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EVI operates four core program areas in order to achieve its vision and mission: (1) Direct Program Delivery and Training, (2) Market Linkage and Facilitation, (3) Knowledge Generation and Sharing, and (4) Network Development.
We develop environmental enterprise tools applicable across our program
areas to faciitate skills building and to share learning within and
across different audiences.
1. Direct Program Delivery and Training
EVI’s training programs and technical assistance enable individuals and communities worldwide to understand sustainability issues and implement appropriate environmental enterprise solutions. This training is for the aspiring entrepreneur as well as local and international organizations. Our training courses and technical assistance projects cover a wide range of issues related to environmental enterprise and sustainable development: environmental business skill development; appropriate, environmental technology; and effective training methodologies.
Our direct delivery
programs use experiential teaching methodologies, which include many
practical, hands-on activities, adapting each program to the local
environment. The participant groups for EVI training courses are broad,
and include youth, aspiring entrepreneurs, individual business owners,
community organizations, and international organizations working and
living in a myriad of contexts: rural and urban, low-income to
high-income, formal and informal education, in-school and
out-of-school, developing and developed country, gender, and
disabilities.
2. Market Linkage and Collaboration Facilitation
EVI works with diverse stakeholders to promote economic and social empowerment of communities through environmental enterprise development strategies and consultation with players in individual industries. EVI’s Environmental Enterprise Development Initiatives (EEDI) comprise the formation of a collaborative network of several organizations, government officials, business owners, and community members. These networks work together to develop appropriate training programs, interventions and support for environmental enterprise development for an entire community. EVI works to introduce diverse environmental enterprise ideas, tools and technologies in order to facilitate the design and implementation of appropriate and effective intervention programs to further sustainable economic, environmental, and social development.
3. Knowledge Generation and Sharing
EVI runs seminars for practitioners, funders and program officers to share information on lessons learned, best (and ineffective) practices identified, and the potential for the integration of sustainability education and environmental enterprise creation into youth development, education programs, economic development programs, and environment programs. EVI attempts to increase the amount of funding directed to environmental enterprise development as a whole. EVI publishes materials showcasing lessons learned and successful projects, and profiling young environmental entrepreneurs.
4. Network Development
EVI is building a network of environmental entrepreneurs. The EcoPreneurs Network™ (EPN™) is an intergenerational network that provides learning, capacity-building and support opportunities for environmental entrepreneurs. This network consists of both an internet-based platform and local and regional networks. Network members help EVI to assess training curricula and provide input into training tool development. The network showcases environmental entrepreneurs, offers capacity building opportunities, runs learning programs, provides access to EVI resources, hosts online discussions and learning opportunities, and highlights relevant resources and events. |
