Regional Support Plan Southern Africa

1. Regional Support Plan Southern Africa Sonkho Phiri, Project Officer Mentorship Pilot Project 4 October 2004

2. Mentorship • A deliberate pairing of business proffessionals and young entrepreneurs with the aim of building networks and competencies that will grow a business

3. Mentorship Pilot Programme • A one year pilot programme that provides young entrepreneurs with the opportunity to learn from experienced and established business owners and technical and managerial personnel from private sector enterprises

4. Mentorship Pilot Programme • Target Young Entrepreneurs running viable enterprises in Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius, South Africa and Zambia • Rationale Public sector and big business are becoming net job destroyers Small and medium enterprise development has the most potential for creation of future employment in the region Creating well run Small and medium enterprises is key for this employment creation • Principles Young entrepreneurs have the passion and drive for business but lack the skills and capacity to run them professionally Business support services are almost inaccessible to young entrepreneurs because of the high costs involved

5. Project Cycle • Implementation Coordination provided by the Youth development Network in South Africa Financial resources Material resources Technical expertise -training of mentors Actual implementation of the project activities being done by Country Networks in the Four countries Selection of mentors and protégés Matching of mentors and protégés Orientation of protégés Monitoring of mentor protégé relationships

6. Achievements • Reached out to 28 youth run enterprises who are actively involved in the programme • Political support evidenced by the programme being launched by high level politicians • Well received by the private sector and communities as a whole

7. Achievements • YES Framework for Action • Made accessible practical hands on expertise to young entrepreneurs • Gained support from private sector for young entrepreneurs • Built capacity of young people to understand the operation of private sector and the opportunities that lie therein

8. Challenges • Recruiting mentors • Keeping mentors committed • Keeping mentors motivated • Meeting protégés expectations • Working with the private sector getting them to see worth in the programme

9. Lessons Learned • Planning • Effective matches require significant staff investment at the beginning • Should be ongoing • Design • A well structrured programme is key determinant of programme success • Some formal agrrement should be made by the mentors and proteges to ensure commitment to the programme • Recruitment • Seek particiants who embrace the concept of mentoring • Rigorous screening for mentors who are seasoned businessmen and proteges who are “advisable

10. Lessons Learned • Training • Mentor training should be ongoing • There is need to organize workshops where mentors meet each other on a regular basis to discuss best practices in country • Workshops should integrate nationally recognized speakers and experts to offer subject matter expertise • Extra entrepreneurial training should be organized for protégés • Matching of Mentors and Protégés • A good match is key to the success of the programme • Protégés should be matched with a mentor who is at least at the next level up in business experience

11. Lessons Learned • Support • Encourage proteges to maintain strong emphasis on relationships and networking • Frequent follow up on relationship to ensure its effectiveness

12. Future Plans • Scale up programme in country • Getting more private sector involvement • Strengthen exixsting ties with private sector • Scale up programme to other countries