Measuring the Value for Money of Acceleration: An Introduction and Methods Brief
by the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI)

The Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI) - a collaboration between ANDE and Social Enterprise @ Goizueta (SE@G) at Emory University - published Measuring the Value for Money of Acceleration in September 2018.

This methods brief provides guidance for practitioners interested in assessing the value for money of acceleration programs. It first frames the various ways accelerators can think about value for money of their programs. It then explores one practical approach to calculating this value for money, and finishes with a summary of similar evaluations conducted for other entrepreneur support programs.

Responsible Digital Credit
John Owens
Center for Financial Inclusion at ACCION and the Smart Campaign

The rise of digital banking means that an increasing number of customers in unbanked and underbanked low-income markets can now borrow, save, or pay for goods and services using their mobile phones. But while digital finance products offer a convenient way for consumers to access cash for personal or business expenses, they also present risks. This report highlights the challenges surrounding these services and identifies best practices and standards for responsible digital credit, providing recommendations on how to best navigate the intersection of digital financial services and consumer protection.

Read the full report.

The Landscape for Impact Investing in Southeast Asia
GIIN and Intellecap

This report is the first-ever detailed analysis of impact investing activity across Southeast Asia. It provides deep insight into the three most active markets in the region: Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and a broader regional overview of the remaining eight countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.

Read the full report.

Impact Investing in Africa: A Case Study on East Africa
Dr. Jamie Van Leeuwen and Mr. Michael Feinberg
Wilson Center 

In this policy paper, Public Policy Fellow Jamie Van Leeuwen and Michael Feinberg analyze the case study of Staffable, a social impact company in Kampala, Uganda and their approach to measuring the efficacy of social impact. They provide policy recommendations on how philanthropists, investors, and non-governmental organizations can standardize performance metrics to measure social impact investing, as well as recommend investments in workforce development in order to reduce dependency. 

Read the full report.

State of the Small & Growing Business Sector:

2017 Impact Report

by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs 

Since 2009 ANDE has been tracking the state of the small and growing business (SGB) sector to assess its growth and impact on emerging market economies. This year’s report begins with an overview of SGB intermediaries in 2017. including data on capacity development services, direct investments into SGBs, and donor funding. Next, the report focuses on trends and activities at ANDE’s seven regional chapters that were active in 2017: Brazil, Central America/Mexico, East Africa, East and Southeast Asia, India, South Africa, and West Africa.  

Here are some report insights. Check out the report to get the full picture.

Capacity Development Services

• Over half of ANDE members say they prioritize gender inclusion. Of the capacity development providers that completed the survey, 77 percent said they prioritize gender inclusion, as opposed to 54 percent of investors.
• GALI has identified over 500 accelerators working globally, at least 218 of which operate in emerging markets. 

• Corporate foundations are important funders in the sector, and corporate social responsibility units often facilitate important capacity development services. However, data shows that the majority of ANDE member partnerships focus on the corporation’s core business unit.

SGB Investing

• Over 400 investment vehicles have launched in the past 10 years that invest in emerging market SGBs, with an estimated US $11 billion in committed capital.

• Forty-seven investment vehicles launched in 2017, and a third of these focus on the information, communications, and technology (ICT) sector.

• According to the Emerging Market Private Equity Association (EMPEA), US $217 million was invested in deals US $2 million and under in 2017, which represents 21 percent of total emerging market deals.

Donor Funding for the SGB Sector

• In 2016, Funding for SMEs declined to US $3.7 billion from US $4.1 billion in 2015.

• European donors and institutions continued to make up 80 percent of all donor disbursements to SMEs in 2016.

• In 2016, Turkey received the most SME funding for the third consecutive year, receiving one third of all funding allocated to SMEs from 2012 to 2016.

Regional Insights

ANDE’s regional chapters promote collaboration and knowledge sharing among local ANDE members and support regional activities and advocacy efforts that support SGBs in the region. This section of the report highlights data on each entrepreneurial ecosystem, and regional leaders’ perspectives on key trends for each region. 

READ THE DIGITAL REPORT NOW