Methodology for Microenterprise Strategy Design in the Sahel

This paper argues that a micro and small scale enterprise (MSE) strategy should focus on the interests of the client, emanate from the client for whom it is prepared, and not be a set of recommendations from the outside.

It suggests that this kind of strategy requires interaction between the strategy team and client staff to ensure that the strategy presents feasible options for the client, and that the client then has ownership and follow up of the strategy.

It further recommends the following measures to encourage MSE growth:

• Transform the local financial system to make credit more readily available to MSEs;
• Stimulate policy or regulatory reform to eliminate artificial constraints repressing MSE competitiveness;
• Strengthen private sector institutions so they can address MSE needs, and develop a more efficient role for the state in relation to the private sector;
• Facilitate technological change to improve production efficiencies in smaller, more decentralized firms;
• Train entrepreneurs and their staffs in technical or managerial areas of identified weaknesses.