Micro-enterprise promotion in the honey sub-sector in the Muzaffarpur region of Bihar , India
This project aims at ensuring the provision of a complete range of BDS to beekeepers and other stakeholders in the supply chain in the honey sub-sector. Critical aspects like sustainability and institutionalisation of BDS provision in the sub-sector are addressed through the project. [Ford Foundation; 2001-present]

Developing value chain/s in paddy processing in Allahabad
Implementation support and guidance to a team involved in developing value chain/s in paddy processing in Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh. Main activities in the project included identification of other remunerative markets for rice and other by-products, increasing value addition at local by-products level obtained from rice processing, formation of associations of rice mill owners, promotion of new enterprises both for paddy processing and by-products value addition, improving value chain finance, improving technical capabilities of rice mill owners and development of support service market in the sub-sector – after undertaking value chain assessment and BDS assessment in the sector. [Ford Foundation; 2005 – present]

Market development for honey produce in the Honey Sub-sector in the Muzaffarpur region of Bihar
Implementation support and guidance to a team involved in developing a market for honey produce in the honey sub-sector in the Muzaffarpur region of Bihar. Activities included quality improvement in honey production, encouraging extraction of high value by-products from beekeeping, increasing value addition at the local level by facilitating the establishment of processing plants by stakeholders from the private sector, developing market links for the honey producers, mobilizing beekeepers to form a beekeepers’ federation to address policy and marketing issues and facilitating credit linkages. A market for relevant BDS for different stakeholders in the sub-sector was also being developed in addition to the required linkages for this purpose – after undertaking value chain assessment and BDS assessment in the sector. [Ford Foundation, 2002 – present]

Enabling micro-entrepreneurs access financial services from rural financial institutions and banks
Conceptual inputs and implementation support to a team engaged in enabling microentrepreneurs to access financial services from rural financial institutions and banks (involves forging alliances with RFIs for the purpose and the development of suitable loan products and channels for delivering financial services). [SEEP Network]

Development of state plan for rural industrialisation using sub-sectoral approach
This study was carried out in four states of India – Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The study included data collection and analysis of the spread of Small Scale Industries (SSIs), demand and supply pattern of various products of these small-scale units, identification of small and micro-enterprise clusters, feasibility analysis of potential enterprises that could be replicated across the four states and identification and assessment of local organisation and support institutions for linkages with SIDBI. [Small Industries Development Bank Of India (SIDBI); 2002-03]

Study of the vegetable sub-sector of Bihar with special reference to livelihoods of small and marginal farmers
The study aimed to provide detailed assessment of the production, productivity, cropping practices, storage and selling of vegetables in select blocks. Economies of vegetable growing at household level for small and marginal farmers in the region, along with detailed assessment of vegetable markets were conducted. Demand-supply patterns, backward linkages and value chain analysis were also worked upon. The project also made recommendations and operational strategies to develop the potential vegetable sector in order to enhance the farmers’ income thus making an impact on their livelihood and household. [Ford Foundation]

The study was conducted to advice the Office of DCH on the best microfinance strategy for the financial component of AHVY scheme. The study involved visit to various handicraft clusters across the country to understand the financial requirements of the artisans, existing microfinance practices and role of intermediaries to identify the most suitable m-f model and designing the operational strategy.

This was undertaken as a background paper for the National Conference on Job Quality and productivity organized by the ILO. This study made an assessment of the status of job quality in small and micro-enterprises of the brassware industry of Moradabad . The study also explored the ways in which job quality could be improved for increasing productivity and achieving the concept of Decent Work in these enterprises.

This evaluation of SIDBI's Promotion and Development (P&D) Programmes in the Eastern Region of the country was undertaken at the request of the Eastern Regional Office based at Calcutta . The following components of the P&D programme were covered in the evaluation

	MicroCredit Scheme (MCS)
	Mahila Vikas Nidhi (MVN)
	Rural Industries Programme (RIP)
	Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP)
	Skill cum Technology Upgradation Programme (STUP)

The project involves financial analysis and monitoring of the funds borrowed from the Ford Foundation's PRI division by large development institutions for onlending to individual micro-entrepreneurs or cooperatives in the rural sector. The DFIs covered presently include BASIX and Cooperative Development Foundation – both based in Hyderabad in south India.

The project involved opportunity identification and analysis of the Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), honey and tasar sericulture sub-sectors in Garhwal. This was followed by extensive support to ATI in setting up an implementation programme for enterprise promotion in the region

Socio-economic study of women's role in dairy cooperative societies in three States of India (Bihar , Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka). The study includes an assessment of the significance of gender in cooperative performance, the extent of women's involvement in the face of patriarchal social norms, and makes recommendations to enhance women's participation in this mainstream rural economic activity

Assessment of the capacity and resource support needs of NGOs based in the Marathwada (earthquake) region of Maharashtra for undertaking long term community development programmes incorporating primary health care, non-formal education and micro-enterprise support activities

Management assistance to organisations working in support of poor women engaged in micro-enterprises all over India and in Nepal . Assistance includes MIS development, strategic planning, marketing strategies, advice on computerisation, other technical assistance, gender analysis, institutional and impact assessment

Field research to track and critique the effectiveness of Affordable Minor Irrigation Technologies (AMITs) being marketed by International Development Enterprises in Bihar and W Bengal . The field research documents the marketing process, farmer responses, and the impact on poverty, water use and productivity