OBJECTIVES:

The SEEP Business Development Services (BDS) Working Group is dedicated to developing micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SEs) that increase income and employment around the world, by:

• Identifying, documenting and disseminating best practices in BDS;
  
  
• Educate the public and funders about the importance of BDS, and about practitioner perspectives on BDS strategies; Contribute to global standards and guidelines; and
  
  
• Network with and learn from fellow BDS Working Group members and share that learning with other SEEP members.
  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

BDS WORKING GROUP LISTSERVE

BDS LINKS

BDS TRAINING

COMMENTS

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• In partnership with Action for Enterprise, developed and conducted a six-day and a one-day State of the Art in BDS Training supported by USAID, the ILO, AED, SEEP and participant fees. Enterprise development specialists attended this participatory training to learn how to design best practice BDS initiatives and improve the outreach, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and impact of their programs and services.
  
  
• Developed and launched an on-line learning product, SEEP Guide to Business Development Services and Resources. A work in progress.
  
  
• Reviewed the funding criteria for the USAID Accelerated Growth Program.
  
  
• Provided input to the development of the BDS donor guidelines of the International Committee of Donor Agencies on Small Enterprise Development.
  http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/ent/papers/guide.htm
  
  
• Liaised with the Microenterprise Coalition.
  
  
• Hosted a "Hanoi Report Back Day" to disseminate and discuss the conclusions of the Donors Committee conference "Business Development Services for Small Enterprise Development in Asia: Developing Markets and Measuring Performance," Hanoi Vietnam, 2000.
  
  
• Presented the SEEP Microenterprise Marketing Study at the Donors Committee conference "Business Development Services for Small Enterprise Development in Asia: Developing Markets and Measuring Performance," Hanoi Vietnam, 2000.
  
  
• Developed the SEEP Microenterprise Marketing study into a training course offered at New Hampshire Colleges’ Summer Microenterprise Development Institute.
  
  
• 1999 study "Microenterprise Marketing: Trends, Lessons Learned, and Challenges" , by Mary McVay, co-sponsored by CARE International
  
  
• Provided assistance to the U.S. Small Business Administration on the design and conduct of a one-day seminar on business development in Cairo. The conference showcased the range of services provided to U.S. small businesses by the SBA.
  
  
• 1997 Study "Training Goes to Market: A Comparative Study of Two Kenyan Training Programs by Candace Nelson, co-sponsored by the USAID Microenterprise Best Practices Project. http://www.mip.org/
  
  
• Elaborated a framework for business development services that outlines the major categories of service and the issues common to all of them.
  
  
• Held a seminar on marketing that included a review of the literature, an historical overview of different approaches, and two case studies of innovative, current marketing projects
  
  
• Held a seminar on training and technical assistance featuring several case studies that provided different perspectives on industry-specific approaches, cost recovery and cost effectiveness
  
  
• Provided input to the design of the Roundtable conference "Building the Competitive Advantage of Micro and Small Businesses" held in June, 1996
  
  

CURRENT ACTIVITIES:

The BDS Working Group has 3 main goals, and several activities to help accomplish each:

• Goal 1: Identify, Document and Disseminate Best Practices in BDS
  
  
  • Activity 1: SEEP Guide to Business Development Services and Resources
    
    The major collaborative work effort of the BDS working group.
    
    
  • Activity 2: Deliver BDS Training State of the Art in BDS: in July in Washington, DC and potentially at other sites as opportunities arise. The Working Group provides input to the Action for Enterprise and the BDS Coordinator.
    
    
• GOAL 2: Educate the public and funders about the importance of BDS, and about
  practitioner perspectives on BDS strategies.
  Theme: to maintain poverty alleviation and economic development as the main goal of BDS initiatives.
  
  • Activity 1: Continue reactive Donor Dialogue and dialogue with the Microenterprise Coalition
    
    
  • Activity 2: Launch an Education campaign about BDS
    
    Secondary Activity of the BDS Working Group Members.
    
    
• GOAL 3: network with and learn from fellow BDS Working Group members, and
  share learning with other SEEP members.
  
  
  • Activity 1: Hold month meetings in which learning takes place, as we accomplish the above goals.
    
    Primary activity of the BDS working group members.
    
    Activity 2: BDS WORKING GROUP LISTSERVE: SEEP Members may join the working group listserve and hear about working group meetings, discussions and be kept up-to-date about BDS events.
    
    Secondary activity of the BDS working group members.
    
    
    
• BDS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
  
  SEEP encourages you to take advantage of opportunities to further your knowledge and skills in this rapidly growing and changing field. Please click here to download a current list of training opportunities. To list a training event, contact marymcvay@Mindspring.com

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