In the Indian link I included above this is kind of happening, albeit more indirectly. Some state projects have outsourced ICT tasks into new SMEs as a way to drive ICT entrepreneurship skills amongst the unemployed (although cash payment was still involved).

The problem is that likely the government needs to ensure that ICTs are of a certain quality and supported in the long term, which often can only come through making contracts and cash based exchanges with SMEs.

I see great opportunity for Kenyan ICT SMEs in the next 2 years, driven by the need to procure lots of technology and training in technology for newly devolved government structures.

Leveling the playfield is not possible through allocated quotas and policies alone – the SMEs ans startups must take the initiative and innovate their way to gain inclusion into the system.

One way of doing this is through “cashless micro-outsourcing” for service industry startups. The procure-to-pay way of doing business inherently drags along with tax compliance, audited financial history, sourcing financing and competitive pricing. Removing cash compensation from service procurement opens up a new value system favorable to SMEs.

By barter trading service delivery to government in exchange for personal job rating, young graduates can supply professional services to the public sector in a competitive space driven by delivery quality. In exchange, they would acquire real-world experience and a persistent rating for use in their resumes for cash-billable jobs in the private sector.

With Kenya positioned as a global leader in mobile entrepreneurship today, and the mobile internet infrastructure and expertise flourishing, the tools are available locally to kick-start the process of mobile entrepreneurship. With a smartphone or tablet and connectivity, professional training and consulting services can be requested and delivered online in short sessions,with each task rewarded instantly upon completion by a client job rating.

The government would save on cash while effectively and continually re-training its professional services (ICT, legal, financial services and business consulting) workforce in alignment to workplace demands.