A Win-Win for Exchanging Tools and Ideas: South Africa

This report describes a meeting of the Implementation Grants Program (IGP) - Business Development Services (BDS) Learning Network that took place in Johannesburg.The main focus of the network members was to develop tools to enhance the impact of their efforts to improve the competitiveness of inclusive market systems with increased micro-enterprise participation and benefits.

The report gives the following details of the meeting:

• A review of eight case studies that taught the facilitation of:
  • Long term, win-win relationships between microenterprises and other market players;
  • Market system development with greater microenterprise participation and benefits;
  • Demand for business services critical to microenterprise competitiveness in changing markets.
• The discussion of new tools and frameworks to guide network learning;
• The development of a 'diagnostic and decision tool' to help facilitators track their impact at different stages of market entry, development and exit;
• The expansion of existing frameworks useful in understanding the characteristics of win-win market relationships and strategies.

The report concludes on the 'World Education's Ntinga Project' that aims to improve business linkages.