Top > Regional Affairs > Africa > TICAD > Illustrative List Of Ongoing and Pipeline Projects/Programs For African Development As a Reference Document for TICAD II > II. Economic Development : Promoting Private Sector (2.1 Private Sector Development) > OECD/Club du Sahel Support Unit for Private Sector Development Phase II Program (1998-2000)

OECD/Club du Sahel Support Unit for Private Sector Development
Phase II Program (1998-2000)

I.Basic data

Sector(s): Private sector development in Africa
Title: Support Unit for Private Sector; period 1998-2002
Donor countries / organizations: Belgium, Canada, EU, France, Japan, Switzerland, United States, World Bank
Beneficiary countries: West Africa (13 countries, both French - and English-speaking), South Africa, East Africa
Implementing agencies in beneficiary countries / regions: Regional Private Sector Associations
Starting Date: January 1998
Project / Program budget: $2,000,000 per year
Finance / Type of cooperation: Grants

II.Project / program description

  1. Objectives:
    Private sector capacity building - Regional South-South cooperation - Coordination
    Creation and subsequent development of new organizational models (Enterprise Networks) for the African private sector which would bring together entrepreneurs capable of becoming credible and independent partners in economic development. This new program will ensure continued support to WAEN (West African Enterprise Network) and expand this concept to other regions of Sub-Saharan Africa using the method we developed together with WAEN, with the aim of bringing together the private sector of the various regions in Africa.
  2. Activities / contents
    The Support Unit has focused on five process-oriented activities to assist in the creation of independent, self-financed national networks and a member-funded regional headquarters:
    1. Process support for creation and organization of national networks: training in strategic management, in advocacy techniques, in drafting/monitoring national/regional strategic action plans
    2. External relations in the region and with overseas business partners and donors
    3. Organization of regional and international events (regional conferences)
    4. Support for advocacy campaigns to institute policy reforms
    5. Support for economic cooperation and integration in Africa: creation of West African Forum (WAEN, ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS), collaboration with UEMOA on harmonization of investment codes
  3. Expected outcomes / impacts
    1. Creation of an independent private sector capacity for policy and program analysis and proposal of solutions to enhance economic development;
    2. Enterprise Networks can respond to member needs by identifying business potential, designing capacity building programs and meeting information needs;
    3. Networks encourage new entrants and open their region to the rest of Africa and the outside world;
    4. Better understanding of the African private sector in government, the donor and NGO community and external partners.

III.Contact point:

Mr. Michel Courcelle
Private Sector Development Support Unit: c/o OECD-Club du Sahel
63 boulevard Beaséjour - 75016 Paris (France)
Tel: 33 1 44 14 69 10
Fax: 33 1 44 14 69 19
Michel.courcelle@oecd.org

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