DevPro recently conducted two validation workshops on the developed Trainer Manual for Women Entrepreneurs in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.
This initiative is funded and supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and engaged women-led entrepreneurs together with government officials working to strengthen the business ecosystem in North.
The training manual has been developed by adapting the ILO’s WE-R (Women Entrepreneurs are Resilient) toolkit, originally designed for African contexts, and contextualizing it to the Sri Lankan setting. It also integrates financial inclusion training materials developed by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
The result is a culturally relevant, inclusive, and comprehensive curriculum tailored specifically for women entrepreneurs.
Importantly, the manual is grounded in field research conducted in the Northern Province, ensuring it reflects the real challenges, opportunities, and needs of local women entrepreneurs.
These validation workshops provided a platform for stakeholders to review, refine, and strengthen the manual, ensuring its effectiveness for future training and capacity-building efforts.