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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS 2)
Who is responsible for the BOSS? 3)
Why is there a need for the BOSS? 4)
What services does the BOSS provide? 5)
Who are the clients of the BOSS? 6)
What is the BOSS’ expected impact? 7)
Can you tell me more about the structure of the BOSS and its relationship with
the CBT? 8)
What are the guiding statements of the BOSS? 9) Can we have a BOSS in our area? ANSWERS TO FAQs BOSS is an acronym, which stands for Business One-Stop Shop. The Chimanimani Business One-Stop Shop is the only centre in the area offering a comprehensive suite of business development services to individuals residing in rural communities. 2)
Who is responsible for the BOSS? The BOSS, the brainchild of Zimbabwe
Opportunities Industrialisation Centres, the Chimanimani
Business Trust, and the Development Technology
Centre, was the result of several joint planning
sessions, collaborations and study efforts undertaken by the three organisations.
The
concept has become a reality through the financial support of the international
donor organisation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation,
and a donation of land from the local government body, Chimanimani
Rural District Council. With the assistance of other local and international
organisations and government bodies the BOSS concept can be replicated
throughout Zimbabwe. 3) Why is there a need
for the BOSS? Zimbabwe’s prevailing
situation, which has been characterised by soaring levels of unemployment,
rising rates of inflation, a weak currency and political instability, has
phenomenally increased both the depth and the extent of poverty throughout the
country. Those characteristics
have, in turn, caused the proliferation and expansion of the informal sector,
which has been in existence for over 30 years.
However, even as the informal economy grows in size, participants still
complain about the same issues: limited access to capital, low levels of
technical skills and lack of entrepreneurship and business management skills.
Informal sector participants in the rural areas have even less
opportunities and experience more hardships.
These individuals are in evident need of assistance and heavily rely on
the services offered by business development and technical support providers to
improve their current conditions. The
BOSS was developed to address their needs. 4)
What services does the BOSS provide? As a competing assistance provider in the Chimanimani area, the BOSS seeks to offer what no other organisation in the area does: comprehensive, demand-driven business development services to members of the rural communities. Because the organisation is fully committed to the development of its members and customers, and because it is keen on designing its services in response to the needs and demands of its target market, the BOSS has developed five different, but complementary, service points in direct response to the requests of its future clientele. Those service points are: a) Simple communications centre, b) Business development and advisory services, c) Appropriate technology park, d) Information and resources centre, and e) Microfinance. 5)
Who are the clients of the BOSS? The
BOSS seeks primarily to offer technical and financial assistance to the
economically disadvantaged residing in the rural areas of Chimanimani with
priority given to members of the Chimanimani Business Trust.
The BOSS, however, is a non-discriminating, equal opportunity service
provider and welcomes all individuals needing its assistance. So, if you are in the neighbourhood, drop by.
The doors of the BOSS are open to YOU!
6)
What is the BOSS’ expected impact?
7)
Can you tell me more about the structure of the BOSS and its relationship with
the CBT? Three main institutions will be
responsible for the successful implementation of the BOSS: Zimbabwe
Opportunities Industrialisation Centres, Development Technology Centre, and the
Chimanimani Business Trust. The CBT
will assume the lead, while ZOIC and DTC will offer continuous technical
assistance on an as-needed basis. The
BOSS will become the first official, multidimensional project of the CBT.
More projects and activities will follow, as the CBT continues to develop
intellectually, physically and financially.
The ultimate goal of the CBT is the sustainability of its projects.
It is hoped that these projects can, after support from the executing
agencies, stand-alone and become independent entities with their own separate
capacities. At the CBT level, a
projects director will be recruited. This
person will be responsible for ensuring the overall success of the projects.
He or she will also provide technical assistance in conceptualising,
designing and implementing new programmes related to the set-up of new projects
and project development and growth. At
the BOSS level, three staff members must be hired in the early phase of the
organisation’s development in order to enhance its effectiveness and ensure
specialisation. 8)
What are the guiding statements of the
BOSS? The
vision of the BOSS is “to eradicate poverty and uplift the lives of all
Zimbabwean citizens by giving communities easy access to information.”
The mission statement is “to be a beacon of economic and social
development in Zimbabwe through the provision of comprehensive business services
and information to rural-based small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.” 9)
Can we have a BOSS in our area?
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