The following is a selection of recent research studies:

1990 - The Friedrich Naumann Survey Of Small Business Needs

The sponsoring organization, wishing to provide assistance to Zimbabwean small businesses, commissioned the survey specifically to discover the extent and nature of the needs for such businesses for their development and success.

This survey therefore focused on this problem, although it included testing by statistical analysis of a large range of hypotheses as a basis for possible further research.

After development of a pilot questionnaire discussion with the sponsor, redesign and training of interviewers. 1668 businesses were sampled by a team of 4 researchers from Human Resources (Pvt.) Ltd.

Report available from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

1991 - Usaid/Dai/Gemini Survey

Mr D.E. Harrison was appointed Senior Design Specialist for this Survey. Field work took place in August and September, 1991.

Information on 5652 existing enterprises was collected, together with data from 1102 enterprises which had closed down, and more detailed information on 429 enterprises.

Sampling: A total of 9 urban high density areas, 11 urban low density areas, 9 urban commercial districts, and 8 urban industrial areas.

• 4 smaller towns: Chakari, Nyanga, Plumtree, Lalapanzi
• 5 growth points: Lukosi, Zhombe, Juru, Chivi, Murehwa
• 11 rural enumeration areas, including 7 district council areas and 4 rural areas.

As far as we are aware, this is the largest survey of Zimbabwean business that has yet been carried out.

Report available from USAID, Harare.

1992 - Survey Of Attitudes Towards Esap

For the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Survey of 300 businesses, rural, urban and growth point, formal and informal sectors. To assess level of information about ESAP.

1993 - Usaid/Dai/Gemini Survey - 2nd Study

Appointed by USAID/DAI to repeat the 1991 Gemini Survey in order to evaluate subsequent changes in the small business sector.

This major project began in July 1993 with psychometric testing and interviews of over 300 persons from an applicant number of 3900, to finally select a team of 17 persons.

Training took place from 16th – 25th August and the Survey field work started on 30th August 1993. The following citation from USAID was the basis upon which Human Resources (Pvt.) Ltd. was selected for 1993 without the need for the Contract to be put out to tender.

“Human Resources (Pvt.) Ltd. is the only qualified local firm to carry out this assignment under the Zimbabwe Repeat Baseline Survey. Their participation in the first survey in 1991, makes them uniquely capable of performing the work, especially the initial relocation of small business proprietors used in the first survey.

Human Resources’ familiarity with what has been accomplished, and what now needs to be accomplished, makes it the best local firm to carry out the assignment.”

Report is available from USAID, Harare.

1994 - A Combined Method Questionnaire/Case Study Survey Of 7 Informal Sector Business Types

January 1994. Sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

This study investigated the “illegal” informal sector, e.g. shebeens, smuggling syndicates, illegal gold panners, etc. This is one of the few research studies which have investigated this socially and economically important, but often neglected, aspect of the economy.