THE GLOBAL BUSINESS SCHOOL NETWORK

(GBSN)

A MULTILATERAL CAPACITY-BUILDING INITIATIVE

Most Developing Country Businesses, Governments, NGOs face a scarcity of

competent local managers

The Problem

The IFC initiative offers business schools in developing countries the opportunity to tap the resources of a global network of best business schools.

- LDC schools are in the driver’s seat, submit plans

- Network schools respond, help build capacity

Fifteen Centers of Excellence have signed up. The Network is flexible and can be expanded to source appropriate capacity

GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE FOR LOCAL NEEDS

Partner Schools

Schools wish better to respond to local needs (producing teaching cases based on local firms)

Schools wish to reach out to SMEs (modernizing entrepreneurship centers)

Schools wish to increase their reach in frontier markets (distance learning)

Capacity-building requests: Examples

Nigeria

Pilots initiated in 2003/2004

Kenya

Ghana

India

Pakistan

All-Africa

All-Africa

Local companies

MNC subsidiaries

NGOs

Microfinance Institutions

Government Personnel

LDC Beneficiaries

LDC schools can diversify their international contacts

Capacity-providing schools can work jointly, making it easier for each school to free the required resources

GBSN is a low-cost vehicle for funders and companies in need of managerial training

A multilateral approach allows for continuity in activity design, application and results. It can achieve larger scale and impact than “school-to-school” bilateral efforts

A multilateral approach offers

advantages

Demonstrated value-generation for pilot schools and clients expected to spread better practice to other local business schools

Improved teaching materials to be made available to LDC schools at nominal cost

IFC will foster local and regional quality-assurance circles. Schools intending to imitate pilots will have incentives to join.

Impact beyond Pilots

World Bank/IFC

Bilateral government development agencies

Foundations

Corporations

A Public-Private Partnership

Links within IFC

IFC Investments

Capacity-Building

SME Support

GBSN

SME Department (World Bank and IFC)

Health & EducationDepartment