Empowering Enterprise Development: Successful Completion of the "GET Ahead" Training of Trainers (ToT)
The National Enterprise Development Authority (NEDA), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), successfully conducted the “Gender and Enterprise Together (GET) Ahead” Training of Trainers (ToT) program from 10th to 14th June 2024. This initiative aimed to strengthen the capabilities of NEDA officers in promoting enterprise development with a special focus on the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector in Sri Lanka.
A total of 20 officers from NEDA, representing both the head office and regional staff, participated in this intensive training. The program was a significant milestone in NEDA’s ongoing partnership with the ILO, reflecting a shared commitment to empowering the MSME sector.
The training sessions were led by Ms. Bharti Birla, an Enterprise Development Specialist from the ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia, based in New Delhi, India. Her expertise and dedication were instrumental in ensuring the success of the ToT. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Birla for her invaluable contributions.
We also express our deep gratitude to Ms. Joni Simpson, Director of the ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Mr. Asitha Seneviratne, Programme Officer, and Mr. Prashantha, Programme Officer, for their support and guidance throughout this initiative.
The ToT marked the first local GET Ahead cohort in Sri Lanka, and these newly trained trainers are now on their path to becoming certified GET Ahead licensed trainers. They have already started conducting Training of Entrepreneurs sessions (GET Ahead ToE), helping to enhance the entrepreneurial skills of individuals across the country.
We believe that this training will significantly impact our officers’ ability to empower entrepreneurs, enriching their knowledge in areas such as financial literacy, access to finance, business development, and innovative value-added production. This initiative represents a vital step towards fostering a robust enterprise ecosystem in Sri Lanka.
We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this program as our officers continue to drive enterprise development across the nation, supported by the enduring partnership between NEDA and the ILO.
