Enterprise in Africa

Abstract

Internationally, donors are increasing their emphasis on poverty-focused policies and on the notion of pro-poor growth. This publication examines key elements of the debate about small and micro enterprises (SMEs) from the perspective of the current poverty-growth debate and in the specific context of Africa. Contributing authors consider issues such as the effect of the macroeconomic climate on small enterprise development, the effectiveness of enterprises, and policies and programs to support them, and the impact of education on enterprise performance. The introductory chapter 'Enterprise in Africa: new contexts; renewed challenges' is by Simon McGrath and Kenneth King. Part one attempts to situate the subsequent debates about the SME sector in broader contexts of macro-economic prospects, trade patterns, and political disputes. The chapters are: Have Africa's economies turned the corner? / Tony Killick; Developmental states and small enterprises / Thandika Mkandawire; Gender, property rights and trade: constraints to Africa growth / Susan Joekes. Part two examines the overall structure and internal dynamics of the SME sector and the chapters are: MSEs tackle both poverty and growth (but in differing proportions) / Donald C. Mead; Micro-enterprises in West Africa / Jacques Charmes; Small enterprise development in post-apartheid South Africa / Christian M. Rogerson; Inherent gender inequities in small and micro-enterprise development in rural Africa / Fra Von Massow; Enterprise development in Africa: strategies for impact and growth / George Manu. Part three explores linkages, clusters and associations amongst enterprises in the sector and contains the following chapters: Do SMEs network for growth? / Abigail Barr; Enterprise clusters in Africa: linkages for growth and development / Dorothy McCormick; Trading agents and other producer services in African industrialization and globalization / Poul Ove Pedersen; MSE associations and enterprise promotion in Africa / Hans Christiaan Haan. Part four discusses the potential role of education, training and technology in SME development. The chapters are: Technology, NGOs and small enterprises: securing livelihoods through technical change / Andy Jeans; Competences and other factors affecting the small enterprise sector in Ibadan, Nigeria / Susanna Adam; Reshaping vocational training: hopeful signs from a Ghanaian experience / Lawrence A. Honny; The role and potential of technical and vocational education in formal education systems in Africa / Bonaventure Wanjala Kerre; Learning to grow?: the importance of education and training for small and micro-enterprise development / Simon McGrath and Kenneth King.