Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) support program

		Sector: Support for small enterprises Location: Syria (Deir Ezzor) ; Lebanon (Tripoli) Local Partner: Business Innovation Development Center (BIDC - PNUD / Syria) ; Arc en Ciel (Lebanon)                               Start of Partnership: 2009

Context and considerations

In Deir Ezzor, Eastern Syria's main city, the economic activity is dominated by Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), which account for over 80% of the city’s output. Their growth is often hindered by a limited mastery of existing management techniques and tools. However, these MSEs have real economic potential which could generate numerous employment opportunities.

Solution proposed

With the support of the BIDC and Deir Ezzor’s Chamber of Commerce, the IECD launched a centre in April 2009 which is in charge of training and assisting the local entrepreneurs. The project has the financial support of TOTAL E&P SYRIA (www.total.com). It is based on a methodology which has been implemented by the IECD for ten years. The program supports the MSEs' growth by giving the entrepreneurs tailored training and assistance. The first training sessions started in October 2009.

The program has been designed to meet the specific needs of Deir Ezzor's entrepreneurs. The training content is very practical, this will allow the beneficiaries to master and to apply the tools which are taught very quickly. All these tools are necessary in order to manage their activity soundly. Each enterprise is also assisted and monitored during a certain time, this assistance concludes the training.

Impact and Results

Starting from 2010, 75 entrepreneurs from Deir Ezzor will benefit each year from the dispensed training and the individual monitoring. Furthermore, a mobile unit will be launched which will enable the team to offer the same services to Deir Ezzor’s rural regions. At least 60 rural MSEs will benefit from this service each year.

In Lebanon, an urban poverty analysis was conducted by the IECD in 2009 in the city of Tripoli, as well as a feasibility study of the city’s economic potential. This was done with the objective of eventually supporting the city development strategy (CS) of the Al Fayha community in Tripoli. Thus, since September 2009, a parallel MSE support program exists in Tripoli.