The African Incubator Network is an association of organizations that facilitate the growth and development of small businesses in Africa.
Business incubators are programs especially designed to offer resources and support services to entrepreneurs. Incubators assist in the exchange of business skills through the successful development of SMEs. Incubators may differ in their approach to assisting entrepreneurs and vary in the clients that they serve.
Generally, incubators are run by management teams that work with entrepreneurs to develop their businesses through advice and assistance support and the incubator’s network of contacts.
The central idea behind incubators is that they can develop the business know-how of an entrepreneur to ensure that the right structures are in place for a business to succeed. This may include help with gaining access to finance, assistance with business skills or access to facilities such as the internet.
The African Incubator Network (AIN) is a development program run by InfoDev. InfoDev provides support to 24 incubator projects in 10 African countries including Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda.
The aim of AIN is to raise awareness of business incubators and their impact, foster a forum for knowledge sharing and provide appropriate support services for small enterprises in Africa. AIN collaborates with companies and organizations to grow incubator networks and contribute to improved regulations and policies that will foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Although business incubation is not a widespread idea in Africa, as yet, its development through AIN is seen as an important step in the growth of small and medium enterprises. Within AIN, business incubators primarily focus on developing women and youth entrepreneurial skills.
Click here for more information on Africa Incubator Network.
Moses Mwanjirah
October 25, 2010
My name is Moses M Mwanjirah and I run a company that is focused on creating platforms focused on the socio-economic development of the Continent. Our passion and vision as a company is driven and motivated by the fact NEPAD Framework.
To achieve this we host events that are entirely focused on issues that require all Africans to fast track socio-economic development. We hosted the 1st Africa Small business Summit in polokwane South Africa last month and was attended by 8 countries. As the first summit we were impressed that several countries realized it quckly the the issue of SME’s in Africa requires a focused platform that will see SME development incorporated into national developmental plans. This is what we intend on Achieving with this event. So I call upon all members of this network to visit http://www.sbsummit.co.za or http://www.ikapamedia.co.za for more info or you can contact me directly on moses@ikapamedia.co.za
Africa Report Team
October 25, 2010
Hi Moses
If you haven’t already done so, please list your business in our directory and place an advert in the marketplace. These are interactive forums to help promote your business and find partnerships. Click here to create an account and get active.
All the best.
Blessing
October 13, 2011
I could watch Schindler’s List and still be happy after raednig this.