Wednesday, August 29, 2007 SMEs get support on capacity building, competitiveness
A GROUP of social entrepreneurs are determined to help empower small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with capacity building and competitiveness programs to facilitate their growth and sustainability.
But even as the BSO (Business Support Organizations) Network implements its action plans towards this objective, members of the network also gear up for the challenge with their own training programs and advocacy activities.
"Being a young organization, the BSO Network needs to be strengthened and better empowered for it to vigorously pursue advocacy work for social entrepreneurship," said Joy Bacon, executive director.
Organized last year as a result of a five-year program of interventions by the Private Enterprise Accelerated Resource Linkages Phase II (Pearl2), a project of the Canadian International Development Agency (Cida), the network is composed of the executive directors of 29 major BSOs.
It made its formal debut during the recent SME Week celebration where the group was among the business support provider-exhibitors, the main focus of the event.
In describing their social mission, Miriam Bacalso, Pearl2 outreach and replication specialist, said "by working as a group, the BSOs and Investment Promotion Centers (IPCs) are able to help SMEs grow their businesses, employ more people and contribute to poverty reduction in the country".
Pearl2 supports BSOs and IPCs by helping strengthen their capabilities and enable them to provide more programs and services to their member SMEs.
Social entrepreneurship
Collectively, the network aims to enhance the orientation and application of social entrepreneurship among members; strengthen linkages among BSOs; establish strategic alliance among government and non-government institutions; and promote common advocacies. Concerns such as BSO effectiveness, SME productivity, ethics and corporate social responsibility are three major areas emphasized in their programs and advocacy.
A capacity building opportunity was presented through a recent study mission to Toronto, Ontario and participation in the International Development Days in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Under the program, interaction with other international BSOs for furniture, jewelry and animation; social entrepreneurs and International Development Aid Agencies in Canada were expected to result in better understanding of the best practices in social entrepreneurship and in the establishment of networking for better resource mobilization.
The network is looking at implementing the following under the BSO Effectiveness Program component:
* Executive Director Series for training delivery and marketing
* For training delivery: Developing the Non-Profit Board; Financial Oversight and Program Management
* Book on Practices that Work launching of 'Practices that Work, Challenges at Work', a compilation of stories from Executive Director- members of the network
* Program for Building Capacity for Integration, Cooperation, Collaboration and Partnership Building and
* Awards for BSOs
Possible programs under SME productivity/competitiveness may include the following:
* Subcontractors Development Program
* Manpower Development Program
* Market Intelligence Program
* Strategic Management Program
* Program for Building Capacity for Integration, Cooperation, Collaboration and Partnership Building
* Design Trends and Product Development training at the Network level
* Awards for SMEs
Under Ethics and CSR, the network has lined up advocacy and specific projects for the promotion of health and safety; environment and gender equality. (Liza C. Leong/Philexport News and Features/Sunnex)
