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ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN)

Proponent:ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), Philippines
Implementing Agency:ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), Philippines

Background

Riding the wave of the region’s economic integration, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are also facing the challenges that go with the changing environment of global competition. Recognizing this, the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025 (SAP SMED 2025) places importance on developing human capital—as one of the driving forces for MSMEs to succeed, to steer them towards profitability and growth. As the ASEAN celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) led the initial steps to engage the public sector in a partnership for the implementation of a regional mentorship program for MSMEs. Thus, giving birth to the project ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN), with support from the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME).

What is the project aiming for?

The project aims to institute a system that will scale up the operations of the MSMEs in the region and will help them to access the 3Ms (money, market, and mentorship), opening doors to capital and global markets. Further, it will help to:

  • Develop a universal set of modules for the AMEN Program based on available capacity building materials that have been previously developed or currently used by similar capacity building programs of the ASEAN member countries;
  • Organize a unified pool of mentors made up of duly certified individuals from the ASEAN member countries and to establish the procedures and systems for recruiting, certifying, and deploying them for the AMEN Program activities conducted both in their respective countries of origin and in other parts of the ASEAN region; and
  • Institute the ASEAN Mentors’ Academy as the body to recruit, certify, and develop mentors, to manage the database of the AMEN Program modules and to direct the continuing capacity building for mentors using resources that will be generated by the ASEAN for the AMEN Program and ensuring that the Academy will run as a financially sustainable unit.

The AMEN Program is a testimony to the importance of leveraging the knowledge, expertise and business acumen of successful business leaders and entrepreneurs as potent tools for developing MSEs, a sector that generally struggles during the first three years of operation.

Remarks of Jose Ma. Concepcion III,
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship, Philippines; ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network
(AMEN) Legacy Champion; and CEO, RFM, Philippines, in the ASEAN Responsible Business Forum
27-28 August 2018
Singapore

The project specifically contributes to the SAP SMED 2025’s “Strategic Goal E: Promote Entrepreneurship and Human Capital Development.” A regional discussion was held on 3 May 2019 in Manila, Philippines, which served as the venue for the formal presentation of the first draft of the AMEN modules and the mentors’ training framework. Pilot-runs are expected to be done in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia in July and August 2019.

As of 31 May 2019

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