It has been over 21 months since the covid-19 pandemic began to ravage lives and economies around the globe. While the year 2020 ushered in economic recessions in almost all countries, the year 2021 has been projected as the year that will bring in economic recovery. But while some countries have successfully managed to deliver positive GDP growth figures in the first three quarters of 2021, the Philippines incurred a decline of 3.9% in the first quarter then managed to bag growths of 11.8% and 7.1% in the second and third quarters, respectively. The fourth quarter of 2021 is hoped to deliver another positive GDP growth figure in spite of the continued lockdowns and restrictions that have been imposed to prevent the further spread of the covid-19 virus.

Through it all, the concrete assistance provided by the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) Program to the country’s micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) has been consistently lauded as a vital lifeline that enabled solid numbers of businesses to stay afloat and even manage to thrive during the Pandemic.

In 2020, the KMME-MME Online Program benefitted not less than 2,000 MSEs. This was achieved with the support of the pool of mentors – some of whom were deployed as coaches for the mentees during the preparation of their Business Improvement Plans and its presentation to the panelists representing the banks, credit organizations and market platforms as well as the brick and mortar supermarkets.

The year 2021 has seen the increase in the numbers of both mentors and mentees across the regions. As of October 2021, a total of 1,634 mentees have taken part in the KMME Online Program activities for the year; this pegs the total number of KMME Online mentees to 3,084. In all, the KMME Program in its original form and the innovated online form has benefited 11,871 mentees since inception.

Indeed, the blended KMME-MME Online Program that was developed as a practical delivery mechanism for the same mentorship modules (including access to money and market) to be used to guide and assist MSEs has turned out to be just the right platform to ensure the continuity of the KMME Program in spite of the sweeping limitations imposed across the country.

As the KMME Program celebrates its 5th year of implementation, the importance of monitoring the depth and breadth of its coverage and evaluating its efficacy, outcomes and results cannot be overstated. For the program stakeholders to take stock of successes, lessons learned and recommendations for further improvement, a proper Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) of the entire program will duly document and objectively study its results. Likewise, a celebratory material in the form of a coffee table book would ably showcase the five-year run of the KMME Program.