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Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Accra, Ghana, September 14, 2011
– IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, announced today it has signed agreements with three institutions to expand access to its Business Edge training program in Burkina Faso and Ghana, helping entrepreneurs gain the skills they need to succeed and supporting small business growth in the country.
The two-year agreements will allow thousands of people in Burkina Faso and Ghana to access world-class management training and run more efficient businesses. Business Edge is an important part of IFC’s strategy to support the growth of smaller businesses in Africa. The interactive product has already helped more than 100,000 entrepreneurs in emerging markets improve their skills and profitability.
IFC has signed agreements with the following three partners, two in Burkina Faso and a third in Ghana:
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Maison de l’Entreprise du Burkina Faso (MEBF), a non-profit association that supports private sector development in Burkina Faso with more than 750 members.
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PILOTES SARL, which operates the website Burkinapmepmi.com to provide information, education, training, promotion and internet visibility to SMEs in Burkina Faso.
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The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), which aims to strengthens the institutional and operational capacities of civil society in West Africa through training, research and policy advocacy. WASCI is based in Ghana and operates in 15 countries in Africa.
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“The expansion of Business Edge solutions will support the growth of smaller businesses in West Africa. Supporting smaller businesses is a major focus of IFC’s work and a stronger SME business sector in West Africa will help create employment and generate growth in the region” said Mary-Jean Moyo, IFC Country Manager for Burkina Faso and Ghana.
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In addition to its capacity building efforts, IFC focuses on improving the business environment for SMEs and access to finance. By focusing on the regulatory problems that impact SMEs most (such as licensing, registration and taxation) IFC and its partners can create entry points for the other building blocks of the approach. To improve access to finance, IFC collaborates with local financial intermediaries that enable SMEs to grow their businesses with affordable and tailored credit and investment.
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About IFC
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IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, providing advisory services to businesses and governments, and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets. In fiscal 2011, amid economic uncertainty across the globe, we helped our clients create jobs, strengthen environmental performance, and contribute to their local communities—all while driving our investments to an all-time high of nearly $19 billion. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
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About Business Edge
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IFC Sustainable Business Advisory Services is supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises. Working with partners in Africa, IFC has helped thousands of entrepreneurs access the finance and skills they need to realize their potential. Business Edge™ is a face-to-face IFC training system that helps SMEs more easily access markets by strengthening their management capacity. The training can be customized for specific countries and regions in Africa. For more information, including a full list of our corporate partners and accredited training firms, visit
www.businessedge-africa.com
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