Publication database

The objective of this study is to document the current situation in risk capital for agrifood businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa as evidence for related policy recommendations to governments, investment funds, technical service suppliers, philanthropists and other stakeholders. The paper summarises funds providing risk capital to agrifood SMEs in Africa, analyses the demand for risk capital and the extent to which demand and supply are matched. Finally, it identifies alternative means of financing for agrifood SMEs and concludes with policy recommendations.

This manual is targeted at small-scale irrigation actors – particularly technical services, projects and programmes with the potential to develop their own good practices for use by others in the sector. The manual aims to help newcomers to identify existing successful practices, and technical and financial partners to develop new programmes and projects. It provides broad information on good practices in planning, in installing small-scale irrigation infrastructure, in small-scale irrigation scheme development and in preserving, processing and marketing.

This report maps the supply chains catering to the Base of the Pyramid for solar portable lanterns 'SPLs' in Mali. It identifies the distribution models and opportunities to leverage existing networks and channels; the success factors and lessons learned; and the distribution channels of comparative products that can represent a valid entry point for SPLs.

This paper reflects on experience of two MFIs in Mali, both of which have witnessed a donor withdrawal in recent years. The objective is to trace the consequence of the observed
reduction in external funds in terms of changes in both breadth and depth of poverty outreach during the period 1999-2004. The two MFIs reacted differently to donor withdrawal. While Nyèsigiso has continued to assure sound financial profile as well as a growth in its clientele, by sacrificing in terms of poverty orientation, the Caisses Villageoises d’Epargne et de Crédit Autogérées des Pays Dogon have kept their focus on very poor and vulnerable clients, but suffered in terms of financial sustainability.

This case study discusses fair trade cotton initiatives helping poor Malian farmers sustain their production and earn substantial revenue. It provides a background on the global cotton market; the evolution of the fair-trade supply chain; the development impacts of the fair-trade approach; and the key innovations in the sector.

This case study looks at the Rural Energy Services Companies (RESCOs) model which facilitated companies to install and manage local electricity generating systems to help increase access to energy, stimulate local economic activity and reduce poverty. It reviews the business models of two such companies; their innovations and successes; and scaling opportunities.