The SIYB programme has two target groups:

• the immediate programme beneficiaries
• the indirect or ultimate programme beneficiaries.

The immediate SIYB beneficiaries
The immediate beneficiaries of the SIYB programme are local Business Development Services (BDS) organizations, and the trainers working for them. The SIYB Regional Project Office seeks collaboration with the ILO social partners i.e. employers’ organizations, trade unions and government agencies in implementing the SIYB programme. However, other BDS organizations (whether non-governmental, profit making or non-profit making) are also invited and welcome to participate in implementing SIYB.

To qualify for collaboration in the SIYB programme, BDS organizations should meet the following criteria:

• have a proven record in or clear potential to provide BDS for small enterprises, particularly in training and follow up activities
• have, or have access to , financial resources to carry out training
• be willing to integrate SIYB into their regular activities
• be willing to cooperate with other SIYB training providers
• preferably, have a geographical spread of operations
a given country, then allow local BDS organizations to independently and effectively implement the programme with minimal direct ILO support and supervision.
For more information on the institutional approach of the SIYB, please click here.

The Ultimate SIYB Beneficiaries
The ultimate or indirect beneficiaries of the SIYB programme are small-scale entrepreneurs who either want to start or grow their own businesses. Entrepreneurs are the reason why SIYB exists. They are referred to as an indirect target group because the ILO reaches them via local BDS organizations. As described elsewhere, the ILO builds capacity within these organizations to enable them to train and support entrepreneurs using the SIYB approach, methodology and materials.

To fully benefit from SIYB training, entrepreneurs applying for SIYB training courses should:

• be willing and able to contribute towards the cost of training
• be internally motivated to attend the training
• be able to read and write in the language of training
• be able to make simple calculations
• be interested in starting a business (for GYBI and SYB training)
• have the technical skills, or access to technical skills, that are relevant for the planned line of business (SYB module only)
• be in business for at least 1 year (IYB module only)

Acknowledging the fact that many entrepreneurs often lack these minimum qualifications for SIYB training, but still have a genuine demand for business start-up and management training, the ILO developed a simplified version of the SIYB programme. This programme is suitable for entrepreneurs with low literacy and numeracy and who need just enough information to start and operate micro-businesses. (See training materials for more details).

How to access SIYB
To obtain further information about the SIYB programme, please contact:
ILO-SIYB Regional Project Office for Eastern and Southern Africa
101 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue
P. O. Box 3474
Harare, Zimbabwe
secretariat@ilosiyb.co.zw