On the functioning of agricultural markets in Mali: Strategies for development

This study, commissioned by USAID's Economic Growth Office and implemented by CrossBoundary's Mali Investment Facilitation Platform, investigates constraints to Mali's agricultural markets. It identifies the obstacles that stand in the way of organizations and projects aiming to modernize the country's agricultural sector, and provides possible remedies. The report also presents evidence that sustained support for private sector actors can initiate a paradigm shift. Read the full report.

A Research Agenda for the Small and Growing Business Sector: Summarizing the Current Evidence and Research Needs

ANDE and the International Growth Centre at the London School of Economics released the report A Research Agenda for the SGB Sector in November 2018. Hundreds, if not thousands, of programs exist to help drive business growth in emerging markets. But what does the evidence actually tell us about whether these programs help businesses grow? And what can practitioners learn from this evidence to design more effective interventions? This knowledge synthesis summarizes the current evidence, identifies gaps in the academic research, and proposes a practitioner-oriented research agenda for the sector.

Want to learn more? You can read the full knowledge synthesis here, in addition to the practitioner summary.

During the past 10 years of impact investing in Brazil, we have observed a significant development in the impact investing space. Five years ago, only a few players identified themselves as impact investors, very few organizations in the social sector were investor-ready, and there were almost no co-investment opportunities. A steep increase in the number of investors and amount of capital, greater coordination among players, and a more professional workforce active in the industry today have facilitated the development of impact investing. This market study of the impact investing sector in Brazil reveals significant market growth. Nineteen of Brazil’s largest impact investors, including fund managers, banks, foundations, family offices and others surveyed expect to commit 40% to 50% more capital to impact investments in 2014 compared to 2013. 

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The expansion of the mobile industry across developing and emerging markets enables a number of social and economic opportunities. In addition to the benefits that mobile technology provides, mobile network operators (MNOs) themselves can offer many opportunities for basic employment and entrepreneurial activity. Some women have been able to benefit from these opportunities, while many others remain marginalized.

In this report, we investigate the gender composition of the ‘mobile value chain’ (MVC) in 11 different markets around the world. We examine the current level of women’s participation in the MVC and the benefits of such participation both for MNOs and for women entrepreneurs. In addition to undertaking an analysis of the MVC, we broadened our scope to encompass the wider political, social and institutional conditions in each market. We interviewed policy makers and spoke to other stakeholders who have an interest in women’s economic empowerment in the markets concerned. 

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Standard Chartered commissioned this report to gain an understanding of its economic impact in Ghana. the bank believes it should contribute directly to the economies in which it operates. to this end, it hopes this report will help to inform its future strategy, in Ghana and elsewhere. 

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