AfricaAtlantic's Approach to Business Development. AfricaAtlantic believes that business development in any economic environment requires focus, discipline, and commitment. However, in frontier markets like Sub-Saharan Africa, basic building blocks take on even more importance, such as cultural awareness and sensitivity, discernment, courage, trust, and accountability. Business never occurs in a vacuum anywhere, and in Sub-Saharan Africa, situations that may normally be assumed in business planning, such as reliable transportation infrastructure, electricity and water supplies, public services, stable currencies, and access to a minimal level of developed human and financial capital cannot be taken as given. AfricaAtlantic Business Development Services are designed to reduce the level of uncertainty by a sufficient degree as to increase the probability of successful business growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. There are no guarantees, but reasonable steps can be taken to stabilize the environment for sustainable business operations. These steps include:
-developing a clear plan
-building strong, vibrant, win-win working relationships
-identifying role players, including partners and vendors you can trust
-defining achievable objectives
-disciplined execution
-establishing lines of accountability for results
AfricaAtlantic Deliverables. AfricaAtlantic knows how to build and lead winning teams. The firm brings together skill sets and experience that will allow clients to enjoy high standards of business development support while engaging some of the most challenging economic circumstances on the planet. AfricaAtlantic is committed to designing a business growth program that matches the purpose and values of its clients. These programs are built around these core service functions:
-Market Research and Strategy. AfricaAtlantic, working with research experts available throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S., will design and implement a plan to fully understand target markets and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges they represent.
-Corporate, Non-profit, and Government Relations. Successful business planning in Sub-Saharan Africa involves many moving parts. The nexis of government, business, and NGOs must to be managed carefully. AfricaAtlantic and its seasoned external affairs team can assist clients in navigating the most diverse and challenging environment of a given initiative, including local, tribal, and municipal leaders, multi-national financial or governance entities, and global investors and business partners.
-Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures. In some cases a joint venture may be nice to have; in other cases it may be a requirement to win the contract or grant. Nurturing win-win relationships is vital to the success of virtually any enterprise, especially for long term sustainability in the African marketplace.
-Training, Programming, and Special Events. Business is built through win-win working relationships. These relationships are formed through purpose-driven activities designed for shared experiences and shared learning. AfricaAtlantic assists clients in all facets of designing and executing great activities, whether they are one-day seminars or multi-year programs. Successful programs include planning, content development, marketing, funding, recruitment, media, technology, transportation, logistics, hospitality, and follow-up. Whether a client seeks to impact an existing event, program, or institution, or create its own unique brand, AfricaAtlantic can help each step of the way.
