Business training markets for small enterprises in developing countries : what do we know so far about the potential?

SEED Working Paper No. 32 - Series on Innovation and Sustainability in Business Support Services (FIT)

Examines potential markets for "private training" or training services offered on a commercial basis. Discusses the role that private sector actors can play through Business Development Services (BDS).

This Paper brings together all of the fragmented observations about training provided to small enterprises in developing countries on a commercial basis. It includes findings from Asia, Latin America and Africa in particular. On the evidence available to date, the Paper concludes that commercially-provided training is often of a quality which people in small enterprises find very acceptable. It also concludes that publicly-subsidised training generally co-exists in parallel with commercially-provided training, with little contact, or deliberate definition of appropriate dividing lines, between the two.