Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Program

Proper sequencing and program readiness. Proper sequencing of program activities is essential to ensure success. In the case of the Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Program (SMESDP), gaps in program readiness led to delays in its implementation. As discussed in para. 8, adoption of a two-step approach would have been more appropriate; first, the technical assistance (TA) loan to prepare the outputs needed and recommendations for implementation, followed by a second step of putting the SMESDP in place to implement the recommendations of the TA loan. The two-step approach might have taken a slightly longer time to implement, but it would have facilitated a smoother implementation of the program and ensured greater efficiency in achieving the program's outcome and outputs. In addition, a project readiness filter could have been put in place to ensure readiness to implement the SMESDP the moment it became effective.