Consortium Provides Technical Support

With much greater understanding of the local context and needs of institutions operating in Liberia, the Consortium of Business Development Service Providers of Liberia (CBDSPL) provides technical support services, primarily through capacity building as an intervention to improve the way institutions work.

Over the years, the Consortium has developed considerable expertise, credibility, partnerships, tools and experiences that are assisting government, development partners, and local institutions to improve systems and programming.

Members of the Consortium have developed and used well-informed training tools, techniques and approaches that cover variety of needs and spectrum of international and local institutions operating in Liberia.

The tools and materials use by members of the Consortium have been very efficient in transmitting knowledge, bridging gaps and providing the right support needed by institutions and small businesses alike to fulfill their needs.

With support from United States Agency for International Development

(USAID’s) Liberia Accountability and Voice Initiative (LAVI), the Consortium has

demonstrated high level of expertise through the diversification

of service provided. 

From initial trainings in business development and financial  management, etc., the Consortium has now grown into effectively providing  trainings in strategic programming areas such as Monitoring & Evaluation, Advocacy and Communication, Strategic Planning, Organizational Management,  Program Evaluation, Program Performance Management, Information and Communications Technology, etc.

Following the support provided to the consortium through the LAVI project, several successes where recorded in 2018. These successes have had demonstrable impact on the consortium in general and its members in particular.

For example, there has been an increase in the number of contracts won by local Service Providers (SPs), creation of at least 25 part-time and at least 10 full-time jobs, increase in consortium brand awareness, with about $125.000 USD generated in contract value amongst all consortium members.

The following were some of the achievements from 2018: Over 25 new connections made from marketing events organized attracting about 10 new contracts, Three new SPs recruited into the consortium, Increased online marketing presence of CBDSPL across all major social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & LinkedIn).

Eighteen (18) SPs gained knowledge and understanding of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) process to benefit from the government of Liberia’s 25% procurement quota for Liberian-owned businesses.

The Consortium is also a strategic capacity development partner to USAID’s Liberia Accountability and Voice Initiative (LAVI) implemented by DAI. As a strategic partner, the consortium members provide technical support services and assistance to the project partners in multiple areas, including financial management training, strategic plan development, M&E training, Gender policy development, etc.

The level of support provided through the consortium members has contributed to capacity strengthening amongst the project partners further enhancing the effectiveness of their project work particularly in the areas of advocacy and communication and financial management.

In August of 2019, the consortium recruited additional service providers to increase its membership and expand the range of technicalservices and experts. This effort is meant to ensure that international organizations, development partners, CSOs and NGOs working on varying development issues in Liberia have the much needed technical support to implement their project works. Nine (9) new service providers were recruited and now form part of the consortium.

Currently, the consortium has engaged in several marketing initiatives to increase its presence and expand its brand across Liberia. In addition, the consortium is planning on engaging development partners, CSOs, NGOs, Corporate firms and multinational bodies through a series of business matchmaking events to identify and take full advantage of potential opportunities that exist across sectors.