Description

Between January 2012 and January 2014, Belgian Bankers Academy conducted Phase 2 of the FIGA feasibility study for the Government of the Republic of the Congo, Brazzaville. Building on the work completed during Phase 1, the team:

1. Refined the SME assessment: collection and analysis of socio-economic data, including the number of SMEs, priority sectors, geographic distribution, investment needs and working capital requirements.

2. Mapped stakeholders and potential synergies: identification of support structures, including incubators, subcontracting exchanges and financial intermediaries, and definition of a cooperation model.

3. Designed the three funds: detailed mechanisms and eligibility criteria for the Business Support Fund, focused on bankable business plans, the Economic Development Fund, based on co-financing, and the Guarantee Fund, based on risk-sharing.

4. Modelled capitalisation and risks: portfolio-at-risk assumptions, co-financing scenarios and equity requirements for each of the three instruments.

5. Structured the institutional framework: establishment and facilitation of an interministerial steering committee responsible for validating assumptions, defining the roadmap and supervising future implementation.

6. Prepared the key deliverables: SWOT analyses, financial simulations, organisational model, management and governance standards, and an assessment of the expected economic and social impact

7. Presented and validated the results: restitution workshops with donors and final presentation of the roadmap and costed project.

BBA’s Role

• Data collection and analysis: SME data gathering and sector studies covering agriculture, trade and services

• Stakeholder mapping: identification of relevant actors, definition of synergies and recommendations for incubator structures

• Fund design: definition of eligibility processes and technical, financial and legal arrangements

• Modelling: capitalisation simulations, portfolio-at-risk analysis, and co-financing and guarantee scenarios

• Project governance: establishment and facilitation of the interministerial steering committee and validation of working assumptions

• Deliverables: preparation of SWOT analyses, standard business plans, organisational models, final report and roadmap

• Presentation of results: organisation and facilitation of sessions with the Government and donors