« CAP ECO SOL »… This is the acronym for the capacity building program of RIPESS. It emanated from the debates of the Dakar 2005 meeting, particularly in accordance with the needs to reinforce networks and the necessity to improve management skills of SSE operators. The program is based on a feasibility study in three West African countries.

>>Context :
Valuable expertise, knowledge and skills earned by RIPESS since 1997 up to the achievement of the Dakar 2005 meeting
Strong need for training, information, follow-up, advice and technical support

The point is to make the junction between offer and demand through an innovating capacity reinforcement program in the social solidarity economy field for West Africa, titled CAP ECO SOL

>>Aim :
Contributing to poverty alleviation by reinforcing capacity for action of social solidarity economy organizations and enterprises

>>Goal :
Strengthening the SSE sector by way of advice services, training, follow-up, and facilitation structures for access to funds and increase management performance of SSE enterprises and organizations

>>Objective :
Improving the identity of SSE regarding shared values
Setting favorable conditions for increasing the number of enterprises with a social aim.
Providing support for the improvement of performances
Following through fundraising

>>Areas of Intervention:
Institutional focus :
(i) Support for structuring organizations and enterprises into national networks
(ii) Support for the consolidation and development of already existing national networks
SSE corporate focus: reinforcement of organizational, management and financial capacities

>>Activities :
Implementation of an appropriate quality service label.
Creation of a Support/Advice center
Putting in place a solidarity-based fund
Putting in place a credit line
Setting appropriate funding procedures and conditions
Fixing appropriate partnership guidelines between SSE COs, the solidarity funding system and the Support/Advice center

>>Implementation :
Step 1 : sensitization, information and program fixing (February – July 2006)
Step 2 : planning and start off ( August 2006 - October 2007)
Step 3 : program duration (November 2007 - October 2010)

>>Geographical span :
Step 1 : West Africa
Step 2 : Other parts of Africa
Step 3 : Latin America and Asia

>>Targets :
Private and community enterprises with social aim (SMEs, micro-enterprises, coops, mutual funds, associations, NGOs, community radios…
Young social entrepreneurs interested in setting up their own business
Local communities