Abstract
Private sector development has become an important part of development policy. Until recently, however, policymakers around the globe as well as in international organizations adopted a narrow perspective of the challenges involved, focusing in particular on efficiency gains in existing enterprises. In the face of rapid social and
technological change, slow economic recovery and jobless growth, many countries have shifted the focus of their policies to facilitating new firm creation. With the inclusion of entrepreneurship as part of the development policy agenda there is an opportunity to better link private sector development to the goals of inclusive and sustainable
development.
The Entrepreneurship Policy Framework developed by UNCTAD is, therefore, a timely contribution as it aims to assist policymakers in identifying the key elements of an entrepreneurship policy and formulating actions. It also provides policy options that will help developing countries and countries in transition to stimulate inclusive and sustainable growth. While cautioning that one-size does not fit all, the policy recommendations are clearly stated and are accompanied by practical checklists, an inventory of selected examples and monitoring indicators. It is the result of the work of the Multi-Year Expert Meeting on Enterprise Development and Capacity Building on Science, Technology and Innovation, in the spirit of the Accra Accord and in preparation of UNCTAD XIII. I would like to highlight four design principles that underpin the findings in this document:
1. Consensus building: development partners should contribute to a national entrepreneurship strategy that
is the result of extensive consultation between the government and representatives of all sectors of business
activity, local communities, education and financial institutions.
2. Sustainability: poverty reduction, gender equality and environmental protection are core goals.
3. Implementation: multiple ministries, as well as implementing agencies from the private sector and civil society
should be identified and their role clearly defined.
4. Monitoring and evaluation: the periodic measurement of policy effectiveness is essential for the management
of entrepreneurship policy and should incorporate feedback from lessons learnt on an on-going basis.
With these guiding principles, support for entrepreneurship in developing countries and economies in transition
can enhance efforts, not only to build robust enterprise sectors, but to generate growth with social and economic
inclusion.