Independent policy advice in economic growth, business development and job creation

I have worked as a independent policy advisor (otherwise known as a consultant) on business and economic development for more than 30 years. I have a few specialty areas, including private sector development, business environment reform, entrepreneurship and innovation, and regional and local economic development. One of the themes that knit these areas of work is location, or more aptly put, place. I am interested in how places can sustainably provide new business and job opportunities for people.

In my international advisory experience, advise governments, business organisations and development agencies. I have done this in various settings, from regional Australia to Rwanda, the Philippines and Vietnam, to the Pacific. I have provided advice and development services in over 40 countries, including fragile and conflict-affected countries, remote and rural economies, and big cities like Johannesburg and Cairo.

My clients range from development agencies to local councils, national governments, regional economic communities, academic institutions and large international consulting firms.

I have led scores of evaluations and assessments and written research papers and guidance on the political, economic and institutional influences affecting development. I have supervised national and global research projects, including multi-country studies on business environment reform, small business policies and programs, investment climate reforms and job creation initiatives. 

My academic experience includes having taught graduate and postgraduate students at the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Western Australia, and Murdoch University where I am a Visiting Fellow.

Testimonials and case studies

See a selection of testimonials from previous clients.

Also see case studies of Simon White’s work. These include studies of public-private partnerships for industry development (Rwanda), asset-based regional economic development (Australia), sector-based business environment reform (global), business advocacy (Botswana), and sustainable enterprise development (global).

Selected publications

Simon is an experienced writer and is comfortable with a variety of writing formats. Below is a sample of his reports.

• 2023 PRISMA Indonesia Independent Evaluation - Final Report, Australian Department for Foreign Affairs
• White, S. (2021) Midterm evaluation of the Australia, New Zealand, International Finance Corporation: PNG Partnership - Final Report, Australian Department for Foreign Affairs
• White, S. and MacCarthy, M. (2020) Programme Completion Review: Market Development in Northern Ghana (MADE) programme; Supplemental Review Report, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, London
• International Labour Organization (2020) Enabling Environment for Sustainable Enterprises and the Post-COVID-19 Rapid Response, Enterprise Department, Geneva (written by Simon White)
• White, S. (2020) “Local content policies for regional economic development”, chapter in Pereira, E.G., R. Spencer and J. Moses (Eds) Sovereign Wealth Funds, Local Content Policies and CSR – Developments in the Extractives Sector, Springer Nature Switzerland AG
• White, S. (2020) Use of New Technologies in Regulatory Delivery; Policy Brief; Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. and J. Bartlett (2019) Strongim Bisnis Independent Evaluation - Final Report, Australian Department for Foreign Affairs
• Lead Author (2019) Pharmaceutical industry in Sub-Sahara Africa; a guide for promoting pharmaceutical production in Africa, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Vienna
• White, S. (2018) ‘Creating an Enabling Local Business Environment’, Conference Paper, Australian Regional Development Conference, 17-18 September 2018, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
• White, S. (2017) ‘A systemic framework for entrepreneurship and sustainability’, in Hartz-Karp, J. and Marinova, D. Methods for Sustainability Research, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham UK, Northampton, MA, USA
• White, S. and D. Aylward (2017) Scoping study on formalisation of the agricultural and agribusiness sectors, Business Environment Reform Facility and UK Department for International Development, London
• White, S. (2016) “Innovation and the drive for more dynamic and competitive local economies”, Economic Development Quarterly Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 18-20
• White, S. (2016) “Supporting innovation in an age of disruption”, Asia and Pacific Policy Society –– Policy Forum, 12 October 2016
• White, S. (2016) “Regulating for local content: Limitations of legal and regulatory instruments in promoting small scale suppliers in extractive industries in developing economies” in The Extractive Industries and Society
• White, S. (2016) Beyond national business environment reform; a review of donor agency support for regional and local business environment reform, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• Principal Author (2016) Supporting Business Environment Reforms: Practical Guidance for Development Agencies – Annex: Supporting Business Environment Reforms within Industry Sectors, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2016) “The Local Dimension to Innovation”, Asia and Pacific Policy Society
• White, S. (2016) “Resisting the formulaic: measuring the impact of aid on entrepreneurship and development”, Paper delivered to the 2016 Australasian Aid Conference, Australia National University, Canberra, 10-11 February 2016
• White, S. & P. Fortune (2015) Business Environment Reform and Poverty, Rapid Evidence Assessment, DFID London
• White, S. & P. Fortune (2015) Business Environment Reform and Investment Promotion and Facilitation, Rapid Evidence Assessment, DFID London
• White, S. (2015) Supporting Sector-Focused Business Environment Reform in Developing Countries, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2014) Labour Laws, the Business Environment and the Growth of Micro and Small Enterprises in South Asia, International Labour Organization, Geneva
• Principal Author (2013): Supporting Business Environment Reforms: Practical Guidance for Development Agencies – Annex: Measuring Donor-Supported Business Environment Reform Results, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2013) Case Studies in the Measurement of Donor-Supported Business Environment Reform Results, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• Principal Author (2011): Supporting Business Environment Reforms: Practical Guidance for Development Agencies; Annex on How Business Environment Reform Can Promote Formalisation, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2011) 51 Lessons for Donor and Development Agencies Supporting Business Environment Reform, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2011) Measuring the Results of Business Environment Reform Support Programmes in Developing and Transition Economies; Toward a Framework for Assessing Programme Outcomes and Impacts, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S., Azher, S., Quader, M., & Rahman, M. A. (2011) Review of Donor-Supported Business Environment Reforms Programmes and Practices in Bangladesh, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S., Küsel, C., Hegazy, F., Killmeyer-Oleche, A., Wanyiri, A. & Heinrich, M. (2011) Review of Donor-Supported Business Environment Reforms Programmes and Practices in Rwanda, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge:
• White, S. (2012) Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Iraq; A Survey Analysis, ILO Regional Office for Arab States
• White, S., Winton, E. & Engels, S. (2010) Review of Donor-Supported Business Environment Reforms Programmes and Practices in Kenya, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S. (2009) “Youth owned and managed enterprises: a career of choice or last resort?” in Youth Enterprise Journal Vol. 1, No. 1, January pp. 6-20
• White, S. (2008) Assessing the Business Environment for Women’s Entrepreneurship Development; Consultant’s Guide, Women’s Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality (WEDGE) Programme, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the International Labour Office, Geneva
• White, S. (2007) A Conceptual Framework to Guide Research on Private Sector Development in Developing Countries, International Development Research Centre, Canada
• White, S. (2008) Mapping of Commercial Alternative Dispute Resolution Programmes in Developing Economies: Donor and Development Agencies and Service Providers, International Finance Corporation, Washington DC
• White, S. (2006) Role of the Private Sector in Poverty Reduction Strategies; Synthesis of a Six-Country Study, International Labour Office, Geneva
• White, S. (2005) Assessing the influence of the business environment on small enterprise employment; An assessment guide, International Labour Office, Geneva
• White, S. (2005) State support for development initiatives in peripheral regions; enduring political centralism in an age of global localisation, a PhD thesis submitted in 2005 to the University of Western Australia
• White, S. & P. Fortune (2004) Review of DFID Activities in the Enabling Environment; Final Report, Investment, Competition and Enabling Environment Team, Policy Division, Department of International Development, London, December:
• Reinecke, G. & S. White (2004) Policies for small enterprises; creating the right environment for good jobs, International Labour Organization, Geneva (ISBN92-2-113724-4)
• White, S. (2004) Donor practices in designing initiatives for improving the business environment for small enterprises, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge
• White, S., Alamgir, D., Allcorn, C., Hossain, N., Hossain, N., Matsaert, F., & Kagohashi, H. (2004) Unleashing the Bengal Tiger; Realising Private Sector Potential in Bangladesh, DFID Bangladesh, Dhaka
• White, S. & J. Chacaltana (2002) Enabling small enterprise development through a better business environment; Donor experiences in supporting reforms in the business environment, Donor Committee for Enterprise Development

Affiliations 

Australian Credited Economic Developer (ACEcD) and Member of Economic Development Australia.

Member: Australasian Evaluation Society.

Visiting Fellow: Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy and International Affairs, Murdoch University, Western Australia (2016-present)

Visiting Adjunct Professor: Graduate School of Public Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (2009-2015)

Board Member: Harakat – the Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility (2011-2017): a US$50 million facility supporting the reform of the investment climate and business environment in Afghanistan.

Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (2002-present): The Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) is an international membership organisation made up of international development agencies, which includes World Bank and United Nations agencies, as well as the governments of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and the UK, among others. Simon provides technical advice and support on various knowledge management projects that improve the practices of these agencies in their support of business environment reforms in developing countries.

Past clients

1. Afghanistan Investment Climate Programme (Harakat)
2. African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP)
3. Australian Government (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
4. Blueprint Group Pty. Ltd., South Africa
5. Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower
6. Business Environment Reform Facility (DFID United Kingdom)
7. Cardno
8. City of Windhoek, Namibia
9. Coffey International Development
10. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
11. Commonwealth Secretariat, London
12. Commonwealth Youth Programme, London and Africa
13. Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Danida), Copenhagen and numerous embassies
14. De Beers, South Africa
15. Deloitte and Touch, London
16. Development Bank of Southern Africa
17. Donor Committee for Enterprise Development, Cambridge UK - Business Environment Working Group
18. Economic Research Forum, Egypt
19. Federation of Egyptian Industries
20. Federation of Kenya Employers
21. Flanders International Cooperation Agency
22. Ford Foundation
23. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Namibia
24. European Commission, Brussels
25. Gaborone City Council, Botswana
26. Gauteng Provincial Government’s Department of Economic Development, Johannesburg
27. German International Development
28. Gladstone Regional Council, Central Queensland
29. Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
30. Government of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Local and Provincial Government
31. Government of the Republic of South Africa, Department of Trade and Industry
32. Government of Botswana, Local Enterprise Authority
33. Government of Botswana, Ministry of Trade and Industry
34. Government of Botswana, Ministry of Youth Affairs
35. IBN (Banyjima, Milyuranpa Banyjima, Minadhu and Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporations), Part Hedland, Western Australia
36. International Labour Organization (Geneva headquarters and many regional, sub-regional and country offices)
37. Independent Research and Development Council, Canada
38. Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
39. International Training Centre, Turin, Italy
40. KPMG London
41. LandCorp, Western Australia
42. Local governments (numerous local governments across Australia)
43. Manufacturing, Engineering, and Related Services Education and Training Authority, South Africa
44. Mineworkers Development Agency, Lesotho
45. MINTEK, South Africa
46. Murdoch University, Australia
47. Namibia National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
48. National Economic Initiative, South Africa
49. National Native Title Tribunal, Australia
50. National Small Business Council, South Africa
51. National Youth Affairs Research Scheme, Australia
52. National Youth Council, Namibia
53. National Youth Commission, South Africa
54. NEPAD: New Partnership for Africa’s Development (the development agency of the African Union)
55. Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
56. Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency, South Africa
57. Okutumbatumba Hawkers’ Association, Namibia
58. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Paris
59. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Donor Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC), Paris
60. Oxfam UK and Ireland
61. Oxford Policy Management
62. PeaceNexus Foundation (Geneva)
63. PLATFORMA, the pan-European coalition of local and regional governments, Council of European Municipalities and Regions
64. South African National Youth Commission
65. Southern African Development Community
66. Spark, a Dutch NGO based in Amsterdam
67. Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), Stockholm
68. Transport Education and Training Authority, South Africa
69. Trust Africa, Senegal
70. UK Department for International Development (DFID), London and numerous embassies
71. Umsobomvu Youth Fund, South Africa
72. Urban Trust of Namibia
73. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Geneva)
74. United Nations Development Programme (New York)
75. United Nations Peace Building Support Office (New York)
76. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Vienna)
77. University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
78. Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry
79. Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
80. World Bank Group, including International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS)

Mastodon link.

International Experience

Dr. White has provided consulting services to clients in the following countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Botswana, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Maldives, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine Territories, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.