Job Opportunities and Business Support (JOBS) a USAID funded project implemented by the IRIS Center at the University of Maryland conducted an 8-day long TOT Course on Entrepreneurship Development and Business Management (EDBM) for the 15 participants of Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra. This course was launched with an aim to address the need of the grassroots entrepreneurs and enhance their business capacity involved in the trading.

JOBS training team facilitated the specially designed course considering the need of the non-literate and semi literate grassroots entrepreneur, staff and senior management of Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra. This training event was launched under the Business Development Services (BDS) approach. The course was consisted with the following major contents such as Entrepreneurship Development, Market survey, Business selection, Business planning, Business Management, Procurement Management, Inventory Management, Marketing Management, Costing –pricing and Accounts Management.

The course was highly interactive and participatory. Due to the utilization of the action learning & participatory tools, methods and pictorials the participants shared their ideas-views and enjoyed a lot with enthusiasm.

The course was developed and facilitated by the Training Team of JOBS Project, while the Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra organized the total event during the period of 22 February- 02 March 2005. The resource persons were Mr. S M Shahidullah, Manger Training and Ms. Mafruha Alam, Deputy Manger Training of JOBS/ USAID Project.

This is a capacity building effort of JOBS Project in collaboration with Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra as BDS approach, which will develop a resource base for the Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra who will be capable enough to conduct the 5–day EDBM training course for the grassroot level entrepreneurs.