Sahwira Entrepreneurship & Small Business Conference in SADC (SEBC-4-SADC) Episodes 1 & 2

PLEASE READ THIS INTRODUCTION BEFORE PURCHASING A TICKET.

Purpose of the conference:

This Sahwira Entrepreneurship and Small Business Conference for SADC (SEBC-4-SADC) explores various issues that micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs)  within Southern African Development Community (SADC) confront. The need to brainstorm ways to advance SMEs in SADC is even more important considering the current global COVID 19 pandemic whose adverse impact on business is far reaching. Importantly, this is a unique and very important conference that departs from the tradition of prescribing what SMEs in SADC should do but empower them to come together, share their own experiences about their numerous challenges they face and together make suggestions to improve their business situations. It is indeed, vital that SMEs in SADC should in addition to their other forms of learning, also learn from their own experiences and draw on their networks to gain new business management knowledge. To further enhance this knowledge transfer process, national and regional key stakeholders for SMEs in SADC (e.g. bankers, academics, policymakers) including international professionals, SMEs and entrepreneurs also have access to attend this conference. Ultimately, SMEs in SADC shall foster crucial strategic networks amongst themselves nationally, regionally and internationally.  

Target Participants: 

SMEs in SADC, Banks in SADC, Insurance Firms in SADC, Academics in SADC, NGOs in SADC, Policymakers in SADC, Chambers of SMEs in SADC, Chambers of Commerce in SADC, Microfinance Firms in SADC, Federations of SMEs in SADC, Associations of SMEs in SADC, Professionals in SADC, International key stakeholders for SMEs in SADC. International SMEs and Entrepreneurs.

Conference Duration, Dates and Times:

Episode 1: Monday 21-Saturday 26 September 2020 (Six Days)

Episode 2: Monday 5-Saturday 10 October 2020 (Six days)

Time: 8.am-17.00 pm Harare/Pretoria Time Zone.

NB: You don't have to attend all the six days per conference episode but only specific conference days or conference tracks you are interested in as shown below

Conference Tracks and Themes:      

Episode 1 Conference Tracks and Themes

Track 1: SMEs' Business Environment in SADC: Challenges-Solutions 

Track 2: SADC SMEs' Financing-SMEs: Challenges-Solutions

Track 3: SADC SMEs' Markets: Challenges-Solutions

Track 4: SADC SMEs' Information and ICT Access: Challenges-Solutions

Track 5: SADC SMEs' Innovation & Value Addition: Challenges-Solutions

Track 6: SADC SMEs' Family Businesses: Challenges-Solutions

Episode 2 Conference Tracks and Themes

Track 7: SADC SMEs' Rural Entrepreneurship: Challenges-Solutions

Track 8: SADC SMEs' Gender and Women in Business: Challenges-Solutions

Track 9: SADC SMEs' Youth in Business: Challenges-Solutions

Track 10: Entrepreneurial Knowledge and Skills of SMEs in SADC: Challenges-Solutions

Track 11: People Management in SMEs: Challenges-Solutions

Track 12: COVID 19 Impact: Business Bouncing Back Strategies

NB: There are 10 sessions for each day: 7 Presentations and 2 Discussions and each is 45 minutes long. In between are 10 minutes breaks and One Hour lunch.

Conference papers:

Interested persons can submit to the conference, academic and non-academic papers tackling any one of the conference track themes highlighted in episodes 1 and 2 above. There is no limit regarding how many themes an individual can write a paper on and individuals can write from the business practitioner perspective or from an academic perspective.  Each paper should be between 8,000-10,000 words including tables, figures, and references. 

Background:

Given, SMEs are the undoubted engines that drive economies the world over and are indeed the lifeblood of SADC's regional economy, it is imperative that key stakeholders cross pollinate ideas with a view to improve SMEs viability and ultimately spur economic growth in SADC, (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, 2018). Crucially, the conference seeks to brainstorm historic challenges that bedevil SMEs in SADC , major ones relating to finance, innovation & technology, entrepreneurial skills & spirit, market access, business environment, information access, and gender, (African Development Bank, 2019;Hashim, D.H. 2015; Green et al, 2010) . Further worsening the situation is the current COVID 19 global pandemic, which inevitably has far reaching adverse impact on SMEs in SADC, (SADC, 2020). In deliberating on these key issues, the rationale is, taking into consideration SADC's several regional strategies (SADC, 2020a-b; SADC, 2017) delegates shall generate knowledge, create awareness and come up with innovative strategies to bounce back SADC's SMEs into enhanced performance and sustainability, given recession already caused by COVID 19.Writers should use the Times New Roman, Font 12, spacing -1.5 and the Harvard Reference style.

References:

SADC, (2020a). Inside SADC. SADC secretariat monthly newsletter 2019-2020. quarter 4. Issue 01. January. https://www.sadc.int/files/3215/8158/5163/Inside_SADC_-_January_2020_mail.pdf

SADC, (2020b). SADC regional response to COVID 19 pandemic: An analysis of the regional situation and impact: Bulletin No 2. https://www.sadc.int/files/6815/8758/9636/BULLETIN_2-SADC_Response_to_COVID19_ENGLISH.pdf

African Development Bank, (2019). Southern Africa economic outlook 2019. https://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Publications/2019AEO/REO_2019_-_Southern_africa.pdf

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, (2018). SMEs key to unlocking Southern Africa’s economic potential. https://www.uneca.org/stories/smes-key-unlocking-southern-africa%E2%80%99s-economic-potential-says-mauritian-minister

SADC, (2017). Action plan for SADC industrialization strategy and roadmap. https://www.sadc.int/files/4514/9580/8179/Action_Plan_for_SADC_Industrialization_Strategy_and_Roadmap.pdf

Hashim, D.H (2015) Accelerating business growth for SMEs. SADC development finance institutions network. Chief executives' forum. https://www.sadc-dfrc.org/sites/default/files/documents/forum/june2015/keynote_hashim_june2015.pdf

Green et al, (2010). SMEs and growth in sub-saharan Africa. Menon business economics. https://www.norfund.no/archive/Bilder/Publications/SME%20and%20growth%20MENON%20.pdf

Conference Participation Options:    

You can participate in the conference in several ways as follows:                                                                                                                                       

1). Conference Presenter: £150-00 per conference track.  

Attend only One Conference Track or a Few Conference Tracks of your choice or the entire six conference tracks per episode as a Conference Presenter. In each case you will make an oral power point webnar presentation on any theme of your choice. Duration of power point presentation is 30 minutes. 

2). Conference Critical Thinker: £100-00 per conference track

Attend only One Conference Track, or a Few Conference Tracks of your choice or the entire six Conference Tracks per episode as a Conference Critical Thinker. In each case you will contribute to critical thinking through your in-depth analysis and suggestions during discussions.

3). International SME-Entrepreneur Presenter: £600-00

You are an international entrepreneur and or SME and can attend any conference track of your choice to market your products and or services. You have 20 minutes to present and an additional 14 minutes for question and answer. 

4). International SME-Entrepreneur Critical Thinker: £300-00

You are an international entrepreneur and or SME and can attend any conference track of your choice to take part in critical thought about SME issues confronting SMEs in SADC. 

5). Conference paper submission: £5-00 

This option is open to both those who cannot attend and those who can attend the webnar conference even if they are still making a powerpoint presentation.  Simply email your paper to: sahwiramarketing@gmail.com. 

6). Conference sponsor:

The main objective of this conference is to empower SMEs in SADC with critical thinking opportunities in which they brainstorm effective ways to navigate their dynamic marketing environment and ultimately improve their operations and competitiveness. The challenge is that in most cases resource constraints limit many SMEs in SADC from accessing best practice strategic thought and change management. Therefore, as a large enterprise, a financial institution, a SADC regional or international key stakeholder interested in the advancement of SMEs in SADC, you can become a sponsor for this conference by funding SMEs of your choice to participate in this conference. Here is how you can do this:

i). Diamond Sponsorship Package:

Sponsor 18 or 36 SMEs to be Conference Presenters for Episode 1 and or Episode 2 at £2,700-00 per episode, excluding checkout nominal commissions.

We put the SMEs you sponsor into teams of Three Conference Presenters each to present on a specific conference track that you would have chosen when you bought the tickets. In return, you shall benefit from your investment as follows:

a). For every 18 SMEs you sponsor, you get 6 x 30 seconds advertisement slots (i.e. an advert everyday of each conference episode) for which we shall playback your video advertisement during the conference tracks. 

b). Your brand name or logo will be branded on the power point presentation of your SME beneficiary.

c). Your brand name shall be given due recognition through relevant pronouncements during the conference.

d). Your brand name shall be listed in sponsorship details captured on our Facebook Posts, LinkedIn and Twitter.

e). Further, for every 18 SMEs you sponsor, your marketing representative shall join the webnar conference and have an invaluable 34 minutes of marketing your products and or services: (20 mins presentation plus 14 minutes questions and answer).

ii). Emerald Sponsorship Package:

Sponsor 50 SMEs or Multiples of 50 SMEs (i.e. 50, 100, 150…450) to be Conference Critical Thinkers at £5,000-00 per 50 SMEs, excluding checkout nominal commissions.

We shall assign the 50 or Multiples of 50 SMEs into specific conference tracks and episodes as you would have chosen when you bought the tickets. In return, you shall benefit as follows:

a). For every 50 SMEs you sponsor per conference episode you get 10 x 30 seconds advertisement slots in which we shall play your video advertisement during the conference tracks. 

b). Your brand name shall be given due recognition through relevant pronouncements during the conference.

c). Your brand name shall be listed in sponsorship details captured on our Facebook Posts, LinkedIn and Twitter.

d). Further, for every 50 SMEs you sponsor, your marketing representative shall join the webnar conference and have an invaluable 2 x 34 minutes of marketing your products and or services: (20 mins presentation plus 14 minutes questions and answer).

iii). Platinum Sponsorship Package:

Sponsor 30 SMEs or Multiples of 30 SMEs (i.e. 30, 60, 90…180) to be Conference Critical Thinkers at £3,000-00 per 30 SMEs, excluding checkout nominal commissions.

We shall assign the 30 or Multiples of 30 SMEs into specific conference tracks and episodes as you would have chosen when you bought the tickets. In return, you shall benefit as follows:

a). For every 30 SMEs (i.e. 30, 60, 90…180) you sponsor per conference episode you get 6 x 30 seconds advertisement slots in which we shall play your video advertisement during the conference tracks. 

b). Your brand name shall be given due recognition through relevant pronouncements during the conference.

c). Your brand name shall be listed in sponsorship details captured on our Facebook Posts, LinkedIn and Twitter.

d). Further, for every 30 SMEs you sponsor (i.e. 30, 60, 90…180), your marketing representative shall join the webnar conference and have an invaluable 34 minutes of marketing your products and or services: (20 mins presentation plus 14 minutes questions and answer).

 iv). Rubies Sponsorship Package:

Sponsoring 20 or multiples of 20 individuals to write and submit conferences papers. The investment is £100-00 per 20 individuals sponsored, excluding checkout nominal commissions.

Sponsor any set of 20 Individuals (i.e. 20, 40, 60…300) to write and submit papers about any conference themes of your choice or their choice. In return, for every 20 Individuals you sponsor, you benefit from: 

a). You get 3 x 30 seconds advertisement slots in which we shall play your video advertisement during the conference tracks. 

b). Your brand name shall be given due recognition through relevant pronouncements during the conference.

c). Your brand name shall be listed in sponsorship details captured on our Facebook Posts, LinkedIn and Twitter.

v). Gold Sponsorship Package:

Sponsoring Awards for the Conference: Both Episode 1 and Episode 2 and Conference Papers Administration at £4,500-00, exclusive of checkout nominal commission fees

Nature of Awards:

a). Delegates shall vote on the best conference presentation for each conference track leading to 12 winners for entire conference: both episode 1 and 2. Winners to be awarded £100-00 each, provided a sponsor is identified. This requires total sponsorship of £1,200-00

b). The first ten conference paper articles to be submitted per conference track and complying with submission requirements to be awarded £50-00 each, provided a sponsor is identified. This implies a total of 120 conference papers stand a chance each to win this award. A total of £600-00 is required.

c) Awards to be disbursed to winners in liaison with the sponsor. Please note that unless a sponsor is identified, no awards shall be disbursed.

d). Further, £2,700-00 to be invested in conference papers processing and administration.

e). Ultimately, a total of £1,800-00 (Conference Awards) plus £2,700-00 (Conference Papers Processing) =£4,500-00 is required. Therefore, you can be the sponsor that invests in this opportunity. In return, you benefit as follows:

i). You get 3 x 30 seconds advertisement slots per conference track per episode in which we shall play your video advertisement during the conference tracks. 

ii). Your brand name shall be given due recognition through relevant pronouncements during the conference.

iii). Your brand name shall be listed in sponsorship details captured on our Facebook Posts, LinkedIn and Twitter.

iv) Further, you get 15 minutes every day of each conference track for your marketing representative to market your products and or services.

 Are You Value or Price Driven?

If you identify yourself as a superior brand and market leader in innovation, service quality, sustainability and social impact, then the above sponsorship opportunities (Diamond, Emerald, Platinum, Rubies and Gold) are indeed, what you need to further enhance your market grip and leadership. It is not about price but the value of your brand and the value of strategically positioning yourself within the blue-chip SADC SMEs market.

 Identification of Sponsorship Beneficiaries:

1). Sponsors should identify their own beneficiaries from the SADC market, for example, such SMEs could be their clients whom they want to promote and strengthen their business relationship.

2). At the sametime we are also engaging the market to find out SMEs wishing to participate but are incapacitated financially. Therefore, Sponsors can also check with us and we can share with them our database. Consequently, SMEs in SADC and individuals wishing to get sponsorship can write to us clearly indicating their preferred participation mode for example, Conference Presenters or Conference Critical Thinkers or Conference Paper Submission.

Purchasing of Tickets:

1). There are only Six types of tickets: Conference Presenter, Conference Critical Thinker, Conference Paper, International SME-Entrepreneur Presenter, International SME-Entrepreneur Critical Thinker and Conference Awards Sponsor.

2). Ensure you buy separate tickets for the specific conference track you want to attend. You cannot exchange one conference track ticket with another.

3). Whether sponsored or self-funded, delegates in SADC wishing to be a conference presenter or a conference critical thinker should buy tickets called: Conference Presenter Ticket and Conference Critical Thinker Ticket

4) As soon as sponsors purchase their tickets, they should email us details of their SME beneficiaries who shall be attending the conference so we can avail them their sponsorship benefits.

5). Please note that we shall email the conference links to all delegates three days before the conference starts.

 Refund and Rescheduling Policy:     

In general, there are no refunds. Further, we reserve the right to reschedule the events and registered participants are required to attend accordingly. It is only in the exceptional situation of the event being cancelled that we make a refund. Importantly, in such cases, we only refund the event fee less commissions charged during checkout.

Reservation List:

Should you be currently undecided to participate in the conference, you are most welcome to email us, and we can shortlist you in our reservations list at no cost. At your preferred time, you can contact us to establish availability of space and therefore, register.

Copyright:

Please note that for quality assurance, we record all our conference sessions for further processing and development of our conferencing, training and marketing services. Therefore, by attending this conference and or participating in any of the ways stated herein, denotes that you are giving us your express consent to record this conference and that we hold exclusive copyright.

About Sahwira SME Hub and Network:

Sahwira SME Hub and Network provides novel business management services to SMEs in the form of business advisory, research, new venture start-up, mentorship and business growth, business expos, business conferences and business networking. 

Inquiries

Send email to: sahwiramarketing@gmail.com

Facebook Page: fb.me/sahwira4SADC

Website: https://sahwirafinancial.com/sahwira-sme-hub/