inclusion: Accommodating spouses/partners :
Facilitating a small business or enterprise

Tips and Tools

Domestic Partner Agreements IITA Community Resources Center IRRI Family Services Center G&D initiatives to support CGIAR spouses/partners Direct appointments Consultancies Fellowships Appointment to advertized vacancies Couple appointments A guide for spouses/partners: what to ask

1 In countries with high unemployment levels, the host government might not be sympathetic to providing work permits to expatriate spouses/partners. However some Centers have discovered that permission can be acquired for spouses/partners to set up their own businesses.

2 This creates a range of opportunities, particularly for spouses/partners with an entrepreneurial flair and/or special skills or interests. Potential businesses range from commerce to professional services.

Providing assistance with ESTABLISHING A SMALL BUSINESS OR ENTERPRISE
3 A Center wishing to suggest this option needs to provide a comprehensive range of information to help spouses/partners decide on the viability of the enterprise. They will need to be briefed on:

• all aspects of relevant business/employment legislation (noting there may be language barriers);
• the various business permits and approvals required and their costs;
• potential opportunities;
• potential pitfalls.

In some countries there are specialists, usually local lawyers, who can assist foreigners with these issues.

4 The Center also will need to facilitate acquisition of the type of visa/permit required, accompanying and assisting the spouses/partners as they work their way through local bureaucracy, acquiring necessary business approvals and permits.

5 The Center also needs to identify:

• relevant business associations and networks, so that the spouse/partner is not disadvantaged by delays in acquiring this knowledge;
• sources of any necessary seed funding for the business; and
• potential premises for setting up the business.

© CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program 2006