By Mohamed Sharawi | August 24, 2025, BRDO Gedarif Office
Strengthening Local Markets: New Skills for Gedarif's Traders
In every community, the potential for a stronger future exists in the skills, concepts, and resilience of the community’s own people. This notion is the basis of our “Integrated Food Security and Livelihood” project in Gedarif state, a pivotal collaboration between Building resilience Development Organization (BRDO) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Our mutual aim was not to just to assist, but to build on the tremendous potential that already exists in the community because we believe in the capacity and capability of the people we have collaborated with.
It has been an honor to see this potential in action, as we received a cohort of extraordinary small business owners and traders to our base for two days for business skills training. The purpose of this training was for us as a collective, to provide local business owners, with additional tools and strategies ahead of receiving financial assistance from NRC to further their ventures
A Partnership in Learning
The first day covered the basics as the facilitator set the tone for mutual respect and partnership right away. “This training will depend on what I know and, more importantly, what you know,” she said. The session did not start with a lot of lecture, but an interactive game so that the ice could be broken and an environment could be created in which people felt comfortable sharing their ideas.
The heart of the workshop addressed practical and fundamental business tools. We examined:
- Understanding the Market: How to determine what your customers need and how to identify the space for your business.
- Marketing: We also talked about marketing methods; and there was no lack of inspiration when we realized that most of us use the most powerful marketing tool, direct marketing, to build trust in our communities.
- The power of ideas: When we were asked where we came up with our ideas for business, the overwhelming majority replied with, “From our villages.” This indicated an authentic understanding of their local markets and was invaluable as an entrepreneur.
Building Skills on a Strong Foundation
The training wasn‘t just about theory, it was about action. An engaging set of activities really brought important ideas to life and participants engaged in a series of simulations that explored the value of risk-taking, practice convincing others to act, and worked as teams to build a new business from scratch, right down to the projected profit calculation. The activities were not just about learning a new skill but rather about building confidence and supporting the business skills that these traders already had. The energy in the room reflected a high level of commitment. Participants seemed excited by the opportunity in front of them and energized by the prospect of creating value and improving their futures for themselves and their families.
Day 2: Turning Ideas into Sustainable Income.
momentum continued onto Day Two, which was focused on the practical operations of starting and operating a small business. The lead in to this session began with a compelling conversation around intentions for their work: from the basic need to earn income to the passion to develop a specific project idea. There was palpable energy in the room. From intention setting, we moved into practical dialogue about financing, discussing different opportunities for obtaining capital: whether that means finding partners or knowing about different lending options available. To get this information down on paper, the group followed an imagined character named ‘Ahmed’, as he started his own small project. Guided by his meaningful, relatable story, we walked through the entire process, covering Ahmed‘s original idea, raising capital, right up to AerAhmed‘s first profit calculations. By working through this case study, we were able to transition easily into demystifying key terms such as pricing and the difference between fixed and variable costs. A story again used in the second session – allows participants to see these principles of finance as practical in a real-world situation vs complicated, abstract concepts. The workshop concluded with a brief evaluation and feedback survey to see whether we captured what was taught and importantly, to provide us with evidence to understand what their experience was. For us, a commitment to listening is at the core of our work and when we are committed to listening.
Looking Forward
This workshop was a crucial step in a larger journey. As these traders prepare to receive financial grants from our partner, NRC, they are now equipped with an expanded toolkit to make that investment go further. They are not just receiving support; they are empowered to build sustainable, resilient enterprises that will, in turn, strengthen the entire community.
And this is just the beginning. The enthusiasm and insight shared during this workshop have been incredible, and we are excited to announce that this training will continue in other localities. By expanding this program, we hope to reach even more local traders, providing them with the tools to build on their own success.
The spirit of ingenuity we witnessed in Gedarif is the true engine of change. We are honored to work alongside such dedicated individuals and look forward to seeing their ventures, and many others across the region, flourish.
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