Description

Context and Objectives

Supported by a grant from the Technical Assistance Fund for Middle-Income Countries, FAT-PRI, the Gabonese Republic commissioned Belgian Bankers Academy, BBA, to design and manage a pilot MSME incubator.

Objective: strengthen the viability of business plans and facilitate access to finance and public procurement opportunities.

1. Initial Assessment and Scoping

• Meetings with the Gabonese authorities and project promoters to identify their needs.

• Review of existing management practices and collection of financial, legal and organisational data.

2. Design and Deployment of Incubation Tools

• Integrated accounting system: specification, configuration and training on management software adapted to incubated enterprises.

• Tender response templates: development of standardised templates, response guides and submission procedures.

• Training kits: learning materials covering management, business law, accounting and taxation, together with interactive workshops and individual coaching.

3. Field Support and Knowledge Consolidation

• Group training sessions, 30 hours per group, covering financial planning and banking negotiation.

• Investor forums: two meetings between project promoters and local and international financial institutions.

• Operational roadmap: final report setting out strategic recommendations, an implementation schedule and monitoring indicators, KPIs.

Key Results

• More than 25 project promoters trained.

• Four business consortia established to respond jointly to calls for tenders.

• Three bankable financing applications submitted to credit institutions.

This assignment laid the foundations for a sustainable incubation ecosystem in Gabon by strengthening the capacity of project promoters to structure their business models and secure the financing required for their development.

BBA’s Role

• Management, legal, accounting and tax advisory services for 25 project promoters

• Design and deployment of an integrated accounting system

• Development of tender response templates and facilitation of access to public procurement

• Delivery of training sessions and investor forums to strengthen networks and access to finance