OXFAM

Oxfam’s Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) is an innovative model that provides support to entrepreneurs in some of the world’s poorest countries to help them create and build viable, sustainable businesses. The resulting jobs and associated opportunities provide benefits for both the employees and the wider communities around them, lifting some of the world’s poorest families out of poverty.

Rajesh Agrawal is Chair of Oxfam’s Enterprise Development Board.

The Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) adopts an innovative approach to building sustainable businesses, combining elements of private equity and rural economic development. We invest where others don’t go – and where the potential for social impact is highest.

With your support, Oxfam provides an intelligent mix of loans and grants to small and medium enterprises throughout the developing world, helping people to work their way out of poverty. But it’s not just about providing capital. It’s about identifying business opportunities, and helping entrepreneurs develop and implement viable business plans. It’s a pioneering, business-based approach to development.

EDP is unique and it works. It combines Oxfam’s international presence and experience with the finance and expertise of our supporters and partners. It creates wealth and drives change in poor communities. Crucially, it helps many thousands of people – especially women – to work their way out of poverty.