Targetting Africa: The case for investment

SME Toolkit - small business information

A project of the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, the Africa Toolkit offers free business management information and training for small businesses / small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on accounting and finance, business planning, human resources (HR), marketing and sales, operations, and information technology (IT). The SME Toolkit offers a wide range of how-to articles, business forms, free business software, online training, self-assessment exercises, quizzes, and resources to help entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers in Africa start, finance, formalize, and grow their businesses.

Village Phone Nigeria

Making a phone call is something that many people take for granted. Yet millions in rural villages around the world simply do not have easy or affordable access to a telephone. The Village Phone concept was developed precisely to help extend access to telecommunications beyond the urban areas.

Started by GrameenPhone in Bangladesh -- a client of IFC, IFC is now working with MTN (also an IFC client) and other partners to replicate the Village Phone concept in several African countries, starting with Nigeria.

IFC also collaborated with the Grameen Foundation and other partners to create a Village Phone Replication Manual -- essentially a 'how-to' resource for setting up a Village Phone project.

Beyond providing much needed communication access, the Village Phone model goes a long way to empower the women operators, spur economic activities and promote entrepreneurialism.

World Bank - Borderless Communication: An African Innovation

Far from being a follower, Africa is setting industry benchmarks in cellular innovation and technology. One example of this is Celtel's world's first borderless network, which allows its cellular subscribers to make calls across 6 countries in Africa without roaming fees.

With a long-standing relationship dating back to 1999, IFC has made a series of investments totaling US$417 million in Celtel operations in 14 countries of which, US$131 million in
syndications under the IFC B loan program.

IFC's support of Celtel in its development from a small start-up company into the large corporate entity it is today, is a reflection of IFC's commitment to a true partnership with its clients.

Zimbabwe: Rand Set to Prop Up Zim Dollar

The crisis in Zimbabwe is very depressing and shameful. Zimbabwe used to be the bread basket of South Africa. I just read this article on how the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will use the RAND to curb the high inflation rate in Zimbabwe.

However, President Robert Mugabe would first have to agree to fundamental political reforms in talks with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which are due to start near Pretoria tomorrow.

Read more from All Africa.