New Empowerment Projects Boost Entrepreneurship in Brazil's Belém and Canoas

Two significant initiatives have recently been launched in Brazil to empower entrepreneurs and strengthen small businesses in their local economies. In Belém, Pará, the Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) introduced the Pororoca Empreendedora project, part of the broader BNDES Periferias program designed to support vulnerable entrepreneurs, especially women. The project aims to train 4,000 participants, with 70% being women, to foster female entrepreneurship and economic autonomy. By completing the training, expected for 2,400 individuals, local civil society organizations will help establish Support Hubs for developing approximately 1,800 business proposals presented in pitch format. From these, 1,500 proposals will secure Seed Capital funding, targeting social impact ventures and income generation. The project also aspires to assist 1,000 participants in overcoming poverty through entrepreneurship, enhancing their financial and social autonomy. Key voices behind the initiative include Celina Tura from BNDES, who underscored the project's wide outreach to micro-entrepreneurs in urban peripheries; Guilherme Romano of Suzano, who highlighted the transformative opportunities created for communities; and Lars Diederichsen from Instituto Meio, who noted the critical role of knowledge, opportunity, and investment in empowering local entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the city of Canoas launched the Programa Empreender Canoas, a partnership between the Municipal Secretary of Economic Development and Innovation (SMDEI) and Sebrae. The program is set to provide free training to local entrepreneurs in essential business areas such as management, finance, sales, pricing, and marketing, complemented by networking events, consultations, and hackathons. The first activity, a business awareness meeting, is scheduled for February 10, with ongoing courses planned every two months. Mayor Airton Souza emphasized the program's role in preparing and supporting entrepreneurs to stimulate Canoas's economic growth. Sebrae’s regional manager, Maico Fabiano Fernandes, remarked this program as part of a broader strategy positioning the Office of the Entrepreneur as a vital support hub for small business development.

Together, these programs represent strategic efforts across different Brazilian regions to foster entrepreneurship, provide valuable training, extend financial support, and ultimately drive social and economic empowerment, particularly among vulnerable populations such as women and micro-entrepreneurs.