Establishment

The Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises Network (SMME Network-Lesotho) was legally registered in the year 2001 as consortium of eleven business development service (BDS) providers, mainly focusing on the empowerment of SMME initiatives and activities. The Network was established with a two-year Technical and Financial Assistance from the German Government through the GTZ/SMME project (which ended 2004), with the aim of facilitating an enabling environment for coordination, collaboration and effective interventions to SMMEs.

The role of the GTZ/SMME project in the development of SMMEs was to empower the existing BDS providers to effectively trickle down skills to the local SMMEs and the rural communities as a contribution to the national objectives of poverty reduction and economic growth, in particular.

During the life span of the project, the following milestones were accomplished:

• Establishment and official launch of the SMME Network of BDS providers, which ensures collaboration and coordination of services among service providers.
• Training and development of Network members in relevant identified fields and areas.
• Procurement and delivery of high-tech equipment to BDS providers for improvement of service to SMMEs development of the Network strategic plan.
• Development of a Business Counseling Trainer's manual for SMMEs.
• Incorporation of SMME issues in the national policy framework.
• The development of the Network strategic plan.