ILO programmes
Whether you are still figuring out your idea or already in business and stuck, there is a programme built for exactly where you are.
Programme pathways
For aspiring entrepreneurs who have not yet settled on a business concept. Participants explore market opportunities, assess their own skills and resources, and arrive at a viable, realistic business idea ready for the next stage.
A structured preparation programme for entrepreneurs who have an idea and are ready to launch. Covers business planning, market research, financial projections, and the practical steps to open a business on solid ground.
A six module programme for entrepreneurs already in business who need to strengthen their operations.
Compare
| Programme | Stage | Best for | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generate Your Business Idea (GYB) | Idea stage | For those who want to start but do not know what yet. | View GYB |
| Start Your Business (SYB) | Ready to launch | For those who know what they want and need the plan to launch it right. | View SYB |
| Improve Your Business (IYB) | Already trading | Six modules covering the systems that decide whether a business grows or just survives. | View IYB |
| Women in Digital Business (WIDB) | Going digital | For women entrepreneurs ready to position themselves in the digital economy and sell with confidence online. | View WIDB |
Who this training is for
For the undecided
You want to start something. You just do not know what yet. GYB walks you through structured exercises to spot real opportunities around you, test them against your skills and your market, and walk away with an idea worth building, not just one you are hoping works.
For the ready to launch
You know what you want to start. Now you need the plan that gets it off the ground without the guesswork. SYB takes you through building a real business plan, covering market, finance, and operations, so you launch with a structure that can carry the weight.
For owners 1 to 5 years in
Your business exists. It might even be busy. Busy is not the same as profitable. IYB covers the six areas that quietly decide whether a business grows or just survives.
Module 1
Know your customer, your competitors, and how to reach more of the right people. Understand what makes them buy and how to keep them coming back.
Module 2
Price every product so you know your real margin, not a guessed one. Stop undercharging and start running the numbers properly.
Module 3
Plan your purchases better. Buy at a lower cost. Prevent stock loss. Stop tying up cash in inventory that sits too long or runs out at the wrong time.
Module 4
Simple, practical records that tell you, at any time, whether your business is actually making money.
Module 5
Set goals for the next year that are specific enough to hit and build the plan that gets you there step by step.
Module 6
Get more done from the team you already have. Manage people well, build accountability, and stop being the only person holding everything together.
Learning by doing
The SIYB Business Game is a practical simulation used within all SIYB sessions. Participants are placed in charge of a running business and challenged to plan, organise, produce, compete, negotiate, and cooperate.
Buying, pricing, selling, and reading the results in real time. Finance lessons become decisions your team feels, which is why they stick. It takes business theory off the page and puts it into practice in the training room.
Enquire About Group TrainingFor women ready to go digital
Developed through a partnership between the ILO and Microsoft, WIDB is a four module foundations programme that teaches women entrepreneurs how to position themselves in the digital economy. By the end, you leave with a personalised digitalisation action plan, not just a certificate.
Participants understand why digital transformation matters for their specific business, moving from awareness to a clear rationale for taking action.
Practical guidance on establishing a visible, credible presence through social media, messaging platforms, or a website, based on what fits the business best.
An honest look at e commerce options available to small businesses, how to approach online selling, and what it actually takes to move products and services through digital channels.
How digital selling affects the rest of the business, from receiving orders and managing payments to fulfilling and delivering to customers efficiently.
FAQ: before you book
It depends on the programme and group size. A single IYB module can run as a one day session. A full GYB to SYB pathway runs across several sessions over a few days. I will scope this with you before we start.
Both. I run cohort training for NGOs, SACCOs, and government partners, and I also work one on one or with small groups.
No. GYB is built for people who have not started yet. SYB and IYB are for those further along.
Yes. I work with NGOs, SACCOs, government bodies, and corporate foundations to deliver cohort training and report outcomes to funders.
Sessions run in English with Swahili used naturally where it helps a group understand faster.
None. WIDB starts from wherever you are, even if you have never sold online before.
