This story from Georgia doesn’t lend itself to lots of interesting pictures because it’s about business training, and that typically means men in suits sitting around a room. So we’ve included one such picture to prove it, and then it’s down to the real business – what are they learning and why?

There’s a shortage of employment in western Georgia, and many people are trying to run their own small businesses instead, but often without the knowledge and skills to make them a success. The future of these enterprises, and the livelihoods of their employees, depend on them turning struggling ventures into thriving going concerns.

Oxfam is working with local organisations, including the Civil Society Institute (CSI), to offer people free consultancy and advisory services, as well as training. So far, they have given nearly 1,500 entrepreneurs advice about legal, financial, and management issues. And over 300 men and women have trained in business administration, financial management, accounting, strategic planning, and marketing.

As a result of such training, people’s businesses are beginning to grow and will hopefully increase the availability of formal employment in the area. Joni Akobia, who owns a photostudio in Zugdidi admits that he had financial problems because of a lack of skills: “This training enabled me to draft my business income statement and balance sheet, properly allocate profits and costs, forecast cash flow, and maintain business profitability and efficiency.”

Abesalom Jalagonia, a fish farmer from near Senaki, has also been on training courses and taken advantage of CSI’s advice service: “CSI staff helped me to clear up my relations with the taxation bodies and instructed me in my taxation obligations.”