The Association is a not-for-profit organization with the purpose to promote the methodical approach called SME Business Training and Coaching Loop and thereby contributing to inclusive economic growth, employment promotion and income increase, particularly of poorer populations.
The Association aims at
- Promoting the SME Loop internationally
- Organizing experience exchange and international contacts among SME Loop practitioners
- Facilitating access to the methodology and resources related to the SME Loop internationally
- Certification of national and international SME Loop Senior Coaches and SME Loop Master Coaches
- Maintaining a database of licensed SME Loop coaches
- Contributing to quality assurance of the SME Loop
- Contributing to product development and setting quality standards for SME Loop products
- Positioning of members to actively contribute to integration of the SME Loop into projects by providing training and advisory services
- any other activities designed to establish and expand SME Loop implementation and promoting members interests in implementation.
Who are the members ?
Here you can find our list of members, divided by roles :
- International Master-Coaches
- National coaches
- Trainers
- Coordinators
- Backstoppers
Our association also includes other persons that support SME Loop implementation. If you’re willing to join us, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Who are the board members?
Cheick Mohamed SAWADOGO – Chair Person
As chair of the association, I am actively committed to promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and professionalising business support initiatives in Africa and internationally. Since 2018, I have been responsible, in Burkina Faso, for coordinating and implementing the ‘SME Loop’, ‘Startup Loop’ and ‘Gender Transformative Approach for the SME Loop’ (GTA Loop). In this role, I provide strategic and technical support to GIZ projects as well as to partners wishing to establish, adapt or strengthen these business support measures. As an economist and expert in private sector development, public-private partnerships, sustainable finance and strategic business support, I have over ten years’ experience in designing and managing programmes related to economic development, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
Throughout my career, I have collaborated with several leading national and international institutions, including Développement international Desjardins, the Millennium Challenge Account – Burkina Faso, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group, the OECD, the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie and GIZ. As an ‘International SME Loop Master Coach’ and ‘Executive Business Coach’, I hold a Master’s degree in Law, Economics and Management, specialising in International Management, from the IAE Lyon School of Management in France. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Business Administration at the ESPAU Institute in Paris.
Sebastian Reichert – Deputy Chair Person
I first became familiar with the SME Loop around five years ago as part of my work as a consultant on youth employment promotion within the GIZ project “Green Innovation Centres in the Agriculture and Food Sector (GIC)”. In this position, I was particularly involved in coordinating the revision of the standard training materials and minimum quality standards, as well as the development of the Gender Transformative Approach for the SME Loop (GTA Loop), in collaboration with the lead experts. Given my professional focus on monitoring and evaluation over the past five years, I have also worked extensively on indicators and methods for data collection, processing and analysis to measure the impact of the SME Loop.
In my current role within the association, I aim to promote and contribute to its activities, drawing on my network and my professional experience.
Christoph Pannhausen – Treasurer
I am a rural development, agriculture and trade specialist with more than 18 years of proven experience, committed to promoting sustainable and inclusive business models in the agricultural sector. I have in-depth applied knowledge of value chain development, agricultural trade, climate change adaptation, sustainable agricultural production systems, food security, and agricultural advisory service systems. With about 15 years of experience in overall project management – including project planning, budget management, human resources management, and donor reporting – I have worked across nine African countries at both local and national levels.
Christian NTIECHE NJILOU – Secretary
I am an expert in private sector development, entrepreneurship, and value chain transformation across Francophone Africa, with over 16 years of experience. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of IT KOLA Hub, I advise governments, development institutions, business support organizations, and SMEs on strategy design, entrepreneurial ecosystem development, and the structuring of high-impact projects.
As a certified SME Loop Master Coach (GIZ), I have contributed to establishing over 1,600 businesses, creating more than 4,000 jobs, and mobilizing over 1.4 billion FCFA to drive entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.
Haddyjatou Jah Jain – Co-Secretary
I am a certified SME Business Trainer and Coach with over five years of experience delivering the structured SME Loop methodology. I facilitate business training workshops, deliver experiential learning programmes such as the Micro Business Game, and coach entrepreneurs through business diagnostics, development planning, and business linkages. I have supported SMEs from ideation to pitching under donor-funded entrepreneurship programmes in The Gambia.
As a Fashion Entrepreneur, I bring years of training and practical experience in the fashion industry, having designed, produced, and managed fashion products and services while building and growing a sustainable business. I am resourceful and well-organised, with a strong record of consistency, creativity, and business management.
International SME Loop Association e.V. 