FSC Development Services is a UK (Fairford, Glos) based international business support consultancy which has been promoting SMEs and investment in Africa since 1988. The company works with donors and directly with businesses in UK/Europe and Africa, and since 1988 has been at the forefront of promoting the development of the private sector and trade as a primary mechanism for growth in developing countries.

FSC has worked directly with 40 companies in Africa, undertaking business planning, providing short and long term management, marketing assistance and identifying investment finance and funds to contribute towards these business support activities. We have been particularly active in the agribusiness, food and rural sectors.

FSC has worked with all major donors, undertaking enterprise/private sector development programmes and business linkage & partnership initiatives as well as extensively with DFID and UKTI, in the UK.

governance and transparency

All FSC programmes involve the promotion of good governance and transparency. We have also run training programmes in East Africa and the UK on ethical and environmental company management for local SMEs.

trade

FSC works closely with UKTI and the regional Development Associations to help UK companies identify and develop successful trading opportunities with African companies. In particular this involves the development of “added value” elements, such as processing, packaging etc, which will create greater income and job retention in the countries concerned.

climate for business

FSC works closely with the government and private trade and investment promotion organisations in many African countries, helping them to improve their skills and capacity to promote private sector development and in particular, the promotion of investment and partnership opportunities in their countries. We have worked closely with the Eastern and West Africa Business Associations, implementing investment programmes in these regions (with EU support) and investment conferences/workshops in the UK.

enterprise and employment

FSC's works to promote awareness of Africa within the European SME sector and provide support to the development of sustainable, business based partnerships between African and European SMEs includes enterprise development (for example with EMPRETEC in Ghana) and the development of sustainable employment and income generation, which result from successful business partnerships.

human development

Through its management of 15 companies in Africa, FSC has directly influenced local human development. Through other support projects such as. Business Planning for SMEs, FSC has promoted women entrepreneurs and local professionals returning to their home countries after working/training in the UK.

perceptions of africa

FSC is constantly working to promote business opportunities in Africa, especially within UKTI and the regions and sector groups. This involves presenting a counter balance to the negative pictures of the continent often painted by the media and the competition for attention by opportunities in India, China etc.