| Overview : This project will support both the public and private sector to adopt the Supplier Development Programme (SDP) as a strategic tool to insert indigenous firms in the supply chains and to build their competitiveness through skills development. Small businesses are associated with low levels of productivity. They rarely get access to financing for innovation, support for exports or access to public procurement tenders. They face unequal relations in supply chains that mean that costs and risks are often pushed down to them by larger firms. In its effort to support the development mandate of South Africa Government, UNDP South Africa has partnered with the Government of South Africa and private sector to implement the Supplier Development Programme (SDP). The project aims to create demand-based, market-driven opportunities for SMEs to increase their competitiveness through the innovative Suppliers Development Methodology while connecting essential small-scale producers/suppliers to larger markets locally as well as abroad. As a tool, the SDP has a targeted approach to engage large scale companies purchasing (or willing to purchase) goods and services from SMEs. The SDP focuses on integrating suppliers into a strategic relationship that allows them to improve their productivity, competitiveness, and quality of products. The SMEs will go through a rigorous six stage improvement process over a period of 9-12 months with close involvement of the lead/anchor company. The improvements brought about in these SMMEs will enable them to produce/manufacture more goods in better quality, less time and low costs; enhance their capacity to explore and enter new markets including export markets. This important linkage between large sourcing companies and their small suppliers' remains central to the assistance, helping the SME's to expand and generate employment opportunities. | 
