The Small and Medium Enterprise Policy Development (SMEPOL) project in Egypt (2000-2005) was successful, and the lessons learned may be replicable. The objective was to improve the policy environment for MSME development. The project enabled MSME issues to move up on the policy agenda, generated a range of policy-relevant research, enhanced capacity in key ministries, and improved policy development processes, meanwhile developing a cohesive Competitiveness Strategy for Egypt. Policy influence was mostly achieved at the ministerial level rather than across the government. Some key lessons are presented within the context of the literature and practical experience
