Improving Policies And Access To Finance For Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises In MENA (SME)

Course details

Target Audience:

Mid-to senior-level officials at ministries in charge of SME policies and SME promotion agencies.

Qualification:

Participants should be involved in SME policy making and interested in SME access to finance issues.

Language:

The workshop is conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic.

Course Description:

This training, conducted by a team of OECD and external experts, covers specific issues related to SME policy and access to finance. For several years, the OECD has been working with developed and emerging economies, including in the MENA region, to develop tools and practices to support SMEs and promote entrepreneurship. The training addresses a number of topics, including enhancing access to finance, promoting a better regulatory environment for SMEs, and specific tools to promote entrepreneurship skills, innovation and women’s entrepreneurship.
The first part of the training focuses on SME policy strategies, institutions and assessments. An overview of current SME policies and best practices in MENA and the OECD will be provided. Practical assessment and evaluation tools will help participants identify the strengths and weaknesses of their SME policies. During small group sessions, participants will have the opportunity to simulate the application of these tools to their countries.

The second part of the training focuses on access to finance and give a comprehensive overview of policies and issues relating to access to finance in MENA. Moreover, it provides participants with tools to assess and evaluate the key obstacles to access to finance. During group work, participants have the opportunity to evaluate their countries’ SME and entrepreneurship finance policies using OECD instruments.