In 2015, IPPF established a Social Enterprise Acceleration Program (SEAP) that aimed to strengthen Member Associations (MA) capacity to apply entrepreneurial best practice in the health sector whilst delivering social value and improving lives. Its purpose is to suggest the establishment and growth of social enterprises to increase and diversify their funding base and provide greater sustainability. FPA Sri Lanka (FPASL) was selected by IPPF to function as the Social Enterprise Hub and to ensure the successful implementation of SEAP which would enable IPPF's Member Associations to increase their financial resilience.

Technical support visit to BOFWA

Botswana Family Welfare Association (BOFWA) was a social enterprise grant recipient in 2018.  Their project scope was to assess their readiness for enterprise development, carrying out a market research on condoms, conducting training on marketing condoms and developing the technical capacity of staff.

Having completed said market research, albeit with some gaps, as a next step activity the MA was advised by the Social Enterprise Hub and African Regional Office to roll out a small-scale pilot project on condom sales with a view for potential expansion. The focus of the project is to assess the consumer response to the price, test the product response/demand and also understand the steps involved in the logistical coordination of condom marketing. 

In preparation for the pilot project, Manjula Liyanage - Capacity Building Officer of the Social Enterprise Hub undertook a technical supporting visit from 23^rd – 27^th September'19 to guide the Association with their business plan, formulate an implementation model for their pilot condom sales project, assist with product selection and train the sales staff on marketing and book-keeping.

The approach of the technical support was an incubation and the visit comprised of focus group discussions, coaching, experience sharing and field visits to help enhance BOFWA's business acumen and overall approach to the pilot.

BOFWA is currently working on the identified actions in preparation for the condom sales roll-out.