Nairobi, Kenya – The African Management Institute (AMI) has launched a free online learning programme aimed at helping Africa’s businesses and entrepreneurs survive the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). The Business Survival Bootcamp, which includes a 90-minute kickoff webinar and two weeks free access to AMI’s learning platform, focuses on financial forecasting and cost management strategies to help businesses navigate emerging business challenges from COVID-19. In less than two weeks of offering the Business Survival Bootcamps, nearly 1,000 individuals have registered from over a dozen countries across Africa. 

“Africa’s entrepreneurs and businesses are facing a major threat to their livelihoods and services because of the important measures introduced to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Many are not sure how to respond,” said Rebecca Harrison, CEO and co-founder of AMI, which has shifted all programmes online and also launched a new 6-month paid virtual learning programme called Survive to Thrive. “Our free virtual Survival Bootcamps help business owners navigate the crisis and are one antidote to staving off the potentially disastrous effects of the pandemic on Africa’s businesses and economy.”

The United Nations Development Programme recently projected that income losses in developing countries are expected to exceed $220 billion, also suggesting that half of all jobs could be lost across Africa.

“At the moment managing cash is very important because I don’t know how long this pandemic will last,” said Kenyan entrepreneur Mary Onyango of Afro Accessories and a bootcamp participant. “This bootcamp has helped me understand where to focus and how to set my business up to survive the crisis.” 

The free virtual Business Survival Bootcamp programme includes:

• A 90-minute interactive webinar led by AMI’s expert business facilitators

• Online access to two of AMI’s practical tools within the company’s online platform to help implement what entrepreneurs learn in the webinar;

  • A Risk Matrix Tool to help business owners generate potential coping strategies

  • Cash Flow Projection Tool to help them manage business cash flows

• The opportunity to connect with other African entrepreneurs, who are also trying to navigate the challenges of COVID-19

Businesses and entrepreneurs can register for the webinars on AMI’s website at https://africanmanagers.com/covidwebinars/