The International Council for Small Business – South Africa (ICSB-SA) is pleased to be collaborating with USAID Financial Sector Program (USAID/FSP) in promoting and hosting SMME Kopano- “a platform for engagement and dialogue – in a collegial spirit of constructive critique, encouragement and support – among entrepreneurship and SMME development practitioners countrywide. It’s a platform for collective reflection and learning. SMME development colleagues will share ideas, approaches, lessons and challenges and spur one another on to continuously improve practice and performance.” This conceptualization is in line with the ICSB-SA’s focus on fostering knowledge and experience sharing among entrepreneurship and SMME development players.

USAID/FSP’s interest in SMME Kopano stems from the realization that in developing countries like South Africa, financial intermediaries (FIs) and SMEs suffer from market failures owing to insufficient provision for integrated, reliable, relevant and solution oriented business information. Knowledge sharing can increase productivity, effectiveness and efficiency in processes and/or practices focused on enhancing SME access to finance. Through collaborative mechanisms, FSP seeks to foster productive energies among SME financing stakeholders to maximize impact by leveraging the resources of our partners like the ICSB- SA.

Structured in a debate format involving leading figures in the field, the first SMME Kopano will explore questions such as:

• Do we need to develop a long-term vision for entrepreneurship and SMME development in the country?
• What should its key elements be?
• Who should the key drivers be and what role should various actors play in developing and implementing such a vision?
• How should we measure success?
• How are current practices helping the country achieve long-term success in entrepreneurship and small business development?

SMME Kopano is open to all actors and those with interest in entrepreneurship and small business promotion in South Africa. To register your interest to attend the first SMME Kopano meeting to be held on Friday, 11 March 2011 from 12h00 to 15h00 please email Septi Bukula, ICSB-SA President, at septi@o-yes.co.za.

This article was written by Septi Bukula, ICSB-SA President, for the USAID/FSP Blog. Please click here for the original article.