Country Selection:

At CEOs Without Borders, we recognize the growing diversity among developing countries, even among sub-Saharan African ones. We only undertake projects in countries with consolidated democracies and favorable business conditions, and in which we can find trustworthy local partners.

Our pilots are being launched in Ghana. We are currently working to start up projects in Senegal.

Local Partners:

CEOs Without Borders forms partnerships with local institutions serving the businesses in developing countries.

In Ghana:

Association of Ghana Industries (AGI)

Ghana Employers Association (GEA)

Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)

Ghana National Chamber of Commerce (GNCC)

In Senegal:

Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dakar

Ministry of Industry of Senegal

Target enterprises in developing countries:

Profitable and financially viable enterprises employing at least 15 people, demonstrated annual turnover above $ 200.000 (or plans to reach these levels) and lacking the financial resources to afford a specialized consultancy services.

Selection process:

CEOs Without Borders in cooperation with its local partner selects the entrepreneurs that will participate. Candidates must submit an application form, their credentials and recommendations, and give interviews.

Selection criteria: Proven entrepreneurial skills, drive and execution abilities, ambition to bring their businesses to a higher level at all times, respect for law and fit with the project.

Target CEOs in developed countries:

CEOs, entrepreneurs and experts with notable background experience and well networketed.

Matching criteria:

CEOs Without Borders matches CEOs in developing and developed countries taking into account the sector in which the participants operate as well as the type of partnership requested (know-how transmission, network sharing, transfer or exchange of technologies, commercial cooperation).

CEOs Without Borders will suggest participants on more than one suitable counterpart.

Development of the Project:

• CEOs Without Borders provides briefings on the context and cultural field of the counterpart before start of the project.

• First Meeting: Participants jointly set the goals of the cooperation and define an action plan.

  The meeting can have place in developing countries, over the telephone or online. In case of traveling to the region, CEOs Without Borders can help with the preparation of the trip.

• Following contacts develop online and over the telephone.

• Once the project is completed, the participants must write a short report assessing the utility of the cooperation. This information will be used to complete a book of Best Practices.

We believe business people are in the best position to identify sustainable business opportunities, design successful implementation strategies and support execution. Therefore, the exact ways in which the partnership develops are decided by the participants and not by CEOs Without Borders.

If in the process of analyzing the potential ways for the entrepreneur to expand, the conclusion is reached that financial constraints need to be relaxed, we encourage to do it in the form of equity or loans. We do not support donations. We believe that the best way forward is for entrepreneurs in poor countries to have sustainable businesses. Furthermore, we believe that businesses can only be sustainable if they can operate in a world without grants or donations.

Business ventures may develop on the goodwill of the partners.

Assistance:

CEOs Without Borders follows up on each project, supporting the participants with any issue that may arise during this period, and meeting with them at least twice a year.

Commitment:

Every partnership develops along a minimum time of three months and one year. The contact remains, after this time, on the goodwill of the partners.

Participants must dedicate a minimum of 4 hours a month to the project.

Costs:

Participants in developed countries assume all the costs associated to the trip; travel, insurance and administrative costs as well as local costs.

These costs may be tax deductible depending on the laws of your country. Contact us to learn more about it.