Publication database

Case study on Belle Verte, an ecoinclusive enterprise, which provides innovative waste management solutions and raises awareness on the problem of increased waste in Mauritius. 

This toolkit contains digital tools that are currently used by USAID Missions and implementers; and resources for those attempting to implement digital tools. This toolkit also includes work planning and procurement considerations, including how to encourage implementing partners to explore digital tools and when prizes and challenges can crowdsource innovative solutions to well-defined development problems.
 

Digital bulk payments have the potential to connect millions of poor farmers to digital financial services. This report from CGAP and UNCDF recounts UNCDF's efforts to digitize payments to coffee farmers in Uganda, where just 29 percent of adults actively used mobile money in 2014. It shares lessons for donors, financial services providers and agricultural firms that are interested in digitizing agricultural value chains.

This how-to-guide from the Global Distributors Collective is useful for last mile distributors looking to expand their product offering for customers. Exploring what this means for different distribution models, as well as key factors to consider including market, impact, organisational and logistical fit, the guide also features four case studies from the GDC membership. It was produced via a project delivered in partnership with Solar Sister and financed by EEP Africa.

The working paper examines different approaches that cities have taken towards the informal self-employed workers and their livelihood activities. After presenting recent data on the size, composition, and contribution of the informal economy, the paper highlights a series of actionable areas for urban change agents to make cities more inclusive and productive.

Across the world, women play key roles as distributors and retailers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), however, the extent of their participation varies. This learning brief introduces how gender equality can be advanced within the distribution activities of the FMCG sector. It presents an emerging business case, the challenges, and recommendations to address these challenges. The brief is based on IFC projects in Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Philippines, and Sri Lanka; desk research; and interviews with market participants. The target audience comprises FMCG sales and distribution teams; FMCG sustainability teams; e-supply chain actors, including business-to business (B2B) distribution platforms; and investors seeking to accelerate gender equality.

Based on data from 132 GDC members, as well as evidence and insights gathered by the GDC over the last three years, this report explores four major trends in the LMD sector: digitalisation, access to finance, product diversification and consumer financing. Overall, the report finds that, despite significant challenges – not least Covid-19 – the LMD sector is impactful, resilient and increasingly professional. External support, including access to finance, is key to unlocking LMDs’ full potential for impact at the last mile.

Last mile distributors (LMDs) are primarily dedicated to getting beneficial products, including solar lights, water filters, nutrition products and improved cooking solutions to underserved areas. However, they face difficulties in reaching last mile consumers. The“Last Mile Distribution: State of the sector report” presents data and insights and provides tangible recommendations for stakeholders on how to engage with and support the sector.

The off-grid solar energy industry is generating thousands of jobs across East, West and Central Africa as well as South Asia. GOGLA's latest report Off-Grid Solar. A Growth Engine for Jobs estimates the sector currently supports 370,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs across these four regions. With investments and the right policies, the off-grid solar sector could create 1.3 million FTE jobs across East, West and Central Africa as well as South Asia by 2022.

This report presents lessons learned from various models that public and private sector programs use
to stimulate growth of agro-processing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through linkages to larger firms in developing countries. The study considers the unique barriers that SMEs face and the market- driven approaches spurring SME growth by facilitating linkages to lead firms in challenging development contexts which might serve as a reference for policymakers, development practitioners, and private sector actors. The report presents approaches to successful, sustainable program design for public and private sector–led initiatives, in an effort to enrich the knowledge available to expand the opportunities for agro-processing, and to attract lead firms to partner with smaller ones.