History

• SIYB originated in the 1970s from a business management training programme called “Look After Your Firm” that was developed by the Swedish Employers’ Federation
• In 1977 - Adapted by ILO to the needs of small scale entrepreneurs in developing countries and renamed to “Improve Your Business (IYB)”
• In the early 90’s the “Start Your Business (SYB)” training package was developed in Fiji to complement the Improve Your Business training package
• In 1998, “Generate Your Business Idea (GYB)” was developed in southern and eastern Africa
• In 1999, the ILO grouped GYB, SYB and IYB training packages, calling it “Start and Improve Your Business” (SIYB) programme
• 2003, "Expand Your Business (EYB)" is developed and introduced in Sri Lanka and southern Africa for growing small enterprises

The purpose of the study was to provide insight into the worldwide outreach of the Start and Improve Your Business programme, based on secondary data. The document gives an overview of the outreach of the SIYB programme measured by six SIYB project offices that were active, serving 21 countries in their respective regions.
Activities involve training of SIYB trainers, Partner Organisations and Master Trainers, development and adaptation of SIYB materials, from 1997 to date. The Master Trainers are the 'heart of the SIYB Programme', and come from for-profit (16%), governmental (33%) and non-governmental (51%) organisations; this study, however, does not disaggregate by type of host organisation.
It compares the results obtained, with those available from programmes such as CEFE, EMPRETEC and MSI.