IFC is supporting the growth of small and medium-sized businesses in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania by helping universities and other institutions develop management training programs.
IFC has worked with seven universities and business schools to train over 400 smaller businesses Through its Enterprise Development Services Program.
The program is dedicated to help business schools develop courses for entrepreneurs that address the many problems faced by smaller businesses. The goal is to sharpen the management skills of businessmen and women and to enhance the competitiveness of their businesses.
Encouraging the growth of smaller businesses with a combination of investments and advisory services, including training and guidance, is a strategic priority for IFC in Africa, where limited training opportunities often hold back the growth of smaller businesses.
After a successful three-year pilot at the Lagos Business School, the program was replicated in other business schools in Africa. IFC is simultaneously implementing the program in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.
- In Rwanda, the EDS program supported training of SMEs in sectors as diverse as tourism, agro-industry, manufacturing or catering services. Training local businesses in these sectors is key as the growing tourism industry in Rwanda is facing limited supply of raw materials and services. IFC responded to this challenge by supporting SMEs through training in order to foster their business expansion in the area of value chain supply.
- In Kenya, Strathmore, United States International University and Jomo kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, the three Kenyan universities which benefited from this program, has trained 50 businesses to date, among which 10 are women-owned.
- In Ghana, the EDS Program, hosted by the University of Ghana Business School benefited from the lessons from more advanced countries in the program as they shared their experience during a 3-day workshop held in Nairobi on 25-27 May 2009.
The government of Denmark and the Copenhagen Business School provided financial support and mentorship to the program, which ends in June, 2009.
“IFC had a critical catalytic role in facilitating mentorship of faculty and the sharing of lessons learned from the pilot phase implemented in Nigeria.” said Daniel Kanyi, IFC Senior Operations Officer. “This will ensure the establishment of a successful model for provision of small business and entrepreneurship training and services in Africa.”
As entrepreneurial and managerial capacity is a main constraint for investment and growth opportunities in Africa, the key achievement of the program will be to increase the supply of bankable projects in the targeted countries.
For more information contact:
Sabrina Hadjadj-Aoul
Communications Officer
Johannesburg, South Africa
Phone: +27 11 731 3175
Email: shadjadjaoul@ifc.org
