Partnership for Economic Opportunities through Technology in the Americas (POETA)

Objective

To provide economic opportunities through technology in a sustainable, scalable way for vulnerable, low-income communities, including persons with disabilities, youth at risk and victims of civil conflict.

Overview and Main Activities

The Trust for the Americas (the Trust) is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated to public-private partnerships to help vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Trust began operating in 2004 when, with Microsoft support, it launched a programme to help persons with disabilities in rural Guatemala gain economic independence. POETA has evolved to over 160 centres in 17 countries and includes victims of the civil conflict in Colombia (military and civilian) and youth at risk. Over 100,000 people have graduated from POETA and become eligible for employment. Over 850,000 have crossed the digital divide to get access to computers and internet. The programme has achieved employment rates of up to 50% in some centres, even though few beneficiaries were employed prior to participating in POETA.

Programme Components:

• POETA facilities are equipped with computers to train beneficiaries using free Microsoft software
• Beneficiaries receive financial and business literacy training and basic money management skills
• Beneficiaries receive job readiness and professional training, e.g. training in dealing with employers or applying for a job
• POETA partners with public and private sector entities to match trained youth with jobs and provide ongoing support to ensure beneficiaries have their needs met and are meeting the needs of their employer

The programme was developed to be sustainable and scalable. All training is done through local partners, local government or non-profit community organizations. Partners receive training and materials to run POETA on their own after two to three years with technical support from the Trust, provided it meets the Trust’s standards, through a social franchise programme. This ensures quality training and careful record keeping.

The centres provide communities with their only access to computers and internet. POETA is sustainable beyond the life of a donor’s contribution; it reaches marginalized populations. The Trust can operate a large programme with a tiny staff, keeping overhead extremely low. Between 80% and 95% of the funds go directly to programmes, making this an efficient way to deliver services to persons with disabilities and at-risk youth.

The POETA programme is the recipient of several international awards from the United Nations, the Zero Foundation and the City of Dubai, among others.

Success Factors and Challenges

Most critical success factors:

• Private sector support from donors such as MasterCard, Microsoft, Copa Airlines, AES and Citibank
• Keeping staff at headquarters tiny while pushing resources to the field
• Talented and committed multinational staff that adapts readily and adroitly to circumstances wherever there are operations

Main challenges:

• Maintaining a stable funding base
• Finding satisfactory local partners working in vulnerable communities that need the help and are capable of absorbing the POETA system
• Disseminating information about POETA to potential partners, beneficiaries and donors

Recommendations for Others

Information about POETA has spread by word of mouth, but grants seldom include funds for publicizing the programme to increase its ability to serve additional populations. Others considering a social franchise model for working with underserved communities should consider assuring there are funds for operations and funds to invest in programme growth.

Replicability and Scalability

How easily could other organizations implement this initiative?
Very difficult: The social development model is easily replicable and scalable for the Trust, but the Trust is a unique organization with several distinctive characteristics.

How easily can this initiative be expanded to include a larger number of participants?
Very easily: The POETA Social Franchise is designed to be scalable, which is why it appeals to potential and existing partners.

About the Organization

Website: www.trustfortheamericas.org
Sector: Non-Profit
Size (number of employees): Up to 1,000
Headquarters: Washington, DC, United States

For Further Engagement

Contact name: Milton Drucker
Contact position: COO Technical Coordinator
Email: [email protected]