The key to poverty alleviation is economic growth that is inclusive and reaches the majority of people. Improving the performance and sustainability of local entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which represent the backbone of global economic activity, can help achieve this type of growth. In that context, earlier this year the WBCSD and SNV published an Issue Brief on SMEs, which explains how governments can help alleviate poverty by focusing on SMEs and how larger corporations can help themselves by including SMEs in their value chains.
Another interesting publication in the domain of SME development is Business Linkages: Lessons, opportunities, and challenges, a report published by the International Business Leaders Forum, Harvard University and the IFC. It provides an analysis of how companies can develop stronger relationships with SMEs, as well as a compilation of successful business linkage initiatives.
In terms of SME capacity building, IBM and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, have recently launched a new version of an SME Toolkit, a free business management information and training toolkit for small businesses and SMEs on accounting and finance, business planning, human resources, marketing and sales, operations, and information technology. The SME Toolkit offers a wide range of how-to articles, business forms, free business software, online training, self-assessment exercises, quizzes, and resources to help entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers in emerging markets and developing countries start, finance, formalize, and grow their businesses. The toolkit is free and multilingual, and includes most notably a Latin American focus.
- El SME Toolkit América Latina brinda sin costo información sobre la gestión empresarial y capacitación para pequeñas y medianas empresas en las áreas de contabilidad y finanzas, planificación empresarial, recursos humanos, publicidad y ventas, operaciones, y tecnología informática. La herramienta ofrece un amplio rango de artículos instruccionales, formularios empresariales, software empresarial, cursos de capacitación en línea, ejercicios de asesoría, pruebas, y recursos para ayudar a emprendedores, empresarios, y gerentes en América Latina emprender, financiar, formalizar, y crecer sus negocios.
The toolkit is organized by eight major subject areas: accounting and finance, business planning, human resources, international business, legal and insurance, marketing and sales, operations, and technology. It includes specially designed free tools that help small businesses make decisions or meet online, from an online calculator that helps small businesses determine their readiness for financing, to free software to build a web site, to community tools such as online conferencing, blog capability, and group calendars.
The toolkit also helps businesses connect to the global economy for sales opportunities by providing data on a country’s economic performance, import/export regulations, transportation rules and patent laws.
Comments