EDSE Programme - Ecosystem Development for Small Enterprise

he EDSE Programme is a four year, ground-breaking, innovative and multi-dimensional project to effect meaningful change across South Africa’s SMME ecosystem. Funded by the European Union, the programme aims to improve the operating environment for SMME’s through the application of “Technical Assistance” as well as “Budget Support”, in the form of a Euro 38 million allocation.

A team of over 30 leading SMME technical experts is in place and headquartered within the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) offices in Pretoria. Four technical assistance teams support and work primarily with the DSBD, seda, sefa and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to improve strategies, support new pilots, introduce international models and best-practice, scale up successful approaches, support and empower partnering officials, fast-track delivery and focus on reducing red-tape across the delivery system.

The EDSE Programme will facilitate a more cohesive ecosystem of government and institutional support to create an enabling environment for South Africa’s small enterprises. Its key objectives are to:
» Improve the competitiveness of SMMEs and their ability to meet procurement requirements of large multinational/local corporations and state-owned enterprises
» Improve access to finance for SMMEs who have limited, or no, access to finance
» Improve the regulatory and administrative environment for SMMEs