On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, the Master of Management Program at Universitas YARSI organized an Ultra Micro Business Clinic for BAMUIS BNI zakat recipients, involving 25 ultra-micro enterprise (UMi) operators from the Cempaka Putih and Bekasi groups. This initiative was driven by the challenges faced by ultra-micro entrepreneurs, including limited capital, insufficient management knowledge, difficulty accessing raw materials, and entrapment in predatory lending practices, while BAMUIS BNI faced human resource constraints in providing optimal assistance to productive zakat recipients. Through partnership with the Universitas YARSI Community Service Team, the program implemented an individual consultation method based on problem clustering, whereby business issues from 25 UMi participants were classified into 5 categories and addressed by 5 resource persons comprising university lecturers, UMi practitioners, and BAMUIS BNI representatives in separate clinic rooms. The activities continued with digital marketing training and ongoing field mentoring. Program outcomes demonstrated significant improvement, with 80% of participants experiencing an average 3-point increase in entrepreneurship scores, encompassing enhanced resilience in sustainable business management, creativity in problem-solving, adaptation to new technologies, and reduced dependence on third-party capital.
The Ultra Micro Business Clinic program aligns with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1: No Poverty, by providing interest-free zakat-based capital access to UMi operators, the majority of whom earn below the poverty line; Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, through empowering UMi productivity as the largest employment provider in communities; and Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, by distributing zakat funds in a targeted manner to reduce economic disparities and empower marginalized community groups. This program also contributes to Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through strategic collaboration among higher education institutions, zakat organizations, local government, and communities in creating a sustainable and transformative economic empowerment ecosystem for ultra-micro enterprise operators.
