willys simfukwe - enterprise capacity building, entrepreneurship skills, productivity and...

MALAWI SMEs DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

Presenter: WILLYS SIMFUKWE

Business Incubation Program Manager

FEMCOM SECRETARIAT

4/25/2013COMESA FEMCOM

Enterprise Capacity Building, Entrepreneurship Skills,

Productivity and Industrial Competitiveness Development

Outline


Who We AreOur MandateWhy Focus on Malawian Women

Entrepreneurs?Challenges Facing Women EntrepreneursFEMCOM’s RresponseSome LessonsRecommendations

Who We Are


The Federation of National Associations of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM) is a COMESA institution based in Lilongwe

FEMCOM Secretariat was established in Lilongwe in 2009 following the agreement and decision of COMESA Heads of State and Government 2007 Summit held in Nairobi Kenya

FEMCOM mandate is embedded in the COMESA Treaty Artcle 155:Creating an enabling environment for effective participation of

women in Common Market trade and development activities;Promoting special programmes for women in small and medium-

size enterprises;Eliminating such laws and regulations that hinder women’s access

to creditInitiating changes in education and training to enable women and

youth to improve their technical and industrial employment levels (transferable skills)

Who we are?


FEMCOM is hosted by the Malawian government under the Ministry of Trade and Industry

The focal point organisation is the National Association of Business Women (NABW)

FEMCOM also works with private sector, SME associations, chambers of commerce and other organisations that collaborate with COMESA

FEMCOM focus on SME


1.Enable better use of existing local capacity of SMEs entrepreneurs (particularly in women and youth) to accelerate economic growth in COMESA region including Malawi

2.Women are engaged mostly in labour intensive activities that are central to job creation/ can contribute to equitable distribution of income

3.Enable women and youth entrepreneurs and enterprises to qualify for/ make better use of foreign investment in COMESA region

4.Many women and youth enterprises in collapse at start-up stage; and those that survive the start-up stage fail to grow

5.Enable women and youth’s participation in intra-regional trade in the COMESA region

Challenges facing SMEs

FEMALEENTREPRENEURNO ACCESS

TO BDSHOUSEHOLD FAMILY CARE

DEMANDS

LIMITED SUPPORT

NETWORKS

LOW LEVEL OF EDUCATION

CULTURAL BARRIERS

NO ACCESS TO CREDIT/CAPITAL

NO ACCESS TO MODERN

TECHNOLOGY

LIMITED BUSINESS AND

MARKET KNOWLEDGE

LACK OF OPERATIONAL

SPACE 4/25/2013COMESA FEMCOM

COMESA FEMCOM’ Strategic Response


COMESA theme “Enhancing Intra-COMESA Trade Through MSMEs Development,”

COMESA Medium Term Strategic Plan (2011 – 16): strategic objective two - focuses on Building Productive Capacity for Global Competiveness

FEMCOM Medium Term Strategic Plan (2009 – 14): strategic priority three – focus on building the capacity of women and youth entrepreneurs to become competitive regionally and internationally.

These are in line with the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS II, 2011- 16)

In line with country plan to accelerate the attainment of MDG targets for 2015.

COMESA FEMCOM’s Programme Approach


SME Cluster Development Programme (funded by EU) focusing on Garment and textiles; agro-processing; and Leather and footwear clusters

Host ministry - The Ministry of Trade and Industry Collaborative Partners: National Association of Women in

Business (NAWB), Malawi SME association, Malawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and World Vision

Key Activities: Profiling of SMEs Business skills trainingTechnical training and procurement of

machinery/equipmentFacilitation of access to finance through COMESA

institutions(PTA bank)

COMESA FEMCOM Programmatic ApproachBusiness Incubation for African Women Entrepreneurs

(BIAWE) Project funded by NEPAD SpanishEight pilot countries (Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, Malawi,

Sudan, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe) Key activities

Baseline survey and feasibility study to establish regional business incubator

Focus on three sectors (agro-processing, handcrafts and ICT)

Facilitate establishment of Credit Guarantee Fund for women entrepreneurs

Policy review to ensure favourable environment for business incubations


Some lessons to date


Skills training and access to appropriate technology and/or equipment is critical for SME development

Cluster approach improves cooperation among cluster members - working together to service orders, participate in exhibitions, share equipment and expertise

Cluster approach leads to improved trust and linkage among members (joint purchase of inputs and job sharing) and enhanced productivity

Other programmesImplementation of the Regional Food

Balance Sheet programme (funded by USAID) – FEMCOM is working with ACTESA in implementing the Informal Cross border Monitoring System (ICBMS) of cereal movements at 17 border points in Malawi.


Cassava clusterUganda Kenya Rwanda Burundi Madagascar

Capacity building (business and technical training in cassava processing)

55 Kimono District

50 Busia, Teso, Nzaui

50 Rhuhango 52 Kayagoro 80 Ambalaveo

Country partners

FTN Makerere University, Uganda Small Scale Entrepreneur Association

Ministry of Trade, Agriculture

Farm Concern International

Ministry of industrialisation, Agriculture

Farm Concern International

Ministry of Trade,

Rwanda Development Agency.

Farm Concern International, CAPAAD,

Direction Regionale du Developpement Rural de Haute Matsiatra (DRDR-HM)

FOFIFA Centre Research

Ministry of Agriculture

Equipment and machinery

Granters, chippers, dryers;

Graters, chippers, dryers

Granters, chippers and dryers

Equipment delivery awaiting technical training

Equipment delivery awaiting technical training

Note: the equipment is to assist cluster groups to produce quality cassava flour, cassava starch for industrial use and animal feed.

Textile and clothing clusterEthiopia Zambia Malawi Kenya Uganda

Capacity building (business and technical training)

50 100 65 50 50

Partners Textile industry development, MAA Garment, Ethiopia textile and garment manufacturer association

Ministry of trade, Agriculture

Evelyn Hone College, Lusaka Technical School,

Ministry of trade, TEVETA

World Vision, Malawi Chamber of Commerce and Industry,

World Vision, Kabete Technical College

Ministry of Industrialisation

Textile Development Agency,

Ministry of Commerce

Equipment and machinery

Not yet Not yet Not yet Not yet Semi automatic sewing machines, embroidery and knitters,

Recommendations


Review SME policies to ensure the acceleration of Cluster Development and Business Incubation Initiatives (provide quotas in government procurement for SMEs)

Need to support tertiary institutions to engage in Business Incubation activities and provide incubation space for SMEs (lessons from ASIA and BRICS)

Make use of Peer Review mechanism to enable governments to learn and share best practices in SME strategies and implementation practices e.g. Mauritius, Kenya, etc)

Review of school/Educational curricula to ensure incorporation of entrepreneurial learning at early stages of learning

Mass community sensitisation to alleviate impact of negative cultural beliefs

Thank You For Your Attention.Contact:

FEMCOM COMESAMrs. Katherine Ichoya, CEO:

[email protected]; [email protected] Mr. Willys Simfukwe, Project Manager:

[email protected]@comesa.int


mailto:[email protected]


