CARIBBEAN CONSULTING GROUP:: ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING THE QUARTER

8- Development of business services for MSMEs

8.1- Survey to determine unmet or underutilized business services of MSMEs business services needs.

MSMEs business services needs.

During the different focus groups, face to face meeting and workshops organized with operators in different MarChE targeted value chains, CBC has been able to assess their business services needs.

These findings have been confirmed by representatives of the regional office of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Tourism and the Coordinator of the Agriculture Commission of the Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et des Professions du Sud-est.

During these focus groups, meeting and workshops, entrepreneurs were invited to talk about their sector and enterprise and to express their problems and proposals.

MSMEs in MarChE targeted value chains, in the Jacmel region are looking for business services at different stages of production and sale.

The variety of services needed can be divided into two phases:

1. an input phase including activities such as provision of entrants and raw materials, technical assistance and training, products development and design, credit for production;
2. an output phase which includes activities such as quality control, packaging, transportation, market information and research, promotion and publicity.

University, non profit organizations and international cooperation agencies services

Specific interviews were also conducted with a French technical assistant at the Faculty of Management and Administration of Université Notre Dame d’Haiti (UNDH), the Executive Director of the Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et des Professions du Sud-Est, the Director of Atelier Pilotage de Technologie (APTEC), the Coordinator of Association pour le Développement de l’Artisanat du Sud-est (ADASE), the Coordinator of REPSIPKPA to discuss about services provided by these institutions to their members and to the business community.

Only APTEC is able to serve its members through training and commercialization of their products with the support on cooperation agencies or programs such as Fonds pour le Développement et l’Emploi (FODEM).

Different international cooperation agencies, local and international NGOs are conducting projects in the agriculture sector.

Their field technicians provide technical assistance to peasants associations.

Some institutions such as Panamerican Development Foundation (PADF-PRODED), SUCO, Spanish NGOs supported by Agence Espagnole de Coopération Internationale (AECI), Action pour un Développement Durable (ACDED), FAO, World Concern, Coordination Régionale des Organisations du Sud-est (CROSE) also provides entrants and seeds.

ACDED and CROSE have specific technical assistance and training programs in agriculture when supported by a donor.

With the support of the EU and Wett Life Junger, ACDED is conducting an agroforestry program in Marigot.

Some “boutiques for entrants” are put in place by a few peasants associations such as Féderation de Développement Communautaire, Vive Espoir de Cap-Rouge, Organisation de Paysans de Tillier.

Financial services are also provided by four (4) non profit organizations Fondation Haïtienne d’Aide à la Femme (FHAF), Finca, Fonkoze, APTEC.

Fédération Association Caféières Natives (FACN) with the financial and technical support of the Taiwanese Government and the Ministry of Agriculture, des Ressources Naturelles et du Développement Rural has inaugurated, in 2008, an agro industrial complex equipped with dormitories, workshops and a showrooms.

This complex, if organized and well equipped can play the role of the largest Business Services Provider in the Jacmel region by offering services for training and technical assistance, storage, processing, pre-conditioning, quality control, packaging and exhibits.

The Chambre d’Agriculture du Sud-est created in 2008 and covering all communes of the department provides technical assistance to its members in poultry development.

It is also promoting the creation of communal chambers of agriculture.

Well-known painter and artisan, Ronald Mevs is setting up a center at rue du Commerce to promote artists works.

Fondasyon Sant d’A Jakmèl (FOSAJ), with the support of European Union has conducted a three year project supporting artisans in partnership with ADASE. FOSAJ used to conduct a special two year training program for painters.

This program and other activities have stopped because of the departure of the founders of this foundation.

This foundation hosts ADASE boutique and is looking for funds to pursue its programs.

With a grant of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), Femmes en Démocratie (FED), an organization affiliated to Vital Voices Global Partnership is conducting a women micro entrepreneurs development program.

This program target specific value chains such as mango, yam, banana, castor oils and vetiver, textile/craft, cassava, herbs/spices/pepper in Bas Cap Rouge Jacmel, Marigot and La Vallée.

It provides training and technical assistance in organizational and managerial development and production to women micro entrepreneurs, conducts national and international market studies, facilitates promotion of products at national and international fairs.

Through this program, Femmes en Démocratie is developing a marketing and commercialization unit to facilitate women products access on the local and international market.

Government programs

The Ministry of Agriculture through the Bureau Communal Agricole provides producers with entrants and seeds at preferential prices.

The Ministry of Education is conducting a technical training program for youth from 15 – 25 through the Institut National de Formation Professionnelle (INFP).

This program provides grants to local non profit organizations for six months training programs.

Through this program, some organizations have developed training projects for artisans and artists.

For profit institutions business services

Caribbean Business Consulting (CBC) and Agritech are the two firms offering business consultancies and advisory services in the region.

But most MSME in the region cannot afford their expertise and services.

The only private and for profit business services providers selling their services and products to MSMEs are commercial banks and financial cooperatives called Caisses Populaires.

Many farmers are members of the Caisses Populaires.

Two commercial banks and ten (10) caisses populaires provides financial services in the Jacmel region including Bainet.

Entrants are sold in rural areas by micro entrepreneurs.

In Jacmel, there is only one formal enterprise selling entrants: Agroservice.

There is no accounting and auditing firm in the region.

There is a marketing and promotion firm, Image Promo Creole specialized in special events organization which sells its services to public institutions such as the Mayor office and Ministries.

Other firm, Mache Cha production offers its services for special events organization.

Another firm owned by Ray Alphonse is specialized in serigraphy and produce mostly T-Shirts for special event.

 

8.2- Strategy and plans to address MSMEs business services

To meet MSMEs business services, CBC suggests a strategy focusing on supporting:

• Three micro and small enterprises which can provide marketing and promotion service;
• Artists and designers such as Moro Baruk, Lisa Laraque, Ronald Mevs, Pascale Faublas living in Jacmel and master artisans such as André Métellus, Didier Civil can serve as Business Services Providers for products development and designs for the craft and art sector.
• Three (3) associations of farmers and artisans which can play the role of Business Services Providers for their members and other actors of their industry: ADASE, OAM, REPSIPKA.
• Association Touristique du Sud-est d’Haiti (ATSEH) which can offer to its members and other operators in the tourism sector training and technical assistance, purchasing, promotion, marketing, commercialization, reservation services.
• Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et des Professions du Sud-est (CCIPSE) which can offer its members through its Agriculture Commission training and technical assistance, promotion, marketing, commercialization services, participation to international fairs.
• The Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Accounting of Université Notre Dame d’Haïti (UNDH) which will become a CDA modeled after the CDA in the North.
• Start up enterprises/consulting firms and independent consultants offering accounting, management, marketing, commercialization services by UNDH graduates.

 

Support to three (3) micro and small enterprises

Developing specific on site training in management functions and products innovation for Image Promo Créole, Mache Cha production and Ray Alphonse.

ATA should also provide technical assistance to these firms in special events management and new products development so that they can better serve creative industries, the tourism and the agriculture sector in there region.

 

Training and technical assistance to Association pour le Développement de l’Artisanat du Sud-est (ADASE)

MarChE Jacmel office will support Association pour le Développement de l’Artisanat du Sud-est (ADASE) in its restructuration and organizational development.

Specific training in organizational, personal and managerial development will be organized for ADASE board members and staff so that the association can carry out business services to its members and other artisans efficiently and in a business like manner.

Simple record keeping system will be developed for ADASE for better transparency and accountability.

A data base of its members will also be developed.

A web site should be also created for ADASE.

Reinforced and equipped ADASE can play a key role as Business Services Providers for its members, other artisans associations and artisans in the region.

As a Business Services Provider, ADASE will receive training and technical assistance to: (i) group artisans, develop special arrangements with importers and manufacturers for purchasing of raw materials in bulk at lower prices; (ii) offer services such as quality control, packaging, transportation, marketing and participation to local and international fairs.

MarChE has already assisted ADASE in the development of a strategic plan which includes this new perspective of business services mission.

ADASE will be strengthened to offer a mix of services of which some will be profitable and other not.

Profitable services will guarantee the long term sustainability of ADASE as a Business Services Provider.

ADASE will also be able to look for the assistance of local designers and artists such as Moro Baruk, Ronald Mevs to offer services in products development and designs to its members.

These designers can benefit from a commission on the sales of the products by ADASE boutiques or at national and international fairs.

MarChe Jacmel office will assist ADASE in submitting a proposal to MarChE for its development as a Business Service Provider for the handicraft sector.

ADASE will also be invited to participate to training seminars in Best Management Practices for BSPs

 

Training and technical assistance to Oganizasyon Akolad Marigot (OAM)

With a membership of more than six hundred (600) farmers and its involvement in community development since 1992 in Marigot, OAM is one of the most recognized community based organization in the Southeast region.

The organization is located in the most important banana production zone of the region.

Reinforced and equipped, OAM can act as business services provider for its members and other farmers involved in banana production.

Through sound organization, OAM can shorten this value added chain considerably by limiting the number of actors.

It can facilitate identification of new markets, consolidation of existing ones, product transportation and sourcing of intrants and seeds.

Through MarChe, CBC and ORE should join forces to equipped OAM to become the leading business services provider for the banana value chain in the region.

Both institutions are already assisting OAM in developing its 2009-2012 strategic plan including technical assistance and training, phytosanitary treatment, raw materials and entrants supply, marketing and commercialization.

By providing demand-driven services, OAM will be able to retain a fee on these services for the organization to aim at long term sustainability.

Some services such as technical assistance and training may be less profitable but others like entrants and seeds supply, commercialization can be more profitable.

MarChe Jacmel office with technical advices of ORE will assist OAM in submitting a proposal to MarChE for its development as a Business Service Provider for the banana value chain in the Southeast.

OAM will also be invited to participate to training seminars in Best Management Practices for BSPs

Training and technical assistance to Regwoupman Plantè Sidès pou Pwodiksyon ak Komèsyalizasyon Pwodui Agrikòl (REPSIPKPA)

The same strategy is proposed for REPSIPKPA for the mango value chain.

This organization will have to increase its membership and develop alliances with other organization involved in mango production such Association de Planteurs pour le Développement de Meyer (APLADEM).

This organization is lead by a young dynamic women entrepreneur which is a certified technician in agriculture working for ACDI/VOCA.

She is a provider of mangoes and giraumon to exporters.

She is also the liaison agent between Ralph Perry Import Export, an organic mangoes exporter and mangoes growers in the Southeast region.

She has been providing organic mangoes to Perry for four years under an association of mangoes farmers from Jacmel and Leogane, RAPCOMOJL which detains an organic certification.

MarChe Jacmel office with technical advices of ORE will assist REPSIPKPA in submitting a proposal to MarChE for its development as a Business Service Provider for the mango value chain in the Southeast.

REPSIPKPA will also be invited to participate to training seminars in Best Management Practices for BSPs

 

Training and technical assistance to Fédération Association Caféières Natives (FACN)

The MarChE Jacmel office should develop a special cooperation with FACN and assist this organization in developing a strategic plan for business services in the region.

Its agro industrial complex can be a hub for specialized business services such as equipments repair, storage, packaging, qualitiy control, exhibit etc.

This organization will also be invited to participate to training sessions in Best Management Practices for BSPs.

 

Training and technical assistance to Association Touristique du Sud-est d’Haiti (ATSEH) and the Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et des Professions du Sud-est (CCIPSE)

MarChE Jacmel office will assist ATSEH and the Agriculture Commission of the CCIPSE in developing a strategic plan which will reinforce their ability to serve theirs members and meet their needs.

These two associations can provide services which farmers and artisans will not be able to offer to their members such as importing raw materials, participating to international fairs and missions, receiving international buyers, market studies, negotiating with ministries and other public or private institutions, managing a guarantee funds for credit.

MarChE Jacmel office can provide technical assistance to these associations in services and products development for their members and the business sector in general.

 

Faculté des Sciences Adminisratives et Comptables de Jacmel of Université Notre Dame d’Haïti (UNDH)

During MarChE second year, CBC will be assisted by Group Croissance for the development of a Centre de Développement des Affaires within UNDH modeled after the North CDA.

 

Start-up consulting firms and independent consultants

MarChE Jacmel office will provide internships in accounting, management, marketing, publicity firms in Port-au-Prince to UNDH students and graduates interested in creating their own consulting firm.

Training and technical assistance will be also provided to these emerging entrepreneurs in consulting firms management and products.

They will develop their own business plan and MarChE should equipped them with computers and other equipments on a competitive basis.

A paper presenting MSMEs business services needs by MarChE targeted sectors and a training and technical assist plan for Business Services Providers has been submitted to CNFA.

Next trimester, MarChE Jacmel office will start implementing this plan.

GROUPE CROISSANCE CBC CALENDAR MARCHE RESOURCE

 

@2009 MarChE