Publication: SME Solutions Center—Kenya : Developing Alternative Financing Solutions for Small and Medium Enterprises
Date
2010-05
ISSN
Published
2010-05
Author(s)
Maina, Kiragu
Butoyi, Scholastica
Michira, Nkatha
Abstract
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in
Africa have been hailed as the engine of economic growth.
They are at the heart of developing countries'
entrepreneurship, the source of most new employment and
productive investment, and the basis for growth and poverty
reduction. Despite the economic potential of SMEs, they face
severe constraints related to access to resources, finance,
and services, as well as procedural barriers all of which
limit their potential to invest, innovate, and improve
productivity and sustainability. To address these
constraints, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
developed the SME Solutions Centre (SSC) Pilot Program in
Kenya. The SSC value proposition centers on four key
pillars: access to finance, access to advisory
services/technical assistance (now SME management
solutions), access to reliable market information, and
support for an enhanced business enabling environment. This
smart lesson details the lessons learned from the SSC's
experience with the access to finance pillar.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Maina, Kiragu; Butoyi, Scholastica; Michira, Nkatha. 2010. SME Solutions Center—Kenya : Developing Alternative Financing Solutions for Small and Medium Enterprises. IFC Smart Lessons Brief. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/10490 License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO.”
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