ubicación
Barbados
Barbados
Caribbean
Procesar
Summary of the process
Considering that the concept of Social Enterprise is relatively new as well as the Blue Economy portfolio, a phased approach was applied. As such the development of the modules or the design phase chose to divide the training module into two (2) core components - social and business, which allowed for clarity of each and at the same time shared the functionality or co-existance of both within the NGO space. As part of the testing phase, the module incorporated familiar examples as well as utilised the ideas and projects already conceptualised by participating NGO's which was seen as one way to create relatability to the concept and ownership of the process.
This approach, from design to testing provided a solid framework for the further development into the formal course which was expanded by the expert committee and the UWI-OC, Barbados team.
Building Blocks
Training in Social Entrepreneurship
Training embodied a continuous assessment process, business presentations, case studies and group interactions, which collectively helped to introduce the NGO sector to the world of social entrepreneurship. Taking part in this social entrepreneurship course has the potential to influence NGOs, individuals and other small groups in Barbados and throughout the Caribbean to construct more socially responsible businesses and at the same time address the key concern of sustainability.
The 10-day hands-on training session focused on social enterprise concepts and targeted NGOs and individuals seeking to conduct business or develop business concepts in the Blue Economy sub-sector of eco-tourism or related fields.
Enabling factors
- Participatory approach allowed for peer to peer learning and support to take place
- The inclusion of relatable local examples
- The composition of the training team, their experience and knowledge allowed for better aclimatisation to the concept
- Setting tangible outputs provided a milestone to reach
Lesson learned
- The inclusive approach used to develop the project design allowed for better buy in by stakeholders and beneficiaries affording relevant project design and easier implementation
- Hands-on and participatory approaches to learning especially with mature adults allows for better acceptance and acclimatisation to new concepts
- Peer-to-Peer Learning and Support also allowed for knowledge sharing and cross analysis of ideas, goals and objectives and the development of a healthy community of practice.
- Utilisation of a local example allowed for relatability of ideas and concepts.
- Utilising facilitators that had experience with the beneficiaries/sector as well as actual experience and knowledge of the concept lent to the sharing of realistic and achievable approaches that "fit" the participating organisations
- The utilisation of the building block approach in the training allowed for tangible outputs from each organisation.
- The capacity and track record of the implementing organisation allowed for solution driven / human centred approaches to be applied to counter unexpected developments.
Incubator and Mentorship Program
One major incentive for participants in the social enterprise training was the possibility to transition on to the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT) incubator and mentorship programme. This programme supported participants in the refining of business ideas, engage in business planning and development and included one on one coaching as well as presentation of business concept to garner financial support. Each person in the incubator was assigned a business mentor. The 1-year mentorship programme focused on lifting participants sketched projects or business concepts to the next level and support in the first phases of its implementation.
Enabling factors
Inclusion of partners in the planning and implementation process
Lesson learned
- Ability to attract quality and committed partners allows for the provision of relevant support to beneficiaries.
- Using an inclusive approach from planning to implementation allowed for ownership, greater buy in and commitment of partners as well as added value to the project
Course Development
In collaboration with the University of the West Indies – Open Campus (UWI-OC), Barbados a 12 module/30 contact hour Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) course in Social Enterprise for Caribbean Transformation Course to enable the creation of socially responsible businesses, was developed. This Certificate Programme in social enterprise aims to institutionalize training for ecotourism for long-term sustainability and development. In cooperation with the University of the West Indies (UWI) - Open Campus, this 6-month programme is now available to students and interested stakeholders in 17 English speaking countries in which the UWI-OC operates.
Enabling factors
- The track record, institutional maturity, project experience and goodwill of the implementing organization as well as the social partnership arrangements allowed for the continuity of the work to develop the course despite the challenges presented as a result of covid 19
- Having a team of experts that have a community of practice - willing to share their knowledge, invest their time to create the course content; commitment to the process and saw the relevance of the approach and the potential impact
Lesson learned
- Having a degree of flexibility within projects and with partners was critical to achieving project objectives and to manoeuvre around unplanned events.
- The track records and goodwill of the implementing agency allowed for continuity of the project despite varied delays.
- The competency in terms of the capacity to negotiate, institutional maturity and project experience of the implementing organisation allowed for a solution driven / human centred approach to be applied during unexpected developments.
Impacts
- Eight (8) NGO’s trained and better equipped to develop socially responsible business to support the Blue economy
- A 12 module/ thirty (30) contact hour Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) course of study in Social Entrepreneurship (SE) for Caribbean Transformation developed with the University of the West Indies – Open Campus, Barbados
- Two businesses legally registered and additional training, small grant support and national implementation through support from Government.
- The training provided the opportunity to build awareness of the SDG’s with specific reference to SDG 14 – Life Below Water.
- New knowledge gained that can be shared within participating organizations on new a form of income generation to improve organizational sustainability.
- The training provided in Blue Economy and Social Enterprise allowed for the start of the hybridization process from which future initiatives or organisational design could be built around the concept of social enterprise resulting in the proliferation of socially esponsible businesses.
- Behavioral change occurred where there is a shift from a linear or economic model which focuses on the take, make and dispose mentality; to a more circular model which is a fundamental shift in how we behave and consume – a more regenerative and restorative design and thinking
Beneficiaries
- Civil society organizations interested in eco-tourism
- Eco-tourism industry
- Wider society
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth
SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
SDG 14 – Life below water
SDG 15 – Life on land
Story
The programme’s resilience was tested during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, participant numbers remained high and training was effectively transitioned to an online platform with an additional seven days offered to the participants during the COVID-19 lockdown. Important factors to the success in the training delivery was having the appropriate trainer and support team that was able to use their experience and knowledge; ability to draw on the social partners of the implementing organization to effectively create the ideal learning environment and respond to the varied needs of participants. This inclusive process, despite the varied social and economic threats created as a result of COVID-19, lent to commitment to participation. Furthermore, the level of discussion and knowledge sharing in sessions was a further indicator of the satisfaction with the instruction and content which was reflective of expressed interest.
Additionally, given the discomfort with technology among participating organisations, as a response, technical support was provided to assist with ICT challenges and use of online platforms; one on one and group sessions were introduced to afford improved use and comfort with new technologies and confidence in the program, faciliatators and the implementing organisation. This challenge and the response also highlighted the importance of communication, flexibility and the application of human centered approaches to project implementation and management.
