Activity-Based Learning Provided by Empowered.Works
C-BED · MICRO-ENTERPRISE

Community-Based Enterprise Development

Peer-to-peer training for aspiring and current micro-business owners

C-BED needs no outside expert — just one literate community member willing to introduce each module and keep time, while the group learns from each other.

A C-BED entrepreneurial development training session, banner visible in the background

What it is

Community-Based Enterprise Development (C-BED) is a low-cost, peer-to-peer training programme designed by the ILO to help aspiring and current micro-business owners build business skills. It relies entirely on self-facilitation and social learning: a literate community member only needs to introduce each module and keep time.

It's built specifically for poor, vulnerable, marginalised or geographically isolated communities with low levels of formal education, and has since been implemented by numerous organisations and countries to support youth, women, and informal-economy workers.

Key features

  • No external experts needed: Self-facilitation and social learning replace formal instruction.
  • Built for hard-to-reach communities: Designed for low-education, geographically isolated groups.
  • Practical curriculum: Interactive modules cover business basics, marketing, costing and financial literacy.
  • Proven at scale: Implemented across many organisations and countries to reach youth, women and informal workers.
Participants sitting on the floor working through a C-BED exercise on flip-chart paper
No classroom required — a C-BED session running informally on the floor of a shared space

Watch it in action

C-BED clip one C-BED clip two C-BED clip three
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