Centre for Innovation and Professional Development and Incubation (CIPDI) & Ag Program Leader Soft Skills and Languages Cluster

Centre for Innovation and Professional Development and Incubation (CIPDI)

Business Incubation and Innovation, ICT & SMEs Policy development, Project Management. Mentoring and Coaching Startups

Research Study :Digital divides or dividends? Including basic services in Africa’s digitalisation agenda (Mauritius Case Study) funded by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Start-up Namibia: Management of a Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre with Regional Outreach Units - GIZ-funded project "Sustainable Economic Development - Start-up Centre"

Conceptualizing and Implementing an ICT Business Incubation Programme with the support of World Bank.Program funded under the World Bank ICT Sector Development Project of Afghanistan1. Raise Awareness on Business incubation in the local context and share findings on international good practices with local key players and stakeholders.2. Develop a comprehensive review and assessment of the ICT sector including local ICT industry along with support services, ICT indicators, existing ICT legal framework, organizational structure, and existing online platforms.3. Develop business plans for the project and assisted startups to create and develop their business plans 4. Development of a Strategic Plan5. Business modelling for the different options for sustainability 6. Successfully develop a range of business development services for incubatees 7. Development of services, policies and procedures8. Capacity Building of local staff in the implementation of the program9. Team familiarization and planning10. Suggestions for improvement of the work in progress built infrastructure11. Training, business guidance and advisory services for IT start-ups 12. Successfully graduated 20 Companies over a 2 year period

Feasibility Study for the setting up of a Business Incubation facility in Qatar (Qatar Development Bank)

PRO-INVEST - “ACP/6234 – “EU AND PAN-ACP SECTORAL & THEMATIC OBSERVATORY” www.com4dev.com Use of open source – DRUPAL(Web Design) , Open Atrium and Managing NewsPreparation of training materials including PowerPoint presentation and manuals for the Com4dev project. Training for participants in the EU Regions

St Vincent and the Grenadines - Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) Business Incubator Consultancy(a) Business Plan for Incubator(b) Development of a Marketing Plan (c) Strategic Plan review(d) Development of a Virtual incubator portal and training of staff(e) Development of a sustainability plan

Business Incubation - St LuciaSFA 2005 STRIDE economic diversification programme - provision of technical assistance to programme management in the development of a business incubation framework - Castries, Saint Lucia (a) Type of business incubation framework and incubator (b) Legal Status and Structure of the proposed entity(c) Development of a Policy and Regulatory Framework (d) Physical Infrastructure requirement (e) Strategic Plan for Operation of the entity(f) Business Plan for Incubator Operation(g) Organizational and Governance structure, (h) An appropriate Operational Model for any proposed infrastructural facility(i) An incentives framework to support business incubation/incubator, and support for the business’ operating therein

(a) Team leader - Regional Management Office in the Eastern Caribbean regions namely St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Grenada (b) Setting up of business incubatorsTasks as follows :-Overall Programme administration and management1. ICT Development Strategy and Awareness 2. Business Skills Development and E-Business Incubators 3. ICT Capacity Building 4. E-Government Initiatives 5. ICT Regulatory and legislative framework 6. Regional Coordination(i) Extensive experience in exchange of experience about business incubation and SMEs development. (ii) Delivered papers and presentations on SMEs Development, business incubation and technology transfer at international seminars.Worked on projects financed by UNDP, World Bank – InfoDev and the European Union. Good experience in fund raising (Infodev and UNDP) and in Technical Assistance Project management. (iii)Familiar with 9th EDF (EU rules) grant procedures & procurement rules

Assistance to enhance MSMEs in the Eastern Caribbean – Business Incubation (Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines)(a) Phase I (April-May 2009): (i) undertaking consultations to assess the MSME operating environment in the six countries; (ii) delivering sensitization programmes on business incubation to stakeholders in the six countries.(b) Phase II (May 2009): (i) developing a draft feasibility study on business incubation for the Eastern Caribbean; (ii) developing a draft Eastern Caribbean strategic plan for business incubation; (iii) presentation of the draft feasibility study and strategic plan to the OECS Meeting and donors.(c) Phase III (July 2009): Conduct a regional (i) dissemination and sensitization on draft feasibility study amongst stakeholders; (ii) dissemination and sensitization on draft strategic plan amongst stakeholders; (iii) training on business incubation development

(a) Consultation with stakeholders on the ICT & SME Development Strategy for St Vincent and the Grenadines(b) Reformulation of the existing Strategy document

1. Promote Entrepreneurship and organisation of SMEs Development Programmes 2. Logistics and infrastructural management of the ICT Incubator Centre3. Screening of applications received at the Centre4. Business counselling and provision of advisory services with follow-ups of projects5. Organisation of workshops and training for start-ups6. Reporting to the Incubator Management Committee (Board) on the progress of the Centre.7. Formulation and implementation of an Action Plan, Finance Plan, Marketing Plan for the Centre on a yearly basis8. Submission of reports to donor agencies namely UNDP & World Bank regarding financial support for technical assistance provided 9. Establishing network contacts with both local and international institutions.

National Consultant for the project – “Support for new and potential start-up incubators in the field of ICT” funded by National Computer Board and UNDP Mauritius.Funding was secured from UNDP Mauritius for this project.Second round of funding from World Bank - InfoDev was also secured for this project1. Collaborated and liaised with the National Computer Board for the assessment and formulation of report for the International Consultant. 2. Devised a comprehensive consultative process in consultation with the International Consultant/Firm/ team leader and the Implementing Partner/National Execution Agency (National Computer Board);3. Acted as resource person during consultative process, which included presentation of the findings during technical and Steering Committees (power point presentations amongst others), meeting with stakeholders and clarification of expectations with regards to the selected option, during working sessions amongst others.5. Assisted the International Consultant/Firm with the collection of data necessary for preparation of the report6. Recorded the consultation process.7. Prepared background materials as instructed by the International Consultant/Firm and help in finalising the final report.

Web designer and Counsellor

1. Carried out pre-investment and feasibility studies and evaluation of projects 2. Assisted in the formulation of policies and development plans3. Participated in the design and conduct of training and management development programmes. 4. Ensured the organisation of an efficient extension/counselling service Organisation and dissemination of industrial information on small and medium enterprises5. Promotion of industrial linkages and sound marketing methods/techniques6. Assisted in the Implementation of an EU funded project for SMEs – SME Challenge –involving Flash Diagnosis, Technical Assistance and Training Capacity Building Grant 7. Conception and development of SMIDO and Shell Livewire Mauritius Web portals.8. Responsible for the Export and Technology Awards9. Organisation of the College Entrepreneurship Development Contest for secondary students 10. Sensitisation programme on Entrepreneurship Development