IMEs are employing a large share of the labour force in developing countries. Informal apprenticeships are by far the most common source of skills for these entrepreneurs and workers – in some countries it is likely to be responsible for 80-90% of all ongoing training efforts.

Haan reviews existing training options. He suggests to build upon the strengths of informal apprenticeship training and to remedy ist weaknesses by involving professional providers in upgrading informal training. He reviews a number of innovative interventions in different African countries. Hans Christiaan Haan concludes that there is a major challenge to improve the transfer of relevant skills to informal micro-enterprise (IME) operators.