Developing Micro Entrepreneurship in South Africa 2010-2012

Finland -South Africa Association (FSAA) co-operates with several South African organisations to implement the project "Developing Micro Entrepreneuship in South Africa 2010-2012". The funding for this project is made available from FSAA through grants from the Finnish Government and other sources in Finland. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Development Policy Unit, supports the project with 731 000 euros between years 2010 to 2012. The share of self-financing is 132 000 euros (15%).

Since 2004, several South African organisations have conducted basic business skills training courses within in the Finland South Africa Association (FSAA) project aiming to enhance local economic development in South Africa. The idea of the project is to develop micro entrepreneurship in order to create sustainable livelihoods and reduce poverty. It works through organising business and skills training for micro enterprises. The project offers support and mentoring of the trainees through the Partners own networks.

The project has been operating since 2005 and althogether over 2 000 micro entrepreneurs have been trained in townships and poor rural areas in South Africa. 

The project has a steering group that works under the board of FSAA. The chairperson of the steering group is Mr. Tapani Brotherus. The project coordinator and secretary of the steering group is Mr. Iikka Saunamäki.

The partners of the project are:
*ELCSA-DS (The Development Service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa)
*Elgin Learning Foundation
*Greater Stellenbosch Development Trust
*Thembalitsha Foundation

In Finland our partners are
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission
Finnish Businessmen Mission
Federation of Finnish Enterprises
The project has also been supported by several companies and parishes.

See also the Handbook made of the project!

Contact us!
Iikka Saunamäki, project coordinator, iikka.saunamaki(at)afrikka.net +358 40 720 4025
Tapani Brotherus, project manager, tapani.brotherus(at)gmail.com +358 50 4061 481