Completion of Enterprise Information Form (EIF)

Participants can apply for the Business Diagnostic Programme between 03rd October and 28th October 2011. This involves filling in a registration form, an Enterprise Information Form and a Letter of Agreement. Application can be online through the website of the Business Development Gateway, or in person through the regional SIDO/ ZNCCIA offices. All applications will be screened for eligibility to check if the qualification criteria and rules are met.

TERM 1. BDP Start-Up Workshop and initial Self-Diagnostic Assessment 1

BDP participant will be invited to attend a one day BDP Start-Up Workshop. Workshops will be held at specified locations in regional centers. Details about the time and venue will be provided at regional partner offices.

Deposits slip showing payment of participation fee of Tshs. 10,000/- shall accompany each Enterprise Information Form. The participation fee shall be paid at any nearest National Microfinance Bank (NMB) branch. Participants in Zanzibar shall deposit participation fees in a nearest branch of People’s Bank of Zanzibar. See contacts list of regional offices where BDP EIFs shall be sent. Those who are far from these banks will be allowed to pay the training fee at the training station.

This workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to discuss barriers they are facing in their day-to-day operations. Subsequently, together with experienced counselors BDP participants will identify priority areas for action and prepare so called Business Development Plans specifying tasks they need to undertake and monitor to improve their business operations. Additionally, BDP participants will select the training modules for the next three terms

Based on the areas and tasks identified and agreed upon during the BDP Start-Up Workshop, BDP participants will be invited to complete Self-Diagnostic Assessment Forms and send it to the designated BDP Counselor/ BDG office. Successful BDP participants that have completed the Assessment Form will be invited for another training session on one of the selected subject areas.

The deadline for submission of self-diagnostic assessment forms is specified in the BDP schedule of activities, which is available at the BDG partners’ regional offices and the BDG web-site.

TERM 2: BDP Entrepreneurship Development Workshop 2 and Self-Diagnostic Assessment 2

At this phase, BDP participant will be invited to a one day business development training on selected subjects related to one of the 3 following areas: Marketing, Finance, Production and Procurement. The Workshop will be held at the specified venues at the regional centers. The workshop aim to assist selected informal businesses in developing their technical and managerial capacity to evolve as more sophisticated business and graduate into formal sector and to other categories provide technical assistance on specific problems faced by BDP participants. The Workshop will comprise of basic test to examine knowledge of entrepreneur on a specific subject, followed by training. After completion of the training session, BDP participants are requested to submit Self-Diagnostic Assessment Form and send it to the designated BDP Counselor/ BDG office. Counselors/Appraisers will assess, determine number of bonus points collected and provide feedback to BDP participants on their performance.

TERM 3: BDP Entrepreneurship Development Workshop 3 and Self-Diagnostic Assessment 3

Workshop will comprise of basic test to examine knowledge of entrepreneur on a specific subject, followed by training on the second selected subject area. After completion of the training session, BDP participants are requested to submit Self-Diagnostic Assessment Form and send it to the designated BDP Counselor/ BDG office.

TERM 4: BDP Entrepreneurship Development Workshop 4 and Self-Diagnostic Assessment 4

At this stage BDP participants will attend 2 days’ Workshop that will consist of training on the forth selected subject area. After this training BDP participant will be requested to complete the Self-Diagnostic Assessment Form for the last time. Counselors/Appraisers will do final evaluation and awarding of bonus points.

BDP Bonus System/ Awards

Already from the Term 1 BDP Start-Up Workshop and initial Self-Diagnostic Assessment 1 BDP participants will collect Bonus points that later will be converted into cash grants. After the final self-diagnostic assessment, there will be one-time cash grants offered to BDP participants. The size of grant is based on the total number of bonus points collected during the whole BDP cycle and the CONSIDERATION stated in section 1 of this info pack. Maximum grant size to be earned per the term is 800 USD. Enterprises showing continuous progression throughout the BDP cycle, i.e. accumulating required number of bonus points will be entitled for several grants (up to 3,200 USD).

Participant’s eligible for grants will be required to open a bank account with National Microfinance Bank (NMB) or Zanzibar Peoples’ bank to which grant will be transferred.

Aftercare

All entrepreneurs who have participated in the Business Diagnostic Programme and received grants can expect continued support from their personal business counsellor. Through follow-up visits by the counsellors, entrepreneurs will get access to relevant information, and be linked with financial institutions, business service providers and business associations.