Inclusive Growth
The main goal of Enabel’s work with the private sector and entrepreneurship is inclusive growth. Growth in which women, young people and vulnerable groups participate, but also growth that respects the environment and decent work standards. Through our Inclusive Growth actions, we improve business environments, create and develop businesses and strengthen value chains and economic sectors.
What we do
Improving business environments
Through our partnership approach, we connect the ecosystem of business development services providers and assist them in their sustainability.
In order to provide the private sector with skilled employees, we closely work together with TVET institutions to serve demand-driven employment.
Creating and developing businesses
Strengthening entrepreneurs and businesses is important for us. We do this by ensuring they benefit from adapted services, so they can grow and improve their performance, and thus create social and economic added value as well as jobs.
We focus on improving the match between the offer of financial and non-financial services and the demands of businesses. We do not offer financing, but by supporting initiatives, building capacities and putting parties in touch, we ensure, on the one hand, that entrepreneurs meet the conditions for receiving financial products from local financing actors, and on the other hand, that local financing actors (such as microfinance institutions) increasingly offer adapted solutions.
In some cases, we are involved in risk mitigating mechanisms, such as guarantees. We combine this with Business Development Services including mentoring and coaching in management, marketing, sales and HR. Special attention is given to the specific needs of women entrepreneurs.
Furthermore, the Trade for Development Centre provides coaching business development support to fair trade businesses, producers and cooperatives.
Strengthening value chains and economic sectors
Strengthening value chains means supporting everyone involved in production, from the farmer who grows pineapples, to the small enterprise collecting them, the medium enterprise cleaning and packing the fruit, the enterprise providing solutions for packaging and shipping, or the factory processing the pineapples into juice, or the outlet selling the end product to an individual.
Enabel’s efforts on structuring value chains focus on professionalising producers’ organisations, improving product quality and enabling better access to markets. When these elements are in place, small and medium-sized businesses have more opportunities for sustainable growth and decent job creation.
Related content
The Port of Cotonou in Benin is one of the largest ports in West Africa. Enabel, in partnership with the Port of Antwerp, is supporting its modernisation to make it more competitive and efficient. Watch the videos to find out how we go about this.
Partnership with the Port of Antwerp
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Private Sector Brochure
News & Events
12 March 2024
#TeamBelgium invests in women
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Enabel, BIO and the DGD honoured inspiring and resilient women.
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05 February 2024
Africa CDC and Enabel strengthen collaboration to reinforce health systems capacity in Africa
“This collaboration with Africa CDC is paramount to move forward and strengthen the continental health security architecture,” says Jean Van Wetter. Read more
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31 January 2024
Joint Press Release: Rwanda and Belgium sign new bilateral cooperation programme
The new cooperation programme strategically allocates resources across key sectors including agriculture, urbanisation and health.
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11 January 2024
Evelien Masschelein appointed Director of Expertise & Think at Enabel
With Evelien Masschelein, Enabel appoints an experienced insider as Director of Expertise & Think. Read her bio.
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08 January 2024
2023: A year in review
At the beginning of this new year, we take the time to look back at some of our work in 2023.
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13 December 2023
Combined efforts of Enabel, Bluesquare and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate malaria in Burundi and Niger
Enabel announces a strategic partnership with Bluesquare and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to step up the fight against malaria in Burundi and Niger.
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