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Private equity and SMEs: an instrument for growth
Stabilising growth in Africa – growth which is real but fragile – depends partly on the dynamism of SMEs, which receive little in the way of private equity support. Funds' profitability can be enhanc...
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The transparency challenge facing private equity
When hedge funds are set up in offshore centers, they benefit from favorable conditions when investing in Africa. Their investments may spur economies, but short-term profit targets, the lack of trans...
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Living with an investment fund – the company perspective
From the decision to open up its equity capital to the withdrawal of the private equity fund four years later, step by step SOMDIAA reveals the four stages of this marriage of two worlds, and shows ho...
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PE Funds improving corporate governance and investor climate
While fund managers may influence public policy geared towards improving the investing environment, they make a more significant impact by improving portfolio companies' governance standards. This is...
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Profitability and development hand in hand
A question frequently asked is whether profitability is the only criterion to be taken into consideration when private equity is evaluated. By itself, profitability is not an adequate basis on which t...
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The next chapter for private equity in sub-Saharan Africa
Private equity is well suited to the continent and is attracting an increasingly diverse spectrum of investors. It is true that its activities remain focused on a few markets, and that concerns remain...
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Traps to avoid, lessons to be learned
What have the millions spent by development agencies on technical assistance actually been used for? What part will technical assistance play in the future? Critical examination of assistance programm...
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Impact assessment of technical assistance projects
It is becoming increasingly necessary to assess the impact of technical assistance projects. But the standard indicators, most of which are based on quantitative measurements, are not necessarily appr...
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Can private investment finance clean energy in Southeast Asia?
Demand, policy support and supply-chain development have together created a compelling opportunity for private finance to invest in renewable energy in Southeast Asia – private equity funds, as well a...
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Persuading businesses to commit: the WWF approach
For an NGO such as WWF, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an effective lever for influencing the practices of the private sector and for challenging its economic models. WWF therefore develops...
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Africa: on the way to CSR
Nowadays the concept of CSR is becoming increasingly widespread and is endorsed by a growing number of economic actors. Yet awareness levels in sub-Saharan Africa remain low, and few businesses implem...
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The role of development finance institutions in promoting CSR
Development finance institutions such as Proparco help the companies they finance to improve their environmental and social (E&S) practices. Their role is not limited to E&S risk management: they also...
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Building long term agricultural partnerships in Africa: four lessons from the Olam experience
Focus Emerging Africa offers increasing opportunities, both as a growing consumer market and a vibrant production centre. Of course there are challenges and risks, but these are surmountable with the...
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The role of private equity funding in the development of Africa's agriculture
Ensuring that Africa can feed itself by 2050 and contribute to the increasing global demand for food will require well-targeted coordination and collaboration between governments, donors, entrepreneur...
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Democratising access to higher education: a story from Brazil
Anhanguera is part of a new generation of private companies that have flourished during the last decade in Brazil catering to the demand from a growing middle class for higher education. Thanks to con...
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Education for all: the private sector can contribute
Education is a human right, which states have the responsibility to ensure. But they need not be the sole provider. Private involvement can increase financial resources committed to education and supp...
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How can development finance institutions help to build an effective African banking sector?
Limited, fragmented, inefficient and characterised by strong regional disparities, Sub-Saharan Africa's banking sectors lack the capability to meet the private sector's financing needs. Development fi...
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Development in Africa through mobile money democratization
Mobile money, an African success story, offers numerous benefits, particularly to those who do not have access to banks. Its first phase has facilitated access to and transfers of cash, but there is m...
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Harnessing non-state education providers through innovative financing
If properly harnessed, the non-state education sector has the potential to improve access to quality education services for the poor. Significant gaps remain among governments and donors in developing...
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Outlook and key factors for the development of pan-African banking groups
In Africa, public-sector banks have more or less disappeared and international institutions have partially withdrawn from the continent – facilitating the emergence of pan-African banking groups whose...
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