Empowering South Africa's entrepreneurs: ILO's training of trainers workshop

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is playing a pivotal role in supporting South Africa's efforts to promote entrepreneurship and the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—a priority for driving economic growth and creating jobs.

As part of its Productivity Ecosystem for Decent Work project, the ILO hosted a two-week Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop in July 2024. This workshop aimed to strengthen local partners and stakeholders by equipping them with the skills needed to support entrepreneurs through the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) programme.

The SIYB programme operates through a structured, three-tier system: Master Trainers, Trainers, and entrepreneurs. Master Trainers, licensed by the ILO, train Trainers who then deliver the SIYB programme directly to entrepreneurs. To ensure the programme’s effectiveness and consistency, the ILO maintains quality control by identifying best practices, providing technical advice, and closely monitoring its implementation.

This TOT workshop, a key component of the ILO’s local capacity-building strategy, brought together business development professionals from critical organizations, including the Automotive Industry Development Centres (AIDC) in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, Productivity SA, and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA). During the two-week training, participants acquired essential skills to deliver SIYB training effectively, thus empowering entrepreneurs in sectors vital to South Africa’s economy.

The workshop was highly interactive, featuring sessions on micro-teaching, presentation techniques, and entrepreneurship games. Participants learned how to tailor SIYB programmes to specific audiences and how to provide post-training support to help entrepreneurs apply their newly gained knowledge in real-world settings.

Following the TOT workshop, the newly trained Trainers will organize and conduct supervised Training of Enterprises workshops. Once they successfully complete this phase, they will be certified and authorized to deliver SIYB training independently. The programme will prioritize industries such as leather, footwear, and automotive sectors that are crucial to South Africa’s economic growth and job creation. These industries are labour-intensive and have significant potential to generate employment by fostering entrepreneurship, resolving value chain challenges, and promoting decent work practices.

Participants found the training to be highly impactful.

Suzan Mkhabela of Productivity SA remarked, "I’ve gained invaluable skills, particularly in presentation techniques, which are often overlooked."

Ewald Meier from AIDC Eastern Cape noted, "The SIYB programme aligns perfectly with AIDC EC, creating exciting opportunities for technical collaboration."

The ILO’s approach extends beyond certification, offering ongoing support to ensure that entrepreneurs thrive in a supportive ecosystem. By fostering this environment, the ILO helps small businesses contribute to sustained economic growth. Additionally, certified Trainers will have opportunities to advance to the Expand Your Business programme, which further supports growth-oriented enterprises.

Through initiatives like this, the ILO is not only empowering trainers and entrepreneurs but also laying the foundation for long-term economic development, increased productivity, and better working conditions in South Africa’s key sectors.