Elaine Bellezza

Bellezza Global Consulting is now The BGC Group, pioneering the Integration of handicrafts and agriculture for development. International consulting with a focus on business strategy, private sector and economic development, entrepreneurship, SME development, export promotion and SME capacity building, emphasis on the artisanal sector.

For Cowater International, as E.D. of The BGC Group, we led two handicraft development initiatives in Peru and Panama, emphasizing market research and strategic planning. facilitating design training and TOT workshops, empowering local artisans and enhancing their skills.

Managing UNHCR's MADE51 regional West African program, coordinating onboarding, development, capacity building, and entrepreneurship development in collaboration with HCR offices, NOGs, the private sector, and refugee populations. Creating sustainable and marketable product collections for the global market.

Developed market-led strategy to access global markets through increased product lines, savvy market linkage strategies and producer and designer entrepreneurial capacity building.

Co-Authored comprehensive country-specific Handicraft Export Handoboks for Morocco and Tunisia. Capacity building training initiatives and orchestrated wholesale buyer missions to both countries.

Initiated a comprehensive strategic plan to invigorate the handmade value chain to scale up from local, cultural, and retail to become market-drive, international, commercial and wholesale. Extensive export readiness and product design training and led 6 international buyer missions to Zambia. Authored 115 page Handicraft Export Guide.

Led research program to determine technical barriers to trade including standards, certifications, intellectual property, environmental compliance, geographic indications and trade agreements.

Created a market-led three-year handicraft economic empowerment strategy for the Ministry including training and mentoring program, extensive market linkage activities, country-wide collaboration initiatives.

Brought In to manage final phase of challenging artisanal market promotion project to overcome misaligned expectation on the part of key stakeholders; successfully delivered project objectives including 10 international trade shows, 23 member buyer mission to Morocco and international trade missions.

Directed a program to revitalize the handmade industry across the West African sub-region significantly increasing exports by many containers a year through dynamic market linkage activities and bringing major US retailers to the region - Pier 1, World Market, Home Goods, West Elm and others. Extensive SME export readiness training and mentoring.