Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances I

Summary

Project Summary: 

Background & Context

The Promoting growth through competitive alliances I project works to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the Eswatini MSMEs, Social Enterprises and Producer Associations through the reinforcement of the support institutions, the establishment of public-private alliances, and the improvement of the access to finance and investments.

The specific objectives are the following:

Specific Objective 1 (SO1): Competitiveness’ of the value chain actors assessed and capacity of support ecosystem analysed

Specific Objective 2 (SO2): Public Private alliances convened in selected value chains resulting to improved jobs and growth

Specific Objective 3 (SO3): Capacities of business support institutions and associations enhanced with improved and a more inclusive delivery of support services to MSMEs

Specific Objective 4 (SO4): MSMEs, SEs and Producers association investment strategies developed

These objectives are aligned with the ITC’s Alliance for Action (A4A) methodology that brings together public and private actors with the aim to promote competitiveness and income-risk diversification for MSMEs, SEs, Producer Associations and smallholder farmers, improving sustainable commercial linkages between value chain operators at the national, regional and international levels.

The project objectives are also in line with broader agenda and development objectives as stipulated in the Eswatini National Development Strategy and Vision 2022; the 2008 Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan; the National Development Plan 2019-2022; the Strategic Roadmap 2019-2022; the Industrial Development Policy; the Financial inclusion strategy and of course the recently developed the Economic Recovery plan of 2020 responding to the impact of the covid-19 pandemic. The project recognizes the need to promote a broad based industrialization by increasing the participation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in manufacturing among other objectives. Similarly, the objectives outlined pays particular emphasis on boosting competitiveness and support the key actors, the Private sector and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

ITC will be implementing two complementary actions funded by the EU: Eswatini: Promoting growth through competitive alliances I and II.