Thematic reviews, briefing notes, ECPs and reports

Darwin Initiative toolkit for SMEs

3 General business literature

3.1 Overview

There are any one of a thousand business planning guidelines in almost every European country - a quick web search under 'business plan guide' will reveal many of these. This section provides a selection with emphasis on materials that are focussed on small enterprise development, and wherever possible, using natural resources.

3.2 Five key resources

These resources were chosen to provide the best overview for this field, but it is also worth checking out the other resources in this section.

Practical Action- Mapping the market, a framework for rural development policy and practice

This paper argues that efforts to improve or secure the income of poor rural producers and workers are best secured through concentrating on the improved overall performance of specific economic channels or market chains.

Deloitte and Touche- Writing a successful business plan

Prepared by Deloitte and Touche, the purpose of this guidebook is to take the intimidation out of the business plan process and to highlight key issues worth consideration as you research, prepare, and write your plan.

New Ventures- tools to promote sustainable enterprise for SMEs

"New Ventures" programme which aims to promote sustainable enterprise amongst SMEs by building capacity and developing a set of tools to support SMEs

FAO- A practical guide for Group Promoters to assist groups in setting up and running successful small enterprises

Shows how small enterprises can be developed and run by small groups in rural communities using a participative approach. It is intended for use by Group Promoters (GPs), extension workers and other rural development staff to help existing groups to set up and run their enterprises.

IFC- SME toolkit- Business Plans

A host of useful resources, tools and articles.

3.3 Market research

Tools/guidelines/methodologies

A framework for market based interventions [refer doc]

Proposes a framework for market-based interventions that may be applicable to a wider range of blended value activities.

FAO- Understanding and using market information

To assist extension workers, and others in regular contact with farming communities, to advise farmers on how best to use market information.

FAO- Planning and designing rural markets

This guide is designed to assist community planners, rural engineers and agricultural extension units to formulate and implement relevant market development plans.

Action for Enterprise- Promoting market solutions to sub-sector and business constraints

Action for Enterprise document which has developed tools and methodologies for program design and implementation that combines the strengths of value chain and sub-sector analysis with business and market development principles.

Practical Action case studies in market development

Experiences in participatory market development in Bangladesh, Peru, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Management Help- management library

A complete background to marketing.

Springfield Centre

A number of papers are put forward which focus on enhancing rural markets in Less Developed Countries.

FAO- A guide to marketing costs and how to calculate them

To explain basic concepts of agricultural marketing costs and marketing margins. It identifies the main types of marketing costs, provides brief advice on how to calculate them and discusses the interpretation of marketing margins.

Reports/literature

Practical Action- Lessons and insights in participatory market chain analysis

Explores the ways in which the five project teams of the Markets and Livelihoods Programme of DfID understood and used Participatory Market Chain Analysis (PMCA) to facilitate the development of markets in different contexts and for different products.

Practical Action- Understanding livelihoods that involve micro-enterprise

Draws together arguments, conclusions and insights generated by research to develop and test practical tools that could help development practitioners use sustainable livelihoods approaches in the particular context of enterprise development.

Bernet et al- Participatory market chain approach

Approach that seeks to generate group innovations based on a well-led and -structured participatory process that gradually stimulates 1) interest, 2) trust and 3) collaboration among members of the market chain.

3.4 Business planning

Tools/guidelines/methodologies

Management Help- management library for business planning

A complete background to business planning for non-profits and for-profit enterprises.

IDRC- Handbook for value chain research

Overview of value chain analysis.

IIED- Policy Power Tools

Mechanisms for influencing decisions and decision-making about natural resource management. Instruments, approaches, schemes, devices and methods (among many other synonyms) for tackling the differences in power that impede policies and institutions from achieving equitable natural resource management.

Next Billion.net (World Resources Institute)

The Activity Database tracks innovative enterprises and partnerships that offer products and services to underserved communities in developing countries. It is meant to serve as a knowledgebase for those interested in researching and developing sustainable business models that address the needs of the world’s poorest citizens.

US Small Business Administration- Small Business Planner

This Small Business Planner includes information and resources that will help you at any stage of the business lifecycle.

Competency based Economies Formation of Enterprise (CEFE)

CEFE is a comprehensive set of training instruments using an action-oriented approach and experiential learning methods to develop and enhance the business management and personal competencies of a wide range of target groups, mostly in the context of income and employment generation and economic development.

GroFin

GroFin is a multi-country business development and finance company focused on providing business support and risk capital to small- and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets underserved by traditional sources of capital.

Non-profit Enterprise and Self-sustainability Team publications

NESsT achieves its mission by combining the tools and strategies of business entrepreneurship with the mission and values of non-profit entrepreneurship to support the development of social enterprises in emerging democracies worldwide.

Kenya Gatsby Trust

Supports the micro and small enterprise sector in Kenya to grow and increase productivity for poverty reduction and wealth creation. This entails implementing a combination of services which include: Micro Financial Services; Business Development services; Technology Department and Transfer; Project Management and Consultancy.

Business Environment- Donor Committee's Business Environment Working Group

The database is used to share documents and information about donor-supported work to enhance the business environment to achieve pro-poor growth - with a particular focus on aspects of the Business Environment that discriminate against small firms.

MicroLinks- Micro-enterprise learning, information and knowledge sharing

"microLINKS" is a dynamic knowledge-sharing Web site designed to improve the impact of USAID-funded micro-enterprise programs and activities

UN Capital Development Fund- Microstart Guide

The MicroStart Guide offers a concrete methodology and ready-to-use tools for establishing a microfinance project. it offers existing or new economic and social service organizations a proven approach for meeting global demand for small loans to the smallest businesses. The MicroStart Guide can also be used by formal sector finance institutions interested in building outreach to this important sector.

International Labour Organisation- Small enterprise development team

Works to develop training and capacity building programmes for promoting sustainable small enterprises.

Business Development Services (BDS)

World Bank

Inter-American Development Bank

Swiss Organization for Development and Cooperation

Practical information for the development of small businesses.

International Finance Corporation

Overview of how IFC supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through investments and advisory work. Promoting the growth of SMEs in developing countries is an important part of their private sector development mission.

OECD- forum for SMEs

works to promote entrepreneurship and advance the performance of small businesses by evaluating and diffusing best practice policies in such areas as: business environment, financing, innovation, training, access to markets, e-business, women entrepreneurship.

UNIDO

The Service Module Private Sector Development supports the formulation and implementation of overall industrial strategies conducive to strengthening private sector development and promotes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

International Trade Centre

ITC provides technical assistance and market information on various product groups, country information, including directories of trade promotion organisations, ITC publications and projects.

The Expanding exports helpdesk

The Expanding Exports Helpdesk is an online resource, provided by the European Commission, to facilitate access for developing countries to markets within the European Union. The Expanding Exports Helpdesk provides relevant information required by developing country exporters interested in supplying the EU market.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The EBRD's lending programmes provide individual entrepreneurs and firms with access to otherwise scarce finance. It also provides complementary schemes that aim to help individual enterprises adapt to the demands of a market economy. Enterprises can apply to the BAS programme for subsidies to lower the cost of professional advisory services in a broad range of management consulting areas which include business planning and market research.

Business Link, UK

Practical advice for business

Reports/literature

Note, there are no reports to list in this section. All general business planning material is located under Tools/guidelines/methodologies

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