Finding credible local suppliers that can deliver goods and services to time, quality and scale is a challenge that businesses experience everyday in Africa. Yet on the other hand, sourcing locally remains critical to the long-term success of any business on the continent. As a result of this gap, significant investment and job creating opportunities remain unfulfilled.
To bridge this gap, Invest in Africa is launching a unique capacity building programme in partnership with the AfDB called the Business Skills Excellence Programme (BSEP).
Focused on Ghana and launching in July 2015, the BSEP will support 120 experienced SMEs over three years raising their competitiveness through in-depth business skills training and bespoke management and technical coaching from global experts, including Ecobank, EY and UT Bank
However to deliver real impact, SMEs need experienced business mentors who can commit (two hours a month) to advise local management teams and ensure robust systems being taught are actually implemented.
This is a unique opportunity to make a difference through a structured programme with private sector support, clear objectives and deliverables. As a mentor you will be actively improving the standards of local businesses, with your efforts being recognised by Invest in Africa and promoted to the wider business community.
To find out more about how you could be mentor and what is involved please contact
Michael Amaning: mi*************@in************.com.
About Invest in Africa
Invest in Africa (IIA) is a partnership of leading companies working together across sectors to better tackle the shared challenges of operating in Africa. These challenges include developing local enterprises (‘local content’), regulatory issues and improving dialogue with governments and communities. These challenges are too important (operationally & politically) to simply ignore or give up. Yet, too often companies try and tackle the challenges (mentioned above) alone using a traditional ‘siloed’ sector by sector approach. At its heart IIA is recognition that challenges must be tackled in a cross-sector way and partnerships are the key to long term sustainable success in Africa.
In 2012, Tullow helped launch and provide the initial investment for Invest in Africa (IIA). Since that time, IIA has created an online business directory called the African Partner Pool (APP) that aims to make it easier for large international and domestic companies to find and work with local suppliers in Ghana.
The African Partner Pool
The APP is a virtual marketplace where companies such as Tullow can connect with registered local suppliers to help them meet their business needs. The APP allows businesses in Ghana to promote their products and services to international and domestic buyers across sectors; while IIA’s independent validation of these local suppliers gives buyers the confidence to do business with them.
Through the APP, Ghanaian SMEs can view tender opportunities from multiple buyers. The platform will also support the development of local suppliers, giving them a greater chance of winning business from new clients and becoming successful over the long term. APP suppliers have access to the ‘Business Growth Hub’, an online library where SMEs can access best practice guides written by influential partners, successful business leaders, and industry experts on how to gain competitive advantage and improve their likelihood of winning new business.
The numbers of suppliers and buyers registering on the African Partner Pool continue to grow with IIA holding workshops across Ghana. The business skills training programme will begin in 2015, with case studies to be released at the end of the year.
