Search results
Does entrepreneurship really empower women?
Concerns about gender inequalities and, more generally, women’s empowerment around the world are today central development issues. Empowerment is also increasingly seen through the prism of women’s en...
News
Published on
Are digital technologies set to revolutionise SME financing in Africa?
According to Aiaze Mitha, an entrepreneur and Fintech expert, the many digital innovations that are emerging and already exist could transform each stage of the financing value chain, opening a new er...
News
Published on
Mentoring and support: A key element in the sustainability of SMEs.
While there is a need for more research in the area of entrepreneur mentoring in Africa, the existing research shows a return on mentoring investment (ROMI) in the form of economic growth through reve...
News
Published on
Cameroon: 90% of the labor force trapped in the informal sector
The informal sector occupies a disproportionate position in Cameroon. While it ensures the survival of many workers, it prevents the country’s development by maintaining low incomes and reducing its t...
News
Published on
SME Finance as seen by regulators : Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa
Access to finance for African SMEs is a key challenge. Through this article, the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) aims to share the experiences and practices of member countries that have implem...
News
Published on
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...
News
Published on
AFRICINVEST III
Proparco regularly invests in the fund which manages AfricInvest, a venture capital company focused on Africa. AfricInvest III finances midcaps in key development sectors.
Project
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...
News
Published on
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...
News
Published on
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...
News
Published on
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...
News
Published on
Unlocking the DRC’s power potential through technical assistance
With technical assistance from the FCDO-funded Essor Programme, the world's largest solar mini-grids are set to come online in 2023, changing the paradigm of the electricity sector. This project is th...
News
Published on
“With technical assistance, the European Union supports sustainable growth and decent jobs in developing count...
An interview with Erica Gerretsen, Acting Director for sustainable finance at DG International Partnerships, European Commission In this interview, INPA's Erica Gerretsen speaks of the need to mobi...
News
Published on
Technical assistance disseminates a strong culture of E&S issues –and their solutions
In emerging markets, investors systematically carry out environmental and social (E&S) assessments of the projects or companies they target. Technical assistance is invaluable in understanding such is...
News
Published on
Advans Holding 2014
Advans is building a network of microfinance institutions in Africa and Asia. Proparco is supporting the development of African subsidiaries, their strengthening in Pakistan and Cambodia and the creat...
Project
Supporting private and public players to promote the emergence of innovative ecosystems
Technical and financial assistance for innovative entrepreneurship remains a core component of sustainable development. It helps redirect the economy towards sectors with higher added value. By taking...
News
Published on
Start-up incubators and accelerators are renewing technical assistance
While digital Africa is booming, technical assistance (TA) and financial assistance play a key role in the development of a start-up. In this context of innovation, accelerators and incubators are exp...
News
Published on
Investment and technical assistance, working together to maximize both social impact and financial returns
Women’s World Banking combines impact investment and technical assistance to further develop and realize the potential of women's contributions to economies and societies. Its gender-lens investing st...
News
Published on
Into the future: keys to TA success
Since Private Sector & Development review examined technical assistance (TA) in 2011, international development has transitioned from Millennium to Sustainable Development Goals. This article identifi...
News
Published on
How does TA have an impact on companies? Testimonies from three beneficiary organizations
Interview with Ravi Shankar, Director, Africure Pharmaceuticals; Michelle Espinach, Sustainable bank manager, Banco Promerica; Patrick Joseph, Regional control and audit manager, Mission Laïque França...
News
Published on
