Inclusive Enterprises for Empowered Communities

Enrolment opens from 20 September to 19 October 2023. The course will run from 4 October to 7 December 2023.

This e-course looks at the connection between inclusion and community-based enterprises (CBEs) developed within community forestry. It explains how and why women and other marginalized groups are often excluded in CBEs and provides practical ways to promote inclusion.  

Community-based enterprises (CBEs) developed within community forestry have the potential to improve the lives of enterprise members and others who depend on forests for their livelihood. However, in discussions and in practice, women and other marginalized groups are often not represented and are excluded from participating in and benefiting from community forestry CBEs.    

There are many online courses that focus on CBEs or on gender and social inclusion or on community forestry, but they are usually treated as separate topics. This course is different. It looks at the importance of integrating all three concepts. 

The journey through the course includes experiential and reflective activities based on real-life conditions provided by community-based enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region. You will also have opportunities to share your ideas and collaborate with others. 

Key features

• Learn for free and differently through experiential and reflective activities based on real-life examples
• Study at your own pace, dedicating seven hours for online work and three hours for an offline assignment at a time most convenient to you
• Join a community of learners with opportunities to share ideas and collaborate with forestry professionals, and social and community entrepreneurs 
• Receive a certificate if you achieve 75 percent or higher in the assessment

Course schedule

Who is this course for

Participants are people who work in the government, non-government or private sector. It is for those who want to learn about the connection between inclusion and community enterprises developed in community forestry to build more inclusive businesses and organizations. It can be useful to policy-makers promoting community-based enterprises, and students and educators working in forestry and natural resource management. 

Participants should have a working knowledge of English. 

Typical learners are:

• Practitioners involved in programming, managing and supporting the development of community-based enterprises in forestry and natural resources
• Forestry trainers and extension agents who address capacity needs in developing community-based enterprises
• Private sector entities interested in working with community-based enterprises in participatory forest governance
• Social or community-based entrepreneurs who want to incorporate inclusion into their enterprise or business 

Recommended prior learning

You may also want to take our complementary course that offers beginner-level knowledge about community forestry and natural resource management and governance. Check out the Community Forestry 101 course for more information. 

Topics the course covers

• Session 1 looks at the characteristics of community-based enterprises and their relationship with community forestry
• Session 2 explains barriers and challenges to achieving gender inclusion in      community-based enterprises
• Session 3 examines opportunities in enterprise development that can be tapped to promote inclusion in community-based enterprises 
• Session 4 explores how to develop interventions for inclusive community-based enterprises 

Competencies you will gain

• Appreciate the importance of inclusion in community-based enterprises
• Describe the concepts on inclusive community-based enterprises
• Explain the challenges and opportunities that affect inclusion in community-based enterprises
• Find practical ways to develop inclusive community-based enterprises

Certificate of completion

This course qualifies for a RECOFTC Certificate of Completion. Achieve 75 percent or higher in the assessment and become part of a global community with competencies on developing more inclusive community enterprises for the good of people and forests.

The e-course is produced under RECOFTC's FLOURISH initiative with the financial support of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) co-funded the production. The content of this e-course is the sole responsibility of RECOFTC and does not necessarily reflect the views of IKI, BMUV, Sida or SDC.