The fate of the Sustainable Development Goals rests heavily on the shoulders of small and growing businesses.
ANDE’s Global Conference in Accra highlighted the crucial role of small and growing businesses in meeting the UN SDGs by 2030, stressing the imperative for collaborative efforts to build viable business ecosystems and promote innovative financing to address the estimated $5.2 trillion financing gap for entrepreneurs to grow and succeed in the Global South.
We can achieve our goals for a world where the entrepreneurship ecosystem serves sustainable development by shifting power and amplifying voices from the Global South. Some reflections after the Annual Conference in Ghana.
Preethi Rao—LEAD at Krea University—witnessed at ANDE’s Global Summit last September in Accra, Ghana, passionate and experience-based discussions on bridging finance gaps for women entrepreneurs and connecting craft-based enterprises with markets, paving the way for collaborative South-South solutions and a sustainable impact in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Accelerating Action
Enterprising Solutions
ANDE Executive Director Richenda Van Leeuwen and AC Keynote Speaker and CEO of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, talked about the specific challenges that entrepreneurs face in developing countries.
Yunus’s surprising message
Watch the thought-provoking speech by the Nobel Prize Laureate, Chairman of the Yunus Centre, and founder of Grameen Bank from his home in Bangladesh.
Sponsors Spotlight
ANDE is grateful to its partners and sponsors for helping make this Global Conference a success.
A new chapter
What an incredible journey the 2023 Global Conference turned out to be! As we wrapped up the event, we wanted to reflect on the key sentiments that resonated with us, identified through surveys and interviews with some members. Accra’s climate, diversity, and openness distinctly influenced the conference’s atmosphere.
• Sense of Achievement: Witnessing our organization’s progress was remarkable. The collective dedication and effort opened new doors for creating sustainable business ecosystems for SGBs.
• Commitment of Members and Partners: The steadfast dedication to advancing the global entrepreneurial ecosystem was evident. Though much remains to be done and improved, the quality of the discussions and the members’ passion were genuinely inspiring.
• Personal Contribution: The impact of each participant on the conference’s success was significant. Your contributions were noticed and deeply appreciated.
• Transformation: There was a palpable sense of change. Many of us felt we departed as more adept practitioners than when we arrived. The conference challenged us to grow and provided invaluable insights and knowledge.
• Sense of Connection: Forming new connections was a highlight of the conference. Meeting people with shared interests led to new collaborations and enriched the experience.
And the best part? It was only the beginning. The journey continues, and we eagerly anticipate embarking on it together.