Publications
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Finance for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Caribbean by Erwin E Brewster reports on the results of a survey of SMEs in ten Caribbean countries, and presents a parallel study of lending institutions that might be expected to offer finance to SMEs. A commentary is provided on the differing perspectives of SMEs and lenders to the problem of finding affordable long-term financing, and suggests policy options for improving access to finance for this sector.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant part in economic growth and employment creation in the Caribbean. This study explores the difficulties such enterprises have in accessing long-term financing and how these could be overcome.
Available from Commonwealth Secretariat Publications, Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX. Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6500; Fax: +44 (0)20 7930 0827. Price: GBP15.00. ISBN 0-85092-843-5, 978-0-85092-843-3
Small Enterprise Development
International journal of microfinance and business development.
Small Enterprise Development (SED) provides a forum for those involved in designing and running small enterprise development and microfinance programmes in developing countries. SED is essential reading for managers of projects, providers of technical assistance, consultants to projects and staff of donor agencies.
Produced by ITDG Publishing, Intermediate Technology Development Group, UK.
SME Toolkit
A project of the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, the SME Toolkit offers free business management information and training for small businesses/small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on accounting and finance, business planning, human resources (HR), marketing and sales, operations, and information technology (IT). The SME Toolkit offers a wide range of how-to articles, business forms, free business software, online training, self-assessment exercises, quizzes, and resources to help entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers in emerging markets and developing countries start, finance, formalise, and grow their businesses.
Obtainable from:
International Finance Corporation,
IFC Small and Medium Enterprise Department,
2121 Pennsylvania Ave.,
WashingtonDC20433, USA.
Phone: (202) 473 1400; Fax: (202) 522 3742
Improving SME Access to Public Procurement: the Experience of Selected Countries is a guide focusing on the role of government programmes in public procurement to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in becoming better exporters. It demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of public procurement programmes designed to assist SMEs, looks at the criteria used to determine eligibility for SME status in various countries, examines programmes used to assist SMEs in a procurement context, and gives guidance on implementing procurement programmes designed to assist SMEs. 2000; ISBN 92-9137-138-6; 146pp; Price: US$50 (developed countries); US$20 (developing countries and LDCs). Available in French and Spanish.
Obtainable from UN Publications, Room DC2853, 2 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA; or UN Publications Sales Section, Palais des Nations CH-1211, Geneva, Switzerland (for Europe only).
Job Quality in Micro and Small Enterprises in Ghana: Field Research Results
Report of a study of 50 micro and small enterprises in the Greater Accra region, examining the quality of work such enterprises offer, the potential demand for services that could enable workers and employers to improve their quality of work. Includes on-site observation, in-depth interviews with workers and employers, and focus group discussions.
ILO SEED Working Paper No. 68; 2004; Ghana; Peter Norton; 92-2-116468-3; English.
A list of ILO publications relating to small enterprise development may be found at:
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/empent/empent.Portal?p_prog=S&p_subprog=&p_category=PUB