ILO Ethiopia 2000

Description
ILO conducted this study of 32 micro, small, and medium sized enterprises in the three major business areas of Addis Ababa to determine if, and what type of, commercial BDS providers were operating there. A local consultant interviewed shop owners about the services they used and how much they paid for them. This was a quick and dirty study, not comprehensive, with the consultant visiting the enterprises of personal friends or those owned by acquaintances of her friends. It was a successful strategy and excellent results were obtained.

The total cost of the study was approximately US$100.


Methods for info gathering
SE Survey, In-depth interviews

Summary of results
Although the majority of SEs in Ethiopia are informal, they operate within the legal system and need legal services. Many also use secretarial services - typing, editing, printing, and publishing. Although the apprenticeship system plays a larger role than formal training, younger entrepreneurs realize the edge formal training can give them in business and are beginning to use those services.
Market information is hard to come by and brokers overcome this constraint creatively and effectively. They broker unskilled labor, houses or rooms, machines and furniture, cattle and sheep, used cloth, and even legal services and also operate as sales agents. This could be a potential area of intervention for donors.
The government tries to limit the use of foreign exchange for imports, but there is a bustling and very effective foreign exchange service (aka, black market.) With limited phone lines and just one internet service provider, communications services are in high demand. Other services SEs use include advertising, car rental, storage, and security.




Associated Activities and Documents
Market Assessment
»	ILO Senegal 2001