Multinational - Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Business Linkages on East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline Project

The proposed Technical Assistance (TA) program of US $1.25 million is to help develop capacity of local Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) along the 1,445 km East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania. The TA will maximize the amount of inputs procured by large companies operating on the planned EACOP in both Uganda and Tanzania through creation of durable and mutually beneficial partnerships between the large companies and MSMEs, thus enhancing the productive capacity, efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of their relationship. Additionally, MSMEs will be exposed to new market opportunities and involved in the creation of business linkages with large, blue-chip companies. This will, ultimately support inclusive private sector growth in Uganda and Tanzania. The TA will support SME Business linkages along the EACOP through two inter-linked components namely: (i) Capacity building in business development which will involve identification of target MSME’s and conducting needs assessments, facilitate trainings in relevant topics to enhance creation of a platforms for networking and market linkages between micro and small/medium enterprises with national, regional and international businesses and organisations and (ii) Administration, monitoring and evaluation, which will involve recruitment of staff and procurement of services. The TA program will be undertaken over a period of 24 months.