Many SMEs in our target markets are computer-savvy with regular access to the Internet and use the Toolkit effectively as a self-help tool. Those without reliable Internet connectivity can run the Toolkit on CD-ROM. And SMEs who may not feel comfortable diving in themselves can register for a formal computer-based Toolkit workshop taught by professional, trained trainers.

SME Toolkit training workshops are two- to five-day courses on general business management, as well as focused workshops on Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Marketing and Sales, Business Planning, and Developing and Marketing your Own Website. In the specialized workshops, participants use the Toolkit to complete their own customized business plans, financial spreadsheets, or marketing plans. Service providers gain a strong understanding of leveraging the Toolkit to improve their services for SME clients.

• 90% of workshop participants rate the SME Toolkit workshops as “good” or “excellent;” and
• 90% of workshop participants rate the SME Toolkit as “good” or “excellent” as a learning resource.

To date, the SME Toolkit, together with local partners, has trained over 2,200 participants and distributed more than 3,600 CDs to SMEs and business service providers in emerging markets. Training workshops were conducted in Algeria, Antigua, Bangladesh, Dominica, Grenada, Ghana, Mali, Madagascar, Nepal, Philippines, South Africa, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, and a number of other countries.

The SME Toolkit has also negotiated low-cost licenses with providers of high-quality business management training software, as well as business, marketing, and advertising planning software. Now, SMEs in Bangladesh, for example, can receive computer-based training with a local language audio track on topics ranging from office management to quality assurance to PC and Internet basics and more. And SME owners and managers now have access to several different "Knowledge Centers" where they can get one-on-one assistance using desktop applications to generate effective business plans and other key business documents.

Interested in offering an SME Toolkit training workshop? Email us at info@smetoolkit.org.