Helping small firms to network – the experience of UNIDO
This article examines what can be done to support networking among small businesses when sectoral clusters do not already exist. A UNIDO project in four countries – Bolivia, Jamaica, Honduras and Nicaragua – has fostered networks among small businesses in a given subsectorby preparing groups of businesses; consolidating groups and supporting an initial joint project; identifying weaknesses; and helping to implement joint strategic projects. Many of the changes in ways of working that have occurred have resulted in improvements to product quality and reliability,
enabling the groups of businesses to move up market. Networks of businesses are also more easy to assist with training and other forms of support than individuals. Associations of networks can also represent their members' interests at the national level by lobbying.
by preparing groups of businesses; consolidating groups and supporting an initial joint project; identifying weaknesses; and helping to implement joint strategic projects. Many of the changes in ways of working that have occurred have resulted in improvements to product quality and reliability,
enabling the groups of businesses to move up market. Networks of businesses are also more easy to assist with training and other forms of support than individuals. Associations of networks can also represent their members' interests at the national level by lobbying.
In search of the African miracle: debates on successful small enterprise development in Africa
Rogerson, C.M
Habitat International, Vol. 25 (2001), Iss. 1 P.115
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0197-3975(00)00033-3 [Citations: 43]A comparison of interfirm relational capabilities in internationalising small-business enterprises (SBEs) and large firms in a developing country
Matanda, Margaret Jekanyika
Ndubisi, Nelson Oly
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Vol. 13 (2011), Iss. 3/4 P.296
https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEIM.2011.039824 [Citations: 2]Geography and microenterprises: clustering, networking, and knowledge spillovers
Roy Mersland, Roy Mersland
Jose Martinez, Jose Martinez
Michael McPherson, Michael McPherson
David Molina, David Molina
Jeffrey Rous, Jeffrey Rous
Enterprise Development & Microfinance, Vol. 24 (2013), Iss. 4 P.346
https://doi.org/10.3362/1755-1986.2013.031 [Citations: 0]Turning a Problem Into Profit: Using Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) for Making Handicrafts at Lake Alaotra, Madagascar
Rakotoarisoa, T. F.
Richter, T.
Rakotondramanana, H.
Mantilla-Contreras, J.
Economic Botany, Vol. 70 (2016), Iss. 4 P.365
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-016-9362-y [Citations: 24]How to Promote Clusters: Policy Experiences from Latin America
Altenburg, Tilman
Meyer-Stamer, JÖRG
World Development, Vol. 27 (1999), Iss. 9 P.1693
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(99)00081-9 [Citations: 210]- Value chain financing: evidence from Zambia on smallholder access to finance for mechanization
- Developing agro-pastoral entrepreneurship: bundling blended finance and technology
- Building frontline market facilitators' capacity: the case of the ‘Integrating Very Poor Producers into Value Chains Field Guide’
- Boosting financial inclusion through social assistance reform: evidence-based approach in selecting a payment system
- Impact of COVID-19 on livestock exports from Somalia and the Horn of Africa
Browse our other journals
