ECIAfrica News Feed

16 Jul 2010: ECIAfrica Appointed to Implement New Project on Private Sector Led Rural Growth in Northern Mozambique

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:09:30 -0700

ECIAfrica is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to implement and manage a strategic new project promoting agricultural development in Mozambique. Working with farmers and private sector to reduce poverty and promote agricultural and rural development, this project is valued at approximately US$1 million per year, and runs from 2010-2013, with a possibility of being extended until 2018.

Download the Project Brochure (PDF)

15 Jul 2010: Questions and Answers with Dr Claudia Manning, Managing Director of ECIAfrica

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:00:24 -0700

Following the recent announcement that ECIAfrica has joined forces with Sangena Investments to provide new leadership at ECIAfrica, this question and answer session with Dr Claudia Manning provides some insight into the thinking behind this decision and the work of ECIAfrica. Read the Q&A

01 Jul 2010: Latest Publications by DAI

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:40:37 -0700

DAIdeas: Using Carbon Markets to Fund Forestry Projects: Challenges and Solutions, Vol. 6, No. 3, May 2010 (PDF 684kb)

Developments, Spring 2010 (PDF 1MB)

30 Jun 2010: Lonmin IFC Supplier Development Programme Training Certification Ceremony

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:46:55 -0700

This event took place on 9 June 2010 and was the final of two ceremonies in which the hard work of the trainees over sixteen months of training was celebrated in the awarding of certificates. The first certification ceremony was held on the 19th October 2009.

Certificates were awarded to 40 graduates that completed three levels (1, 2 and 3) of competency in areas ranging from Basic Business Management to detailed modules on supplying large corporations.

The event was a celebration of substantial progress made in empowering suppliers in the Greater Lonmin Community and was attended by high level representatives of Lonmin, the IFC and ECIAfrica. ECIAfrica was congratulated in managing a very effective training programme.

30 Jun 2010: ECIAfrica Concludes Agreement on the Strengthening of the dti's Black Business Supplier Development Programme

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:56:01 -0700

ECIAfrica has signed an Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) for the strengthening of the dti's Black Business Supplier Development Program (BBSDP). ECIAfrica's role in the project is to leverage on the expertise of its South African International Business Linkages Programme (SAIBL) and enhance the redesign and implementation of the BBSDP. In particular, ECI�s efforts will be focused on: � Building the capacity of BBSDP staff and Network Facilitators so that SMEs can be supported � Quality management and assurance of work carried out by Network Facilitators. � Advise and assist in designing a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Management Information System (MIS) to enable the programme to capture data and report on outputs and outcomes/impact. This project is significant as it underpins the bilateral agreement between USAID and dti.

13 May 2010: New Leadership for ECIAfrica

Thu, 13 May 2010 03:13:35 -0700

ECIAfrica is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with Sangena Investments of Johannesburg to provide new leadership at ECIAfrica. The agreement, which was finalized last week, includes a commitment by both DAI and Sangena for Sangena to acquire substantial ownership in ECIAfrica during the next few years. Principals from Sangena who are joining ECIAfrica and comprising a new executive team include Dr Claudia Manning, who will serve as ECIAfrica managing director, Bahle Sibisi, and Sagaylan Moodliar. The three will join ECIAfrica�s Sipho Dayel in guiding the ongoing growth and development of DAI's southern African subsidiary.

DAI�s Denis Gallagher, the current ECIAfrica managing director, supervised formation of the partnership and is working with the Sangena team as it implements a smooth transition and handover.

Launched in 1994 as a joint venture between DAI and South African development experts, ECIAfrica remains a strategic partner of DAI with deep corporate ties to the company, including overlapping history, personnel, and mission. ECIAfrica benefits from seamless cooperation with DAI and access to the company's global network of resources, technical expertise, and project management systems.

Sangena Investments is a South African consulting and investment company with strong expertise in economic development, infrastructure finance, and industrial and trade policy issues.

06 May 2010: Limpopo Pilot Project Shows Rural Enterprises Work, Says Trust (Business Day)

Thu, 06 May 2010 05:42:44 -0700

A pilot project in rural Limpopo in which emerging farmers were assisted and linked to markets has attracted investment of more than R1,5bn, according to a report from Business Trust.
Read the complete article in Business Day >>>
Read more about the Mabedi Project >>>

South Africa Economic Fact Sheet

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:00:18 -0700

View the latest South Africa Economic Fact Sheet of the US Embassy in South Africa on the ECIAfrica website
South Africa Economic Fact Sheet, 31 March 2010 (PDF 88kb)

12 Apr 2010: Successful Implementation of the Infrastructure Delivery Improvement Programme (IDIP) Phase II

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:47:43 -0700

Following a sterling performance in the implementation of the Infrastructure Delivery Improvement Programme (IDIP) for the past four years, the current (second) phase came to an end on 31 March 2010.� Amongst the milestones reached in the second phase, provinces have developed Calculation Models and Service Delivery Models.� The programme has also enabled provinces to comply better with the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA).

In 2001 the National Treasury commissioned a review of provincial service delivery systems with the view to enhance infrastructure delivery.� The review identified various deficiencies that impacted negatively on the effective and efficient delivery of infrastructure by the provincial departments.� The review recommended, amongst others, that a framework be developed to guide and structure the management of infrastructure delivery and that support be provided to provincial departments to develop their capacity to plan, manage and sustain infrastructure delivery.

The implementation of the pilot phase of IDIP commenced in July 2004 with the establishment of IDIP partnership agreements between the National Treasury, the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and the National Department of Public Works.�A Programme Management Unit was established in National Treasury and a programme manager was appointed.�The full roll-out of IDIP commenced in 2005/2006 with ECIAfrica commencing implementation and management of IDIP in four provinces - Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.�

Successes and milestones for IDIP II included the alignment of infrastructure delivery amongst the provincial and national government strategies; cooperative governance within and between the spheres of government; the development of systems and processes for measurable infrastructure delivery; strengthening capacity at provincial Treasuries to fulfil functions; establishment of service delivery "best practices" through a Knowledge Management toolkit; as well as contribution to national policy including the Division of Revenue Act (DoRA), Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD) Act and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

As part of the project closure, ECIAfrica coordinated close-out workshops in the provinces. During these sessions, expressions of gratitude and appreciation were uttered by officials from provincial Treasuries and beneficiary provincial departments of Education, Health and Public Works.�

In line with government�s increasing emphasis on improving service delivery, agreement has been reached on a new three-year phase, to commence in June 2010. The IDIP content will remain largely unchanged. ECIAfrica is grateful for the opportunity of building capacity in the public sector to inculcate the culture of aligning infrastructure delivery with planning procedures.�

07 Apr 2010: The Lonmin-IFC Supplier Development Programme Creating Wealth and Skills in the Greater Lonmin Community

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:43:35 -0700

The Lonmin-IFC Supplier Development Programme is boosting capacity for SMMEs and delivering economic empowerment to the communities surrounding Lonmin�s mining operations in the Greater Lonmin Community (GLC) around Marikana in the North-West Province. The main objective of the programme is to increase Lonmin�s spend on locally produced goods and services as well increase the number of GLC SMMEs doing business with Lonmin.

Concentrate Carriers (CC) is a joint venture between local youth-owned Badumela Transport and Eccose Transport. CC has been awarded a R42-million contract to run for five years until 2013. This arrangement has afforded four local young people an empowerment opportunity, through which they own 51% of CC operations. The local shareholders also hold full-time positions in CC. Thus, the socio-economic impact of the project is further enhanced, as the young gain work experience and skills in addition to financial benefits. A further R20-million worth of Lonmin contracts have been awarded to CC since the start of operations.

Phakwe Mining Services is a joint venture between a consortium of three GLC companies and an expert mining company. Phakwe was awarded a R30-million, five-year contract to conduct underground sweeping and vamping for Lonmin�s Marikana mines. This deal has the significance of being the first core-business contract to be awarded to a local operator. This is a reflection of Lonmin�s increased confidence in the historically disadvantaged enterprises, and a testament to the programme�s impact. The joint venture has managed to double its orders to R60-million in a short period of time, as it has acquired contracts from other (non-Lonmin) mining houses in the area.

Elvis Mabale of Ditlou Di Buile Contractors is another GLC contractor who has built a successful track record through a number of prominent projects awarded by Lonmin. Elvis has acquired more than R6-million worth of contracts over the past three years, starting out with small, ad hoc orders and moving on to high value and more complex construction projects. Among others, Elvis�s major contracts include the building of ablution facilities and renovation work for local schools. Elvis�s life story is one of perseverance and overcoming significant odds to build a successful construction company. He was imprisoned in his youth. While in prison he focused his energy in developing building and construction skills which he has put to good use in starting and growing his construction business. The Supplier Development Programme has lended a hand to the growth of Elvis�s business by furnishing him with the necessary business management skills and administrative systems.

Little Rock is an all-women construction company established in 2003, and one of the most noteworthy success stories of the Lonmin-IFC Supplier Development Programme. To date, the company has executed well over R29-million worth of contracts with Lonmin alone. Little Rock has successfully executed projects in the area of hostel conversion, which involved the renovation and conversion of single story hostels into family and bachelor flats and renovation of schools.

International PhD Studentships on Offer at Queens University, Belfast

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:38:06 -0800

The School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen�s University Belfast is offering two International PhD studentships (covering full international fees and living costs), available to non-EU applicants only, for October 2010 entry. The studentships are linked to two major ESRC-funded research projects.

1. Conflict in Cities and the Contested State (www.conflictincities.org): Research Topic: A Sociological Analysis of Borders and Walls

2. Poverty and Social Exclusion in the UK: Research Topic: Poverty Measurement in �Medium� and �Low� Human Development Countries.

Visit the university website for more information

02 Mar 2010: Head of ECIAfrica Programme Appointed to National Small Business Advisory Council

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:07:17 -0800

ECIAfrica is proud to announce that the Minister of Trade and Industry has requested John James, the Chief of Party of the South African International Business Linkages Programme (SAIBL), to serve on the National Small Business Advisory Council. The body will advise the Minister on a variety of issues, such as strategies to address identified market failures affecting the sector; the impact of legislation on small business; national standards for small business development and regulation; business infrastructure creation, skills development, value chain access; and constraints affecting the viability of the small business community. Commenting on his appointment, John James said that he was humbled by the privilege and honour to serve as advisor to the Minister and the nation in this high priority sector. "I firmly and passionately believe that our country's economic development and success, as a thriving democracy, will depend significantly on the pace at which small enterprises, particularly black enterprises, integrate and become involved in the mainstream economy", said James. "My focus will be on improving the environment and space in which large corporations can play a leading role in supplier diversity through increased targeted procurement and enterprise development focused on black suppliers. We have to move our thinking and practices beyond BEE compliance to doing this based on sound business reasons. A nation that does not use a significant part of its talent cannot thrive. A corporation that does not have suppliers representing its market and citizen base cannot win against its competitors. Developing black suppliers without giving them opportunities is wasteful and counter-productive."

01 Mar 2010: ECIAfrica Developing a Tourism Master Plan for the Free State

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:43:35 -0800

ECIAfrica has been contracted by the Free State Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DTEEA) to develop a Tourism Master Plan. The assignment seeks to integrate the three tourism strategies that the DTEEA has developed into a Blue Print for the management and development of Free State tourism. The Master Plan attempts to harmonize and streamline roles and responsibilities of key role players in Free State tourism, outline strategic activities to be undertaken to realize growth objectives set out in the tourism strategies, and provide a framework for the implementation of the provincial tourism strategy. ECIAfrica has already contributed significantly to the development of the tourism industry in South Africa through the management of the Tourism Enterprise Programme under the Business Trust and the Department of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, growing the revenue contribution of small, medium and micro enterprises by more than R2.1 billion. In developing this Master Plan for the Free State, ECIAfrica draws on its experience in the tourism industry within South Africa and the region in the belief that it has immense value to add to this assignment.

01 Mar 2010: Call for CVs: ECIAfrica Associate Consultant Registration

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:58:08 -0800

ECIAfrica Consulting (Pty) Ltd. is an international development consultancy operating in Southern and Eastern Africa, which offers economic development solutions to various donor agencies, governments and private sector entities. In preparation for several forthcoming donor-funded projects in the region (Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe), ECIAfrica is updating its Associate Consultant Database, and is therefore seeking Technical Experts in: Agriculture and Rural Development; Enterprise Development; Trade and Tourism; Development Finance; Infrastructure and Service Delivery; Policy and Governance; Public Finance; and Health and HIV/AIDS. Details at http://www.eciafrica.com/vacancies.php

01 Mar 2010: Chamber of Commerce Vows to Help South Africa Meet Diversity Goals

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:47:02 -0800

Many foreign companies wish to do business in South Africa while also investing as required in the country�s black economic empowerment (BEE) objectives. But BEE legislation, designed to help black entrepreneurs and workers overcome the legacy of apartheid and enter the business mainstream, can be prohibitive to the greater business community. So can other barriers to trade.

These issues took center stage last week at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, during the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa�s 32nd Annual General Meeting. ECIAfrica, a partly owned subsidiary of DAI, sponsored the meeting, which convened more than 100 business leaders. U.S. Ambassador Donald Gips delivered the keynote remarks.

Ambassador Gips told attendees that removing barriers to trade in South Africa was a main focus of the embassy, adding that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) welcomes ideas from Chamber members on how to improve the business climate. Compliance with the country�s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act of 2007 and the crafting of equitable labor laws are chief concerns of both domestic and foreign businesses, as well as the country�s labor force.

The Chamber vowed at the meeting to continue its consultations on these issues with the country�s Department of Trade and Investment, appreciative that South Africa�s diversity initiatives strive to create and develop enterprises, prompt investment, empower black women and youth, and improve the skills and education of the labor pool, with the ultimate aim of enabling sustained growth.

To comply with South Africa�s B-BBEE scorecard, businesses operating in the country are required to invest for black laborers and businesses in the areas of ownership, management control, skills development, preferential procurement, enterprise development, and socioeconomic development. Denis Gallagher, Managing Director of ECIAfrica, noted that ECIAfrica designs and implements solutions around the procurement and economic development portions of the scorecard.

ECIAfrica's highly successful, USAID-funded South African International Business Linkages (SAIBL) program, currently in its ninth year, has just facilitated the creation of a South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC), whose member corporations work together to leverage resources and share knowledge, experience, and best practices in supplier diversity development.

�The member corporations of SASDC will commit to opening up more opportunities for black suppliers, whom they will certify, and where necessary also invest in the development of the certified suppliers,� Gallagher said, adding that the council is modeled after the acclaimed, New York-based National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Attendees at the Chamber meeting included some of the largest companies doing business in South Africa, including Coca Cola, Hewlett Packard, Nike, Cummins, GM, Estee Lauder, The Bank of New York Mellon, Hyatt Regency, Motorola, 3M, and Deloitte.

�ECI designs and implements solutions around procurement,� Gallagher said in his closing remarks. �For all of you who grapple with procurement and economic development as part of your [BB-BEE] scorecard, please know we can customize a solution to suit your needs.�