Entrants's Name: Smart Baitani

Country: Tanzania

Field: Economic Development

Innovation - idea: My program goes beyond traditional financing by providing a Framework of Analysis that addresses the historical and cultural structures of inequalities. This framework is called “COSAD Character Framework”. It assesses the role of Emotional Intelligence and Creativity of an individual in relations to entrepreneurship development. Secondly, we uniquely offer tools under the program known as DAILY FUND ACCOUNT (DFA).

Innovation - why it is pioneering: My program goes beyond traditional financing by providing a Framework of Analysis that addresses the historical and cultural structures of inequalities. This framework is called “COSAD Character Framework”. It assesses the role of Emotional Intelligence and Creativity of an individual in relations to entrepreneurship development. Secondly, we uniquely offer tools under the program known as DFA

Strategy - how it achieves impact: COSAD uses two models, namely, “COSAD Character Framework” and “DFA (Daily Fund Account)” model.

Why COSAD Character Framework? It serves as a Risky Management Strategy: Helps avoid misconduct and carelessness as people become responsible and conscience of business norms. This results in high revenue realization by controlling unnecessary losses. Secondly, the framework serves as a Organizational Functional Strategy by encouraging cooperation, inspiring commitment, nurturing creativity and innovation and energizing organizational members for positive image (respect, honesty, etc).Ethical conduct reinforces professionalism and entrepreneur identity by appealing for basic morality and common decency in all dealings.

DFA (Daily Fund Account), literally provides daily funding to individual small entrepreneurs and unlock the barriers typically related to lack of cash to run day to day business decisions. In other words, the program provides on going cash flow as the business generate or seeks to generate new market and sales and provide tools for modern business management on which to base better marketing strategy.

Strategy - growth plans: COSAD Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship (Tanzania) is currently involved with 22 artistic groups and choral assembles using these groups as a CBOs (Community Based Organizations). The mission and focus is to replicate the success from one village to another village, town to town and eventually the entire currently by having centers each region.

As a result of my approach/model, I myself as an artist and former choir director, I translated and incorporated my love and passion of music into my business plan where I work with choir and artistic groups as CBOs (Community Based Organizations), focusing on their social and economic needs. As a result, different churches and congregations have started inviting COSAD to come in their diocese/synods to train youth groups how to start micro enterprise projects based on "COSAD Character Framework" and DFA Models

Impact to date: As a result, different churches and congregations have started inviting COSAD to come in their diocese/synods to train youth groups how to start micro enterprise projects based on "COSAD Character Framework" and DFA Models DFA is a comprehensive small business management program that provides a unique marketing, sales, and financial solutions to every creative entrepreneur. Specifically, DFA involves the following processes: Credit, Marketing, Accounting and Sales Activities, Networking and Information Management.

Future impact: In ten years from now I can envision most Micro-financing and Community lenders incorporating my framework in every lending process because it harbors all possible Risk analysis tools while placing a proactive and positive appreciation of an individual that everyone has a capacity to make a difference once the obstacles are removed in his or her path. In ten year now I can see even future business books on Business ethics and Micro financing or small business development referencing my frameworks as one of the most practical and intellectually sound works

Sustainability - resource base: Most of Financial support comes from our unique marketing approach. Because of our artic background we use choral concerts and creative partnerships of this groups to raise money which in turn is used for seed money for projects in each groups. In the USA, for instance we have an Choral Ensemble which serves as an outreach group promoting COSAD's works on the ground in Tanzania. We have also established two programs to help us mobilize grassroots support and promote cultural interchange, These programs are called DRUM (Developing Relationship. Uniting Musicians) and TACI (Tanzanian American Choir Initiatives) both aiming at strategic partnering where artists address issues beyond their artistic talents so as to include economic and social partnerships.

Major challenge for the field: Low level of Technology in the rural areas hinders communication with entpreneurs on the ground.

Contact Information:

Name: Smart Baitani
Mailing address: 600 Lilac Dr. North, Suite 417, Golden Valley, MN 55422
Country: Tanzania
Email: projects@cosad.org
Tel: 763-521-0100
Fax: 7635210101
Website: www.cosad.org