SME Business Training & Coaching Loop: Capacity Building Opportunities for SMEs located in Ogun, Plateau and Niger State of Nigeria.
SME Business Training & Coaching Loop Do you run a business, cooperative or association in the agro-allied or construction sectors? Do you want to develop, improve or grow your business but don’t know how?
If you answered yes to one of the above questions, you might be interested in applying for the SME Business Training & Coaching Loop. This new training and coaching approach is implemented by the GIZ-SEDIN Programme (Pro-Poor Growth & Promotion of Employment Programme).
It addresses three of the most important challenges facing many businesses in Nigeria today:
Inadequate business knowledge and management skills.
Lack of guidance and practical steps that could bring about change and development.
Insufficient information on access to financial resources to grow businesses.
The Loop offers tailor-made solutions for your enterprise to address some of these challenges and can provide you with new ideas for your business development, improvement and growth. This unique opportunity to develop, improve or grow your business is implemented by GIZ-SEDIN Programme only in Niger, Ogun and Plateau States.
NOTE: Only businesses located in these 3 states can apply. Applications from other states will be rejected.
What is the SME Loop?
The SME Loop consists of five phases of training and coaching, ending with a Graduation Ceremony for those who have successfully completed all five phases. The time span for the implementation of one entire SME Loop is about six months.
It is expected to start in September 2018 and finish in February 2019. The five phases are as follows:
- Pre-Selection: Two group-coaching sessions, 2. First Training (3 days), 3. Coaching Phase 1: For a period of two months, a coach visits each entrepreneur four times and there are two group-coaching sessions, 4. Second Training (3 days), 5. Coaching Phase 2: For a period of nine weeks, a coach visits each entrepreneur four times and there are two group-coaching sessions, Graduation Ceremony (1 day).
Am I eligible to Apply?
The following key criteria will be used to select the participating entrepreneurs:
Participants must run a micro, small or medium enterprise, cooperative or association in the agro-allied or construction sector. This explicitly includes enterprises that provide services for stakeholders in these sectors (e.g. mechanisation, ICT).
The entrepreneur must be literate, willing to learn and adopt new practices, curious to get exposed to new ways of running a business, and demonstrate desire to develop, improve or grow their business.
What are the conditions for participation?
Selected participants are expected to cover their own accommodation and transport costs during the two trainings and the graduation ceremony (in Minna, Jos or Abeokuta respectively). All other costs are covered by GIZ-SEDIN (including trainers, coaches, training venue, catering during the training and graduation ceremony).
Participants are expected to fully take part in the 2 trainings and be available for the 12 coaching sessions in order to be eligible and to successfully complete the SME Business Training & Coaching Loop to receive the certificate during the Graduation Day. Only one person can represent the business, cooperative or association throughout the entire SME Loop process (i.e. in the training and coaching sessions).
The person (entrepreneur) for the SME Loop must have decision-making powers in the business
How do I apply?
The online application form is available at http://www.sedin-nigeria.net/index.php/further-information scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on SME Loop Application.
Interested entrepreneurs need to fill-out the application form and submit electronically online. Please follow the instructions provided. Note that each question in the application form needs to be completed as you work down the application form questions, otherwise it will not be possible to submit the application form. Only completed and submitted online application forms will be accepted and considered for participation. Paper copies will be considered ineligible for participation.
NOTE: The deadline for applications is Tuesday 31st July 2018. Applications received after this deadline will be rejected. How do I know if I am pre-selected or not? Only successful applicants will be contacted by GIZ-SEDIN.
What are the next steps if I am pre-selected?
After pre-selection, each successful applicant will be invited to two group-coaching sessions and will be visited for an application verification exercise. This will lead to the final selection of entrepreneurs that will eventually participate in the SME Business Training & Coaching Loop.
Click here to apply Go to http://www.sedin-nigeria.net/index.php/further-information scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on SME Loop Application.
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