ITP – Private Sector Development (ITP Strategic Business Management & Private Sector Growth Strategies)

The International Training Programmes for Private Sector Development is a combined ITP, including two programmes, ‘Strategic Business Management’ and ‘Private Sector Growth Strategies’ (ITP SBM & PSGS). The overall aim of this programme was to contribute to the development of a vibrant and sustainable private sector. It also strengthened collaboration between the private and public sectors, for better functioning markets and improved integration in world trade. The programme blended both business leaders from small and medium-sized businesses and high-level professionals from national institutions with a mandate to develop and promote a sustainable private sector, to improve market functionality and/or to stimulate greater integration in world trade.

The training was designed to contribute to revitalization and changes for the better in each participant’s business/organisation. This in turn contributed to long-term and considerable change at a national level, improving the business climate and stimulating sustainable economic growth. Participants from the PSGS and SBM programmes represented public institutions, business organisations and CSOs, as well as private businesses. They also worked together in country teams to develop a common action plan for private sector development in their country sought to foster increased collaboration between the public and private sector through dialogue.

This large-scale program involved activities to strengthen the target group’s overall strategic planning and management, capacity building and networking opportunities. The capacity building mainly consisted of training.

The programmes have targeted the following countries: Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kenya, Kosovo, Liberia, Moldova, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The primary target group included representatives from:

• national governmental organisations
• authorities and semi-government organisations and institutions
• relevant Civil Society Organisations, such as NGOs, business member associations, and community based organisations
• CEOs or top managers of small or medium size enterprises
• Managers of significant and distinct departments at large enterprises, with responsibility for its own profit

The SBM programme provided the participants with:

1. knowledge and skills to enhance the growth and success of their own business,
2. insight into how to stimulate private sector development in their country, and
3. capacity and tools to actively contribute to the development of a Common Action Plan for private sector development in their country.

The participants acquired tools, manuals and procedures in order to strengthen an increase competitiveness of their busines, including, for example, business analysis, business plan development , market identification, product diversification, supporting improvements in innovation and technology, staretgy development and implementation etc.

The PSGS programme provided the participants with:

1. in-depth knowledge and skills on how to stimulate and promote private sector development,
2. capacity and knowledge to drive change in the own organisation to enhance its contribution to private sector development, and
3. capacity and tools to actively contribute to the development of a Common Action Plan for private sector development in the country.

Working for a better business climate included examination of how public organisations and other groups promoting enterprise development (national governmental organisations, authorities and semi-government organisations and institutions, relevant associations such as chambers of commerce, business associations) can work together with the private sector and how to integrate strategies stimulating fundamental economic growth to improve life for all.This involved policy and startegy development, improving regulation or improving communication and working with a broad range of non-governmental stakeholders. The participants received the tools to anchor and promote their country's reform process at their respective organisation.