News
Digitisation in Africa: Channelling Funding to SMEs
Could innovation emerge from near destruction? Would the digitisation that led to the global financial crisis preclude SMEs from obtaining the finance they needed to continue playing the crucial role...
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Financing and supporting SMEs, the example of Vatel Madagascar
This article was published in Jeune Afrique in December 2019.
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In Tunisia, Enda is boosting women’s entrepreneurship
The pioneer of microfinance in Tunisia, Enda has been demonstrating for almost 30 years that microcredit is a powerful driver for poverty reduction and economic development. Boosting women’s entrepren...
What are the main reasons for micro-business and SME loan default in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Micro- and small- and medium-sized businesses (micro-businesses and SMEs) are a vital part of Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic fabric but frequently suffer from poor access to funding and this represents...
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Realising Africa’s Potential: SME Finance and Skills
African SMEs have the potential to provide jobs for their working-age youth. Yet there are key impediments – access, risk, regulation and acumen – to them receiving financing. Addressing the perceived...
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Equity investment to bring to scale: An interview with two financed SMEs
As we have repeated on a number of occasions in this issue – and the different articles have borne this out – access to funding is one of the key challenges and obstacles to the development of SMEs in...
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Equity investment to bring SMEs to scale: An interview with two African fund managers
SMEs in Africa remain heavily reliant on internal resources and traditional bank debt. A lack of appropriate forms of finance – especially of the equity type – limits market entry, long-term investmen...
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“As you are encouraging the farmers to grow tea, you must be able to give them extension services”
At the head of the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), Kenya's leading tea producer and exporter, Lerionka Tiampati discusses, for the Private Sector & Development review, the successes and challenge...
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Complementarity between agro-industry and smallholders in Sub-Saharan Africa
By providing jobs, technical assistance and development projects to village communities, industrial groups strengthen their economic and social well-being – and can complete their production with the...
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Understanding SMEs in developing countries to meet their needs more effectively
There is now universal agreement on the crucial role of SMEs – which comprise the bulk of businesses in developing countries – particularly in creating jobs. Nevertheless, there are many different – s...
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“Investment in agriculture as a key poverty reduction lever”
The World Bank’s World development report was first published in 2008. It was co-written by Alain de Janvry and Elisabeth Sadoulet among others and it highlighted agriculture as “an essential developm...
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Promoting local agricultural production in an emerging country: the example of Les Vergers du Mékong
By promoting the fruit, coffee and tea production of smallholders in Vietnam, which is subsequently processed locally into products with high added value, Les Vergers du Mékong ensures profitability w...
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Agriculture: Nigeria’s job creation engine
Unemployed youth in Nigeria are estimated at over 60%. As this figure increases, so does the risk of insurgencies. The solution could come from agriculture; yet young smallholders face the problem of...
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Strengthening value chains in Africa: conditions for sustainable contractual arrangements
Africa continues to suffer from extreme poverty and malnutrition and the agri-food sector faces numerous challenges. Contract farming can boost value chain efficiency by enhancing coordination between...
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Using the Theory of Change to optimize the investment impact
Agricultural programmes are a preferred instrument to achieve positive impact on local communities. Today’s DFIs, including Proparco, are looking for financial results but also aim to achieve economic...
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Under what conditions do labels support development? The example of coffee
The coffee sector, a source of income for 25 million producers around the world, is faced with social and environmental challenges which have led to it being a focus of attention for certifications an...
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The role of agribusiness in development: a long-standing debate
Agribusiness and its role in economic development has given rise to much debate. Although it is frequently perceived in terms of negative externalities, it remains a solid vector for creating jobs and...
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Good governance: a framework for sustainable performance
The establishment of good governance is fundamental to the success of any company. The emerging markets start-up Jumo operates in Africa and Asia and has adopted a holistic approach to corporate gover...
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Corporate governance: journey of a Kenyan bank
I&M's corporate governance structures have evolved considerably, driven in particular by the regulatory framework and I&M's aspiration to professionalize and enhance its governance framework. As acqui...
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Promoting good corporate governance: the Peruvian experience
“Good corporate governance guidelines for Peruvian companies” were published in July 2002 with the aim of strengthening and enhancing governance in the country’s businesses. Ten years later it appeare...
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