An evaluation of small-scale business management training offered to people living with HIV in Thavite, Salima, Malawi

Abstract

This study was an evaluation of a Small-scale Business Management training offered to People living with HIV (PLWH) in Thavite Salima, Malawi under the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) HIV/AIDS Project. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of the training and to establish the extent that the training objectives had been achieved. Data were collected through face to face interviews with eleven respondents purposively sampled from the training participants coming from the five different zones of Thavite consortium. Data were recorded, transcribed, analyzed and interpreted. The study was qualitative in nature and in order to determine the achievement of the training objectives, Goal- based evaluation approach was used. The responses to the research questions were measured against the objective/goal achievement indicators which helped the researcher to determine whether the objective had been achieved or not. The findings of the study revealed that four out of the five objectives of the training program were achieved. Objective number five which was about application of record keeping skills was not achieved and lack of achievement may be attributed to negligence on the part of participants, illiteracy of the other participants and lack of monitoring or follow-up visitations during the implementation period. Record keeping is vital for any kind of business and should not be taken for granted. It was generally found out that Small-scale business management training had a positive impact on the PLWH who are now able to operate their businesses with some knowledge and skill.