Income-Generating Activities - Action Against Hunger

Field handbook • Scientific and Technical Department
• Management and accounting
• Business plan elaboration
• Legal aspects
• Group work, creation of internal regulations
• Commercialization, marketing
Exchanges of experiences between beneficiaries can be as valuable as training sessions;
learning from the experiences of other IGA gives positive results, and the beneficiaries
will have the opportunity to share ideas, see different management systems
and create networks of contacts. Getting to know the experiences of other groups
outside the programme that carry out successful work in groups can also be very positive.
Appendix 10 gives examples of the themes touched upon in training sessions on
management, business plan elaboration, group work and internal regulations.
While designing the training plan, different aspects must be evaluated, including
the work schedule of the population, as all their time is not available to invest in the
programme. In rural zones, for example, it is necessary to consider the agricultural calendar
so that the training sessions do not interfere with the crop cycles, and the population
can participate in them. The possibility to train local promoters or extension
workers so that later they give trainings to the rest of the beneficiaries can be an alternative
that allows a larger number of beneficiaries to be reached.
There may also be trainings that have to be carried out before the actual material
support is given. For example, when a new IGA is going to be started, before giving out
the productive goods it is recommended to have training sessions in management, to
have prepared a business plan during the training process and to assure that the technical
knowledge of the participants is adequate.
It is also important to evaluate the possibility of collaborating with other organisations
to carry out the trainings as some may be specialized in the themes that need to
be offered. This collaboration can strengthen the local organisations and promote the
existence of local capacity, which is one of the planned aspects of the exit strategy.
Within the training plan, time must be set aside to elaborate or adapt training materials
in relation to the existing level of knowledge of the beneficiaries, and for the
production of the materials. Appropriate training materials should be used depending
on the training methodology and educational level of the participants. The training
process is not limited to educational sessions; regular accompaniment in the field is
also part of this process.
II.III. Elaboration of the internal regulations for group operation
When the programme supports work in groups, either with pre-existing groups or
newly created groups, it is important to pay attention to the internal operation of the
INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES: A KEY CONCEPT IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURTIY
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