Organisation: Swisscontact

About Swisscontact

Swisscontact South Africa (SSA) is a not-for-profit organisation focusing on facilitating business support at the local level rather than providing services directly to the market. SSA entered the business development market in the Western Cape South Africa in early 2003. Between 2003 and 2005 SSA instituted a Business Development Program with two focus areas (Development of Business Development Services and a Growth Voucher program) aimed at stimulating business development services so as to increase small, medium enterprise (SME) competitiveness and promote transformation in the area of the Western Cape region.

Current Swisscontact Programmes

Services for enterprise expansion (Western Cape)

The Project selects growth-orientated SMEs that have identified an opportunity for growth and are in need of financial assistance. All interested SMEs must be established businesses and in operation for over two years, seeking to implement a business expansion plan. The Project grants financial support for the adaptation of the expansion plan and endeavor to facilitate access to finance for its clients. The SME could identify a BDS provider or select from the project accredited list of BDS Providers to assist them in writing up the expansion plan.  The BDS provider is paid as the expansion plan is implemented. The Project monitors the progress of SMEs and provides mentoring support for SEE clients.

Supply Action Plan (Western Cape)

The SAP aims to support primary contractor SME business operating for over two years that are engaged with several SME sub-contractors. This procurement hub is expected to support SMEs with embedded support services leading to increased quality of product/service delivery as well as management and operational efficiency. The Project identifies contractors and matches them with BDS providers who provide skills training or management systems at the contractor or sub-contractor level. The Project facilitates and monitors the performance of SAP.

Access to Finance for small businesses (Gauteng)

The Project is funded by Credit Suisse and its objective is to increase small businesses' contribution to job creation in the Gauteng province through improved economic performance and competitiveness. This will be achieved through the 3 major components of the project, namely: Information and entrepreneurial Awareness campaigns: to create awareness among small businesses and inform them on the role and importance of business development services as well as on the availability on leding products of financial institutions for business growth and expansion; Mentorship: to offer a mentoring program that focuses on access to finance and credit - related services; Commitment and Dialogue with Stakeholders of the South African finacial service sector: to monitor the results of the mentoring program and engage stakeholders in assigning resources and discusions on smal business finance.

Mission

Swisscontact is the organization of the Swiss private sector for development cooperation. Its aim is to promote private economic and social development in selected countries in the South and East through advisory services, training and continuing education. By applying the principle of helping others to help themselves, Swisscontact and its local partners are fighting poverty effectively.

Who are we?

Swisscontact is a politically and denominationally neutral organization founded in 1959 by personalities from the Swiss private business and university sectors. Over five hundred staff members are active for Swisscontact in project countries as well as in Switzerland . In addition the experts of our Senior Expert Corps offer their know-how as volunteers. The foundation is tax-exempt and recognized as a non-profit organization.

What do we do?

Our goal is to promote sustainable development (socially, ecologically and economically) in selected southern and eastern countries. Cooperation with local partners is a priority for Swisscontact, as our leading principle is: "Helping Others to Help Themselves".

Why do we do this?

Millions of people in developing countries and in Eastern Europe live in degrading circumstances. Their opportunities to develop are severely hampered by basic economic and political conditions as well as by their own financial and social situation. By offering education and further training, Swisscontact seeks to ensure that people living in the poorest countries can themselves be responsible for improving their quality of life.

How do we get involved?

To further the development of our partner countries and also to reduce poverty, we run programs in the following areas:

• Encouraging vocational training
• Promoting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and improving their basic conditions
• Financial services: Improving the possibilities for SMEs to save and receive loans by offering micro-credit schemes and financing facilities
• Environmental protection: Reducing the environmental burden in towns and cities In all areas, particular emphasis is placed on promoting the private-sector economy
• What are our guiding principles? Our work is governed by the following principles:
• Promoting the civil society and strengthening the private-sector economy
• Helping people to help themselves
• Long-term co-operation with local partners
• Promoting equal opportunities for women
• Protecting the environment

How do we finance our projects?

A financial commitment from the Swiss private sector, municipalities, cantons and individuals ensure the viability of Swisscontact's projects. Contributions by the Swiss government, multilateral organizations and private foundations represent other sources of funding. For organizational reasons, some of these mandates are executed by Swisscontact Services AG.