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Posted By Shailen Neewoor, GroFin,
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Updated: Friday, June 15, 2018
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Gain a deeper understanding of how GroFin, through its unique investment model in SGBs, is positively transforming small and growing businesses and the local communities they support. The inspiring success stories of its entrepreneurs exemplify the collaborative efforts of GroFin staff, investors, partners and clients. The 2017 GroFin Impact Report, Nomou Impact Report and Aspire Impact Report translates its faith in the power of the collective by asking the question “If not us, who? If not today, when? If not with our finance and support, how will these small businesses grow and succeed?”
2017 GroFin Impact Report
As at end 2017, GroFin has financed 675 small and growing businesses, supported 8,840 entrepreneurs, sustained a total of 86,190 jobs and touched the lives of 430,955 family members in the local communities across our 15 locations of operation in Africa and the Middle East. The report indicates that GroFin has made more investments in its priority sectors of education, healthcare, agribusiness, manufacturing and key services. Furthermore, GroFin invested US$ 60M in nearly 88 new small and growing businesses, with over 50% of the SMEs operating directly in our sectors of focus, sustaining 14,000 total jobs and supporting an additional 72,000 livelihoods. And to reinforce its value proposition of providing 'support beyond finance' the company introduced the GroFin STEP (Success through Effective Partnerships) Programme to support its SMEs and Entrepreneurs.
2017 Nomou Impact Report
The Nomou Programme is a regional initiative in MENA which was co-created by GroFin and Shell Foundation. As a result of the collaborative efforts of its investors, partners and clients, the Nomou programme is contributing to the alleviation of poverty and improvement of livelihoods in the communities where the programme operates, as well as striving to reduce the adverse impact of the humanitarian crisis in the region.
In 2017, the Nomou Programme supported 1,005 entrepreneurs, made investments into 103 SGBs, sustained a total of 10,287 jobs, touched the lives of 51,435 beneficiaries and added economic value of US$ 149 million per annum through its investee SMEs across Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Oman.
2017 Aspire Impact Report
Since their inception in 2014, the Aspire Small Business Fund (ASBF) and the Aspire Growth Fund (AGF) have sought to promote local entrepreneurship, employment and economic value-add in the Niger Delta. With the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) as anchor investor, the Aspire Enterprise Development Funds epitomise GroFin, a private development finance institution, and SPDC’s efforts to serve the local community with a combination of investment funds, business skills and market linkages.
In 2017 GroFin increased its commitment to supporting SMEs in the Niger Delta Region by investing in an additional 17 small and growing businesses and extending further funding of US$ 2.5M (140% increase from total amount invested as at end 2016). As at end of 2017, GroFin has supported 365 businesses, invested in 53 SMEs and sustained a total of 1,975 jobs under the Aspire Funds.
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2017
A Access to Finance
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SGBs
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Posted By Kristen Gendron, U.S. Agency for International Development,
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
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Spread the world to innovators and entrepreneurs! USAID's DIV program and partners are hosting a live pitch competition on August 26th in Amman, Jordan.
The competition, DIV:LIVE, seeks innovations in the Middle East that aim to solve the world’s most intractable development challenges through demonstrated impact and cost-effectiveness. Innovators selected for the final stages through the DIV competition will pitch their development solution at the DIV:LIVE event to be considered for a grant ranging from $100K to $1,500,000+ USD.
Learn more here and help us spread the word with the tools below.
Our target audience
We are hoping to get the word out to start-ups, social entrepreneurs, traditional entrepreneurs, and even NGOs and public sector-focused groups who can apply to the competition (winning seed funding of ~100K and scaling funding up to 15M), as well as other investors or stakeholders who might want to get involved. We are hoping to increase awareness/applications in MENA specifically, but are open to all applicants who would be willing to travel to the finals in Amman.
DIV:LIVE overview text for sharing
DIV and the USAID's Jordan Competitiveness Program are co-hosting a live pitch competition called DIV:LIVE on August 26th in Amman, Jordan. This pitch competition is open to any country, but we are specifically outreaching to potential applicants in the Middle East and North Africa region. Selected innovators will pitch their development solution to be considered for a grant ranging from $100K to $1,500,000+ USD. This event will include a live audience with other potential investors and relevant stakeholders. Any interested organization - nonprofit, for-profit, or university - can apply. Ultimately, we are seeking innovations that aims to solve the world’s most intractable development challenges through demonstrated impact and cost-effectiveness
Tweets
One-pager
Attached
 Download File (PDF)
Tags:
Access to Finance
ANDE Members
Entrepreneurship
High-Growth Entrepreneurship
impact investing
impact investment
innovation
Investors
MENA
Philanthropy; impact investing
social business
social enterprise
Social Entrepreneurship
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Posted By Kristen Gendron, U.S. Agency for International Development,
Friday, January 30, 2015
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ANDE members,
Thanks to those who joined yesterday's webinar on Development Innovation Ventures (DIV)! It was great to connect and hear your insightful questions.
We are excited about working with ANDE members to help drive great innovators to the financial and non-financial resources DIV can offer. I am sharing with you some tools that will be helpful in those efforts. Below/attached you’ll find:
- Quick description of DIV
- Draft social media content: many DIV applicants have found out about us through social media
- DIV Factsheet (attached): feel free to share widely
I look forward to connecting further with your organizations in these efforts. Please feel free to reach out to me in the ANDE portal anytime.
Warm regards,
Kristen and the DIV team
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About DIV
Development Innovation Ventures is an open competition supporting breakthrough solutions to development challenges around the world. DIV is looking for applicants in any sector, from any organization, company, or individual in almost any country in the world whose innovative ideas match our principles of cost-effectiveness, evidence of impact, and potential to scale. DIV invests grant financing in winners ranging from under $150,000 to $15 million.
Social Media Tools
Twitter
- Looking for seed financing or scaling support? @DIVatUSAID winners receive up to $15M. Apply today http://goo.gl/dHJ44d
- Help spread the word about @DIVatUSAID to innovators in #GlobalDev around the world! Apply now! http://goo.gl/dHJ44d
- #Innovation competition @USAID looks for bold #globaldev ideas from anyone, anywhere. Apply to @DIVatUSAID now. http://goo.gl/dHJ44d
Facebook
- Do you have the next big idea to change the world? Apply to USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures. You could receive up to $15M for your innovative solution. http://goo.gl/dHJ44d
- Need seed funding to test and scale your development solution? USAID’s DIV accepts proposals year-round for innovations that will solve the world’s biggest development challenges. Apply now! http://goo.gl/dHJ44d
- USAID’s DIV is an open competition supporting breakthrough solutions to development challenges around the world. Ideas can come from anyone, any sector, anywhere. Submit your application today http://goo.gl/dHJ44d
Fact Sheet
Attached to give innovators an overview of DIV. This also on the DIV website.
*PS - If you missed the ANDE - DIV 101 session yesterday and would like to watch, please connect with your membership manager Susannah Eastham.
Attached Files:
Tags:
Acceleration
Access to Finance
early stage ecosystem
finance
Global. Development
Grants
Grants Rockefeller
High-Growth Entrepreneurship
impact evaluation
impact investment
innovation
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missing middle
Philanthropy; impact investing
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Public sector
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Posted By Kristen Gendron, U.S. Agency for International Development,
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
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Development Innovation Ventures (DIV), USAID’s open innovation fund, now accepts applications for innovative development solutions on a rolling basis, any day of the year. We are currently entering our fall application cycle, and looking for your help directing the best innovators to our competition. Help us spread the word and apply today! Winners receive $150,000 to $15M depending on stage, plus nonfinancial assistance through a swat team of DIV portfolio advisers to support their organization’s growth. Proposals can be in any sector and any country in which USAID can operate. To learn more, share with your networks, or to apply, see fast facts and tweets below, and visit DIV's website for more information. About DIV
Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) is an innovation fund within USAID that sources, tests, and supports the growth of proven, cost-effective interventions. Using a venture-capital approach, DIV directly invests USAID dollars through its global platform in solutions that demonstrate impact and have the potential to achieve sustainable scale. Applying to DIV: 5 things you need to know
DIV invests across 3 stages of growth with grant funding ranging from under 150K to 15 million. Applicants select a stage based on how much evidence, if any, they have previously gathered of their solution’s success. DIV looks for solutions based on three pillars: 1) cost-effectiveness relative to alternative solutions; 2) evidence or plans to gather evidence of the solution’s impacts; and 3) the applicant’s plans to sustainably scale the solution beyond DIV if it is proven successful. DIV is about open innovation. That means the competition accepts applications every day of the year. Solutions can be in any sector and any country in which USAID operates. And proposals can come from any type of organization anywhere in the world. DIV uses a two-step application process. The first step is a 5 page business plan, or letter of interest, that is intended to be a light lift for both the applicants and the reviewers to assess whether the organizations are a potential fit. If you are invited to the next stage, DIV asks applicants to submit a more in-depth proposal that is evaluated by a panel of experts for final selection. DIV’s guiding document provides more thorough information on how to apply, what we look for, and what applicants can expect in our process. Use the APS in assessing your fit with DIV and in filling out your application!
Spreading the word on social media:
- Looking for seed financing or scaling support? @DIVatUSAID winners receive up to $15M. Apply today http://goo.gl/lv6WvV
- Help spread the word about @DIVatUSAID to innovators in #GlobalDev around the world! Apply now! http://goo.gl/lv6WvV
- #Innovation competition @USAID looks for bold #globaldev ideas from anyone, anywhere. Apply to @DIVatUSAID now. http://goo.gl/lv6WvV
- Awesome competition to apply to: @DIVatUSAIDlooking for innovative development solutions. Apply today http://goo.gl/lv6WvV #SocEnt
- .@DIVatUSAID is looking to fund the next big idea in #GlobalDev. Apply now! http://goo.gl/lv6WvV
Learn more: Visit us online here.
Tags:
Access to Finance
Asia
Business
Business Models
early stage ecosystem
emerging markets
Entrepreneurship
finance
Grants
impact investing
impact investment
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Philanthropy; impact investing
Scale
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Social Entrepreneurship
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Posted By Dana Warren, Agora Partnerships,
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Updated: Wednesday, November 20, 2013
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Dear Agora Community, We selected our class of 2014. They are amazing. And they need your help! We are very excited to announce a partnership with Indiegogo to enable the Agora community to invest directly - via the Agora crowdfunding page - in the development of entrepreneurs across Latin America with big dreams of building businesses that can address our most pressing social and environmental problems. The 30+ entrepreneurs selected to the Agora Class of 2014 (official announcement to come early 2014) are all committed to using business to create change. They have passion, vision, skills, and dedication, but many need support to participate in the Agora Accelerator so they can gain the knowledge, networks and capital they need to succeed. A small donation to help an entrepreneur participate in the program will result in exponential impact. Entrepreneurs who have participated in the Accelerator have experienced an average annual revenue growth of 80% post-accelerator and an increase in net income by a factor of 5. These companies have also substantially increased their impact, creating more than 1000 new jobs and increasing full-time employee wages by 36%. We are asking our community to help level the playing field for these amazing entrepreneurs. All contributions are 100% tax deductible and no support is too small. Check out their campaign pages, and if you believe the world will be better if these businesses succeed, please make a contribution. Campaigns will go live on a rolling basis so check back often. Help us spread the word by sharing this message with your own networks!
Thanks for supporting the Agora Class of 2014! 
Tags:
Entrepreneurship
impact investing
Philanthropy; impact investing
social business
Social entrepreneurship
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Posted By Dana Warren, Agora Partnerships,
Monday, November 18, 2013
Updated: Wednesday, November 20, 2013
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Help us build a 50/50 global economy by supporting Agora Partnerships' inspiring women entrepreneurs of the 2014 accelerator class! Accelerate Women Now (AWN) is a movement fueled by those who believe in the power and potential of women business leaders to be change-makers in their communities and across the globe. AWN aims to raise money for the Agora Women's Scholarship fund to ensure that no woman with real potential to improve her community through entrepreneurship is deterred from participating in the Agora Accelerator due to cost. It's time to Accelerate Women Now! Donate to the Agora Women's Scholarship Fund! 
Learn More: Take Action:
We appreciate the support of the ANDE Community! For any questions, please contact Jesse Grainger at jgrainger@agorapartnerships.org.
Tags:
Entrepreneurship
Philanthropy; impact investing
Social entrepreneurship
women
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Posted By Dana Warren, Agora Partnerships,
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Updated: Tuesday, July 16, 2013
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We are excited to share that Living on One and Agora Partnerships are teaming up on
July 27th at 6pm at El Sitio Cultural in Antigua Guatemala to share the
award-winning film, Living on One Dollar, as well as a
sneak-peak at Agora’s new documentary, Accelerating Impact. Living on One Dollar follows four young friends as
they set out to live on just $1 a day for two months in rural Guatemala and
battle with hunger, parasites and the realization that there are no easy
answers. Accelerating Impact shows the
journey of 35 entrepreneurs as they begin the 2013 Agora Accelerator. Following
the short films, Agora's Guatemalan entrepreneurs will share their experiences
and discuss how they have used the power of business to create social,
environmental, and economic change in their own country. End your evening with
Agora and Living on One with an after-party in Antigua to celebrate
entrepreneurship. You can find all the details about the event on the event facebook page. Help us spread the word! You can find sample twitter posts, facebook posts, and newsletter paragraph in the attached social media guides (english and spanish). Please contact Dana Warren (dwarren@agorapartnerships.org) with any questions!
Attached Files:
Tags:
antigua
documentary
early stage ecosystem
Entrepreneurship
guatemala
innovation
Latin America
Philanthropy; impact investing
social business
social entrepreneurship
Women
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Posted By Oluwatosin Kukoyi, RegCharles Finance and Capital Ltd,
Friday, April 19, 2013
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Hello all,
Please find below the link to an interview conducted by Guardian Newspaper with Peter Damian Mbama (MD/CEO, RegCharles Finance and Capital Ltd) on the Control of Inflation and Determination of MPR.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=119205:determination-of-mpr-inflation-control-need-new-strategies-says-mbama&catid=31:business&Itemid=562
Happy Reading!
Tags:
accelerators
Access to Finance
Africa
Agriculture
ANDE Members
early stage ecosystem
East Africa
Entrepreneurship
Environment
Financial Times
Grants Rockefeller
impact investing
inclusive business
Incubation
Philanthropy
Philanthropy; impact investing
SGBs; Environment; accelerators; energy
Social entrepreneurship
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Women
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Posted By Stella Hanly, Aspen Institute,
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
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 In New Brand of Philanthropy, Nonprofits Invest in For-ProfitsNew York Times, December 2012 When the W. K. Kellogg Foundation set aside $100 million in 2007 to invest in companies that could produce both social and financial benefits, it was considered revolutionary. Historically, major foundations had used mainly stocks, bonds, real estate and other traditional asset classes to build their endowments. Now, such investments are increasingly common — and profitable. Read full article here.
Tags:
Philanthropy; impact investing
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