Publication database

This research features first-hand insights and lessons learned from 13 last mile distributors (LMDs) that have experience of testing or selling productive use of energy (PUE) products. These kinds of products – from solar pumps and mills, to fridges and freezers – can be transformational for last mile consumers. But ensuring consumers are able to realise income and productivity gains from using these technologies is complex. The learnings presented in this report, in GDC members’ own voices, are not exhaustive; they are intended to help other LMDs to navigate various complexities on their own PUE journey. This report was produced as part of a project in partnership with Solar Sister, and financed by EEP Africa.

This research maps 50 funders actively investing in last mile distributors (LMDs) across different stages of company growth - pre-seed, seed, early growth and accelerated growth - to identify gaps and opportunities.

This report examines the value of regular, standardized assessments of Farmer Organisations, how this assessment process links to the capacities developed, and how quickly these capacities can be improved. It also analyses whether this improved “professionalism” leads to improved outcomes in the value chain. It also looks at the growing use of ICT.

This report takes stock of the increasingly pluralistic landscape of agricultural small- and medium-sized enterprise (agri-SME) finance in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, with the aim to establish a new perspective on the market overall - sizing and segmenting the market in new ways, reflecting on the rapidly accelerating imperative around climate, and identifying new priorities for action.

This study from the O-Farms program, implemented by Bopinc and Village Capital and supported by the IKEA Foundation, shares key insights on the untapped potential of circular agribusiness to reduce food losses and create jobs in Uganda. It finds that the most promising opportunities for circular agribusiness lie in by-products from horticulture - especially fruit - and the production of cereals, grains, dairy and fish.

The aim of this report is to document best practices by taking a micro-level deep dive into why women entrepreneurs applying for ‘missing middle’ funding (i.e., in the range of USD 30 000– USD 500 000) more often fail than succeed. This report focuses on the demand and supply issues related to women entrepreneurs access to finance in South Africa and Zambia. The study provides a baseline assessment of a cohort of women who participated in the Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth (WCW), a Pan African entrepreneurship development programme whose aim is to grow businesses and transform behaviours, skills and build the confidence of women entrepreneurs.

How can the government promote Inclusive Business (IB) and Impact Investing (II) in Nigeria? This report makes four major policy recommendations: institutionalising support, promoting awareness, creating a financing structure, and putting in place a coordinated stimulus implementation strategy. In addition, it provides an overview on the present landscape for IB and II in Nigeria.

As is the case elsewhere, in Africa, many people depend entirely on food systems for employment and incomes as well. For these reasons, building resilient and sustainable food systems is crucial to ensuring sustainable economies and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 Goals. However, Africa remains food insecure, accounting for 256 million of the world’s 795 million people suffering from hunger. Against this challenge, this 2021 African Agriculture Status Report (AASR21) provides evidence and insights on the prospects of achieving resilience and sustainability in Africa’s food systems.