Please note that this is an on-going project.
Project Description
Small-scale enterprises are a critical component of the economy and provide livelihoods for many of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. Leaders of the Pacific region have identified the development of small-scale enterprises as a key priority for achieving inclusive economic growth. In response, the Griffith Asia Institute and its partners are working to assess the current support ecosystem for Pacific entrepreneurs and identify opportunities for technology solutions to support the growth and development of micro-enterprises.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
Sample populations (individual entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises) within the three target nations
The unserved and most vulnerable segments of the population who lack the resources to more effectively develop and grow their enterprises.
Outcomes to Date
Data has been gathered through a series of interviews with local institutions and surveys administered to both potential and established small-scale entrepreneurs in the three target countries. The analysis of this data will provide important insights for the research team on how certain behaviours among entrepreneurs impact their ability to address development constraints, what support mechanisms currently exist for entrepreneurs, and where there are opportunities for technology to play a larger role. The findings of this analysis will inform the development of interventions which aim to provide proof-of-concept for other local organisations for their easy replication.
Project Significance
Formal and informal small-scale enterprises are a critical component of the economy and provide livelihoods for many of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. They also represent important sites of resilience, dynamism, and innovation. However, the development of small-scale enterprises and by extension the potential to enhance the economic welfare of those at the base of the economic pyramid (BoEP), is often constrained due to a range of disadvantages they face. These barriers include a lack of organisational capacity and human resources; low bargaining power with customers and suppliers; and limited access to financing, support structures and wider markets. In the Pacific these challenges are further exacerbated by local conditions such as remote geographies and low population densities that prohibit enterprise growth.
As the region seeks to navigate the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, revitalisation of the small-scale enterprises sector represents an opportunity for economic recovery and capacity building. The role of technology is gaining greater attention as a potential solution to support the growth and development of Pacific entrepreneurs, and the project will research and pilot test methodologies for creative growth-oriented, small-scale enterprises through the use of digital technologies.
Working closely with the Development Banks of Samoa, Solomon Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the project will identify opportunities for technology to enhance access to education and human capital and strengthen enterprise incubation and acceleration across the Pacific region. With a multi-year implementation planned, the project will provide practical solutions for development practitioners and government agencies across the Pacific region to enhance their level of support for entrepreneurs.