What does it mean, in practice, to talk about productive inclusion? It refers to a series of actions that expand opportunities for income generation, work, and economic autonomy—especially for people in situations of social vulnerability.
According to Sebrae , productive inclusion encompasses everything from strengthening small businesses and informal enterprises to professional training, access to credit, and integration into diversified markets.
Experts such as José Carlos de Souza Castro (IPEA) and the Veredas Institute add that work alone is not enough. It is necessary to look at the set of factors that support economic autonomy: access to productive resources, support networks, technical training, social rights, and integrated public policies.
For social funders, supporting productive inclusion requires recognizing the complexity of these factors and designing consistent strategies that respect the specificities of each territory and consider structural inequalities.
What we learned at the Brazilian Microentrepreneurship Forum
In June, we participated in the 7th Brazilian Microentrepreneurship Forum , held by Aliança Empreendedora , an organization supported by the Bem Maior Movement.
The event brought together micro-entrepreneurs, social organizations, and public managers to discuss the challenges and pathways to productive inclusion in Brazil. Among the lessons we learned, four points stood out:
- The importance of linking access to credit with skills development .
- The need for affirmative action policies for women and Black people .
- Creating marketplace access platforms with accessible language .
- Valuing the knowledge and practices of territories as economic assets .
The meeting reinforced something we believe at MBM: effective solutions are those built collectively, with attentive listening and cooperation between different sectors.
Six paths to strengthening productive inclusion
Based on the discussions at the event and the experiences we closely followed through the organizations supported by the Bem Maior Movement, we have compiled six strategies that can guide funders and social organizations interested in strengthening productive inclusion in a sustainable, collaborative way, connected to the realities of the territories.
1. Valuing local knowledge and practices
Brazil is a country rich in traditional and informal production practices, such as solidarity economy networks and local production arrangements.
Studies show that projects that disregard these trajectories tend to have low participation and limited impact. Therefore, it is essential to support the mapping and valorization of this knowledge, recognizing it as economic and cultural heritage that, for decades, has structured income-generating strategies in urban peripheries and rural areas.
2. Expand access to markets in a structured way
For small businesses, accessing larger markets remains a major challenge, even when their products are high-quality. The limited number of sales channels is one of the main barriers to the economic sustainability of small entrepreneurs.
Funders can support initiatives that connect these businesses to real marketing opportunities, as some of the organizations we follow do, including Aliança Empreendedora itself. This can include actions such as:
- Local markets and community events.
- Strengthening short supply chains.
- Technical support in pricing, curation, and marketing.
These actions contribute to boosting the economy in the territories and generating lasting ties with institutional and private markets.
3. Offer credit with training and support
Credit, by itself, is not a solution. Without training and support, it can even exacerbate vulnerabilities, studies indicate.
Initiatives like Estímulo , an impact fund supported by the Bem Maior Movement, show that combining credit with practical training, mentoring, and access to support networks is what truly strengthens the financial autonomy of small entrepreneurs.
Programs that offer this type of integrated support have a greater potential to generate business stability. Therefore, it is essential to support customized training pathways, adapted to the profile and reality of each territory.
4. Produce data and assessments with those who live the reality
The literature in the field reinforces that measuring results requires considering both economic and non-economic aspects. Dimensions such as self-esteem, strengthening support networks, and quality of life are some examples, as pointed out by the Veredas Institute and Sebrae.
Participatory methodologies, which involve the entrepreneurs themselves in the process, help to build indicators that are more aligned with their expectations and the reality of the territories. Furthermore, these evaluations contribute to the continuous improvement of policies and projects.
In the Bem Maior Movement, this is a commitment. We value processes of qualified listening, which recognize that solutions need to originate from the territories themselves. Investing in the production of sensitive and disaggregated data, considering social markers such as gender, race, and location, allows us to understand qualitative transformations and guide decisions.
5. Incorporate an intersectional perspective
Women, Black people, young people from marginalized communities and traditional communities face specific barriers to accessing credit, education, and markets.
Therefore, it is essential that programs and public policies have an intersectional perspective, with:
- Special financing conditions.
- Training tailored to each audience.
- Accessible communication strategies.
Initiatives that incorporate this intersectional perspective tend to be more effective and socially relevant. An example of this is the work of the Agbara Fund, supported by the Bem Maior Movement, which strengthens businesses led by Black women through financial contributions, technical training, and political and civic support. Each year, the organization supports more than 300 women on their entrepreneurial journeys.
6. Support the creation of community infrastructure
Often, what limits the development of a business is not the idea or the product, but the lack of physical and digital infrastructure.
Transformative productive inclusion demands investments in shared production spaces, connectivity, equipment, and logistics. This type of infrastructure strengthens the potential of local networks, reduces operating costs, and contributes to the sustainability of businesses.
One example is the work carried out by the Dom Cabral Foundation , which is one of the organizations supported by MBM in partnership with BNDES. The Pra>Frente Movement has created entrepreneurial spaces in different territories, in conjunction with local organizations, and already has 13 units implemented in various regions of Brazil.
Our commitment to productive inclusion
In the Bem Maior Movement, we believe that productive inclusion is a strategic path to reduce inequalities and expand economic autonomy.
At the same time, we know that this is an ongoing process that requires active listening, constant evaluation, and partnerships between various sectors.
For those who wish to work on this agenda, this is a great time to experiment with new approaches, strengthen alliances, and build bold solutions — always anchored in local realities.
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This post was written by:
Rafaella Santos, Project Analyst at the Bem Maior Movement.
Image credit: Nomadic Julien (@nomadicjulien) / Unsplash
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