EnterpriseWorks/VITA (EWV) a division of Relief International (RI) is an international not-for-profit organization working to combat poverty through economic development programs based on sustainable, enterprise-oriented solutions.
EnterpriseWorks promotes sustainable, enterprise-oriented solutions to economic challenges in the developing world. For over 30 years EnterpriseWorks has assisted small-scale producers in more than 60 countries, enabling farmers and other entrepreneurs to boost their productivity, tap broader markets, capture higher value of finished products, and better manage natural resources.
Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) brings a 50-year history of empowering the poor in developing countries through access to information, financial services and improved technologies. VITA's particular focus is on support to entrepreneurs in the private, public and community sectors and on facilitating connectivity and technical information exchange.
The merger between EnterpriseWorks and VITA (EWV) in 2005 brought together organizational expertise that has worked with local businesses and organizations in 100 countries to reduce poverty and build sustainable economies. By supporting profit-making enterprises to create employment and to increase productivity and profits, EWV addresses the challenges of rural, peri-urban, and urban development.
In 2009 EWV merged with Relief International. EnterpriseWorks, Volunteers in Technical Assistance, Relief International and its worldwide affiliates merged to provide emergency relief, rehabilitation, development assistance, and program services to vulnerable communities worldwide. Relief International headquarters are located in Los Angeles, California, with the EWV division offices located in Washington, DC.
Our Approach
EnterpriseWorks/VITA (EWV) reduces poverty and raises living standards in developing countries by identifying opportunities for economic growth among small-scale businesses — increasing employment and incomes along the entire value chain.
EWV has developed a proven, sustainable approach for promoting appropriate technologies, building markets, expanding trade, and broadening access to financing, with an emphasis on irrigated horticulture, tree crops, agro-processing, household energy, natural products, and potable water.
EWV’s program designs and implementation plans are customized according to local needs and conditions. The following sound basic business principles guide our approach to every project:
Programs
EnterpriseWorks/VITA focuses on a number of activities that hold enormous importance to hundreds of millions in the developing world, allowing for replication of activities across regions and continents. By focusing on key sectors, EWV emphasizes interventions that could achieve significant economic benefits for large numbers of entrepreneurs. Production and distribution of products resides in the hands of local entrepreneurs and producers, fostering sustainable and broad economic growth. EWV’s programs target the following key sectors—Energy, Water and Sanitation, Natural Resources, Agribusiness and Cross-cutting.
Simply stated, EWV's programs produce results. How are the program results measured? EWV accurately measures the financial impact of our worldwide portfolio of projects through our proprietary Impact Tracking System (ITS). The ITS has been systematically calculating the number of jobs created and enhanced, the type of jobs impacted, the demographics of employment, and the value of income and savings increases on an annual basis since 1993. EWV's Impact Tracking System has been cited as one of the most useful tools of economic development across communities and sectors.
