Supplier Development

1.1.Programme Overview:

• Purpose: Strengthen supplier capability, competitiveness, and sustainability.
• Scope: Focus on small, medium and strategic suppliers.
• Duration: Typically 12-24 months, with phased interventions.
• Support localisation and inclusive procurement :s(e.g. SMMEs, black owned . women owned, or youth – owned businesses.
• Builds sustainable supplier relationships and improve value chain performance.

1.2.Target Audience:

• Small, medium and strategic suppliers( SMEs, local or black -owned suppliers.

1.3.Programme Objectives:

• Improve supplier performance (quality, cost, delivery and compliance).
• Build supplier capacity and competitiveness.
• Support (skills, systems, compliance) of SME, local, or black owned supplier growth.
• Strengthen long term supply chain resilience.
• Support transformation and localisation goals.
• Create sustainable economic impact (growth, jobs and innovation).

1.4. Key Components

1.4.1. Planning & Design

• Establish programme goals, scope, budget and KPIs.
• Identify focus sectors/suppliers.
• Secure budget and resources.
• Identify priority supplier categories.

1.4.2. Supplier Selection & Assessment

• Set eligibility criteria (e.g. SMEs, black- owned, local)
• Conduct baseline assessments (financial health, operations, compliance, skills.
• Select suppliers based on criteria (skills, systems, financials and compliance, size, potential and strategic fit).
• Rank suppliers by development potential & strategic fit.

1.4.3.Capacity Building & Training Support

• Training & Skills Development: Business Management, leadership, technical and compliance.
• Mentorship and Coaching.
• Operational and Process Improvement: process efficiency, or facilities.
• Compliance, health & safety, and sustainability standards.

1.4.4. Financial & Resource Support

• SMEs and suppliers to source their own ccess to finance (loans, grants, or early payment terms).
• GBSE to investigate non-monetary grants by funders when possible.
• SMEs to source infrastructure support (equipment, facilities, technology).
• Mentorship and coaching by larger / anchor organisations).

1.4.5. Process & Performance Improvement

• Joint problem – solving and process optimisation.
• Innovation collaboration.
• KPI Monitoring ( quality, cost, delivery, compliance , ESG.

1.4.6.Market Access & Integration

• Strategize on procurement opportunities and contract linkages.
• Facilitatie certification and compliance for new markets.

1.4.7. Phase 5: Monitoring & Evaluation

• Regular KPI Tracking and Performance Reviews.
• Adjust interventions where needed.
• Mid Term and final evaluations.

1.4.8. Phase 6: Graduation & Sustainability

• Recognise and certify developed suppliers.
• Transition to self- sustaining business relationships.
• Maintain alumni / peer support networks.