Results Oriented Commercial-Organization Capacity Development (R.O.C.C.D.)

In September 2010, ISED Solutions launched the Results-Oriented Commercial Organization Capacity Development (ROCCD) Project, funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). The ROCCD Project supports expanded market access and access to new investment capital for enterprises and entrepreneurs across North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt).

Project Objectives

1. Commercial Organizations improve trade facilitation services for their members, with a focus on trade with the US
2. Commercial Organizations improve capital access services for their members
3. Commercial Organizations improve organizational sustainability
4. Commercial Organizations improve advocacy services for their members for enhanced business enabling environments.

Approach and Activities

Through close collaboration with a network of partner commercial organizations in North Africa, ROCCD training and technical assistance is carefully tailored to the context of the North African business and policy environment. The ROCCD Project delivers demand-driven training and technical assistance to commercial organizations to provide effective, focused business development services (BDS) to their member-enterprises.

To date, the Tunis-based ROCCD Team has:

• Developed two Development Guides (training manuals) on Trade Facilitation and Capital Access Services for Business Development Organizations in North Africa. These guides present state-of-the-art services that commercial organizations around the world are using to link member-enterprises to new markets and new sources of investment capital, and provide context-specific case studies on how these services can be adapted to North Africa.
• Facilitated six Development Seminars (trainings) on Trade Facilitation and Capital Access Services for Business Development Organizations in North Africa. Over 260 participants from 80 commercial organizations have participated in these seminars in Tetouan, Tangier, Algiers, and Tunis.
• Implemented the Business Organization Leadership Development (BOLD) Program in Washington D.C. with the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC). Twenty six delegates from 16 leading North African Business attended the BOLD Program in Washington DC, seeing firsthand how American Chambers of Commerce are delivering new services to their members, and advocating with U.S. policymakers.
• Developed a network of sixteen “lead partner“ Business Development Organizations across North Africa. This network is developing Operational Plans to expand their trade and capital access services and organizational capacity, and collaborate in Working Groups to develop context-specific tools and case studies that bring ROCCD technical assistance to a wider circle of over 100 commercial organizations across the region.
• Identified Logistics Partners through which ROCCD can rapidly communicate and collaborate with remote underserved geographic regions and under-developed economic sectors across North Africa to undertake activities. These organizations include:
  • Morocco: the Tetouan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association des Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises du Maroc (AFEM), and the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) North
  • Algeria: MeDafCO-Consulting, Algeriennes Managers et Entrepreneurs (AME), the Conseil National Consultatif Pour la Promotion de la Petite et Moyenne Entreprise (CNC/PME), Savior Et Vouloir Entreprendre (SEVE) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Oran
  • Tunisia: The Tunisian-American Chamber of Commerce (TACC) and the Center for Export Promotion (CEPEX) Training Center in Tunis, Tunisia.
  • Egypt: The Association for Women's Total Advancement and Development (AWTAD)

Maghreb 50: Through the ROCCD Project, ISED Solutions and the Harvard University-based AllWorld Network have launched the Maghreb Fast Growth 50 (Maghreb 50). This is a pioneering effort to identify and promote the fastest growing private companies and most dynamic economic sectors in North Africa. “ISED Solutions, an award-winning advocate of innovation and growth, by partnering with AllWorld brings a dynamic catalyst to the remarkable Maghreb businesses and their associations. The ‘Maghreb 50’ will be businesses that will access new global, regional, and MENA opportunities and investments, creating new economic growth and jobs,” said Lynn Robson, President and CEO of ISED Solutions. More about Maghreb 50: http://www.isedsolutions.org/blog/roccd/allworld-network-and-ised-solutions-launch-maghreb-fast-growth-50

Funder

The ROCCD Project is funded through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). MEPI is a unique program designed to engage directly with and invest in the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). MEPI works to create vibrant partnerships with citizens to foster the development of pluralistic, participatory, and prosperous societies throughout the MENA region. MEPI partners with local, regional and international non-governmental organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and governments. More information about MEPI can be found at: www.mepi.state.gov

ROCCD Chief of Party

David Rinck at david.rinck@isedsolutions.org

ROCCD Project Manager

Ibticem Kamoun at ibticemconsulting@gnet.tn

Program Support

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