WHO WE ARE
- I/D/E/A/S [Initiatives in Development of Entrepreneur Approaches and Strategies] is a private non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting socioeconomic growth through support to micro- and small-scale enterprises, and community-led development projects.
- I/D/E/A/S was established in 1996 by a collective of senior Sri Lankan professionals with multiple disciplinary backgrounds and a wealth of experience in the private and public sector, at national and international levels, functioning entirely voluntarily.
- The 19-member I/D/E/A/S team, one-third of whom are women, actively contribute their accumulated knowledge, expertise and experience with a deep sense of commitment to fulfilling the goals of I/D/E/A/S.
WHAT WE DO
Entrepreneur Development
We provide funding, mentoring and training support to a diverse and geographically dispersed collection of entrepreneurial projects and initiatives throughout Sri Lanka
Community Empowerment
We support community development initiatives such as housing, water supply, sanitation, education, community health, and disaster relief.
Funding Modalities
We provide
- Grants cum interest-free and collateral-free loans to micro- and small-scale enterprises and
- Outright grants to critical and deserving community initiatives
Successfulprojects
Total projectvalue to date
Beneficiaries
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF I/D/E/A/S
Identifying the needs, talents, skills and aspirations of individual and community-driven initiatives
Interest-free and collateral-free funding support
Empowering less privileged entrepreneurs
Independent, flexible and bureaucracy-free operations
Promoting sharing of knowledge, expertise, and experience
WHAT MAKES I/D/E/A/S DISTINCTIVE
-
Many small entrepreneurs have creative business ideas. But they often lack the finances to start up their ventures or the working capital to expand ongoing businesses.
Formal lending institutions, and even a micro-credit facility, seem beyond their reach due to insistence on collateral and guarantors as well as high rates of interest. - This is where I/D/E/A/S steps in. It enables these less-privileged people to cut through stringent requirements that act as major barriers to entry into the entrepreneurial world.
- We provide such budding entrepreneurs with funding, mentoring and training to make their ideas blossom into viable businesses and help them realize their potential and improve their livelihoods.
- We provide grants cum interest-free and collateral-free loans. The loan component is recovered in monthly installments following an appropriate grace period
- I/D/E/A/S support is truly no strings attached.
Years Service
HOW DOES I/D/E/A/S GENERATE ITS FUNDS?
- We subscribe to the view that for an organisation to “Do Good”, it must “Do Well” via legitimate avenues. I/D/E/A/S income, which was initially generated through the provision of professional services, is currently derived from:
a. Management fees and dividends from its joint venture consulting company Infotech IDEAS [Pvt] Ltd.
b. Income from investments
- Not being dependent on external donor funding, I/D/E/A/S remains financially independent and free to set its priorities in keeping with its governing principles focused on assisting low income and less privileged yet talented or skilled groups who display entrepreneurial potential.
- Capital fund: In pursuance of the above, I/D/E/A/S has succeeded in growing its capital fund to enable it to disburse around Rs 10 million annually for chosen initiatives.
HOW ARE PROJECT BENEFICIARIES SELECTED?
- I/D/E/A/S solicits expressions of interest (EOI) from small and medium scale entrepreneurial initiatives countrywide.
- A rigorous and methodical process of shortlisting and appraisal of the applications received leads to the selection of a diverse set of entrepreneurs, both men and women, following telephone interviews, site visits, and direct contact.
- Successful awardees benefit from mentoring and guidance from designated I/D/E/A/S members
- Beneficiary projects are subject to regular monitoring and progress reporting requirements
WHAT KINDS OF PROJECTS DOES I/D/E/A/S SUPPORT?
By filling gaps in resource availability during its journey spanning the past 25+ years, I/D/E/A/S has contributed to the growth of a veritable rainbow of micro- and small-scale enterprises
It has supported a diverse and geographically dispersed collection of entrepreneurial projects related to agriculture, apparel & allied products, food processing, production & manufacture, and retail & distribution
Besides entrepreneurial support, I/D/E/A/S maintains a second stream of funding dedicated to assisting community development initiatives such as housing, water and sanitation, basic education, community health, and disaster relief.
ENTREPRENEUR DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
OUR TEAM
Dr Hilmy Sally
[Chairman]
Mr Jayantha Jayewardene
[Secretary]
Mr Lalit Godamunne
[Treasurer]
Ms Shakuntala Kuruppu
[Director]
Mr Romesh Ilangakoon
[Director]
Dr Sarath Abayawardena
[Director]
Mr Vimal Dias
[Director]
Mr Nanda Abeywickrama