CADEPIA provides local entrepreneurs with educational and technical support to help them develop and expand their small businesses; in addition, it helps them to expand into new markets to sustain their businesses’ growth and success. CADEPIA’s main objectives are to:

• Provide small business development courses in Food Services, Textiles, Furniture, Jewelry Work, Artisans, Leather and Metalwork
• Offer capacity building workshops in marketing, international and national business development, accounting, general business, and management strategies
• Seek out funds for new businesses to use in their development
• Help entrepreneurs to expand their current businesses domestically and internationally
• Improve clients’ methods of quality control and sound financial management

 

Program Information

 

1. Skill Training Program

CADEPIA seeks to build its clients’ skills through courses and workshops in marketing, quality control, production, market competitiveness, accounting, and business administration.

 

Opportunities

• Help teach current business courses in marketing, quality control, production, loan management, finance, and related topics
• Conduct a needs assessment of current clients to determine programmatic best practices and areas for new class development
• Research and create workshops in micro-enterprise development
• Support administrative activities
• Evaluate current educational courses
• Work one-on-one with individual entrepreneurs to enhance their business’ sustainability

 

Requirements

• Advanced Spanish
• Strong interest in business, micro-enterprise, loans/credit management, and/or business administration
• Flexible, creative, and positive
• Interested in working with a diverse client base

 

2. Business Promotion Program

The Business Promotion Program helps new entrepreneurs to create and promote their small businesses.Program staff works with clients to build a clear vision of their business goals and helps them to create successful and sustainable enterprises.

 

Opportunities

• Create a marketing plan to inform micro-entrepreneurs about CADEPIA’s services
• Develop print materials that promote CADEPIA’s work and products
• Work one-on-one with entrepreneurs on business plan development and loan procurement
• Research local micro-enterprise development and compose report
• Evaluate current programs for best practices

 

Requirements

• Advanced Spanish
• Strong interest in business, micro-enterprise, loans/credit management, and/or business administration
• Flexible, creative, and positive
• Interested in working with a diverse client base

 

3. Marketing Program

The Marketing Department of CADEPIA is responsible for finding new markets for clients’ products, both nationally and internationally. The Department works to identify potential market niches, negotiate with wholesale buyers, initiate orders, and assist with exportation. It also organizes local and national product fairs to showcase its clients’ products and create networks for business expansion. For example, every June CADEPIA organizes the month-long Leather Goods Fair, where producers of shoes, jackets, wallets, and other goods meet to sell their goods, as well as organize and promote their businesses and products.

 

Opportunities

• Aid in the planning and implementation of product fairs, including outreach to micro-entrepreneurs, marketing, event planning, and management
• Develop CADEPIA’s website to reach new clients and expand its national presence
• Conduct market research, including export markets
• Research the legal regulations and codes of international exporting
• Work with CADEPIA staff to negotiate with buyers and initiate orders for clients’ products

 

Requirements

• Advanced Spanish
• Strong interest in business, micro-enterprise, loans/credit management, and/or business administration
• Flexible, creative, and positive
• Interested in working with a diverse client base

 

4. Administrative Program

The Administrative Program is responsible for the management of the office and the training center.It is the central hub for CADEPIA’s work, and provides both organizational and client support.

 

Opportunities

• Develop CADEPIA’s website
• Conduct market research, including export markets
• Assist with administrative tasks
• Aid in the facilitation of the training program, including participant recruitment, evaluation, and program development
• Provide logistical support for trade fairs

 

Requirements

• Advanced Spanish
• Strong interest in business, micro-enterprise, loans/credit management, and/or business administration
• Flexible, creative, and positive
• Interested in working with a diverse client base

 

Program Supervisor (All Programs)

Engineer Daniel Santiesteban Murillo

 

Note: Responsibilities offered to each participant will be proportionate to their level of experience. Participants who are new to development work may predominantly support and assist current project agendas, while those with much applicable experience may be able to assume greater responsibility. Research projects are strongly encouraged by this organization to support each program’s objectives because minimal resources are currently allocated for research.

 

Working Conditions

CADEPIA is located in the center of Cochabamba. Its main office has an Exposition and Events Center where the training courses and workshops take place. Occasionally there are weekend events, such as fairs and workshops, which staff is required to attend.CADEPIA interns/volunteers will have computer and internet access. Time spent in the office will depend on the specific project an intern/volunteer is working on.

 

Organizational Background

CADEPIA was born as a mechanism to strengthen and support micro-enterprise development. In 2007 CADEPIA celebrates its 22nd year as an organization, having worked with over 800 small businesses.

 

Over the past 22 years, the majority of the businesses that CADEPIA has supported focus on local production. However, their clients are increasingly interested in the international market and would like to be more competitive in this respect. 50% of CADEPIA clients would like to export their products; therefore, the organization seeks interns/volunteers who have experience with international business.

 

About CADEPIA’s Clients

CADEPIA’s clients are small businesses owners that are seeking business training and advice on how to reduce their production costs.Most of its clients have little education in business management, international trade, or general production/business theory. The majority of clients’ businesses were started in their homes in a piecemeal fashion, with little planning or strategy. With the assistance of CADEPIA skill training, its members continue to improve their business strategies and find ways to make their micro-enterprises more successful and sustainable.