Informal Settlement Business Workshop

It has been proven many times over that it is easier to grow existing business than to attract new investment. For this reason it is crucial to understand the needs of business and to address critical obstacles to development.

To achieve this development the GDA recently hosted a workshop with 35 business owners, mostly located in the informal settlement. The businesses include organisations across construction, manufacturing, services, agriculture, transport and tourism.

The aim of the workshop was to introduce the GDA to local businesses and to understand the critical factors preventing organisations from growing. 

The challenges companies encounter include normal challenges such as cash flow problems, human resource obstacles and other expected challenges. Other, more localized challenges included the lack of a formal business space for companies transitioning from backyard organisations to formal economy institutions.

In particular it was mentioned that sufficient space for manufacturing, safe storage of equipment and materials, and a lack of interaction with other businesses were especially difficult.

Based on this initial workshop, and a second workshop planned for the last week in September a detailed needs analysis document will be developed based on the questionnaire completed by the business owners. From this needs analysis a priority of activities will be identified including the development of appropriate business space for small businesses with limited rental budget.