The key role of guarantees is to crowd in investors and open new markets. This is achieved by:

solving collateral deficiency challenges;
closing the gap between perceived and actual risk; and
absorbing portions of risk so that lenders can enter new markets with lower risk

However, guarantees are not a silver bullet to bypass credit processes e.g., business documentation (registration, business plans, financials, etc), nor do they serve as an exemption to finance unbankable deals. Measuring the effectiveness of guarantees is not standardized and the context of the guarantee (e.g., sector, region, lender) must be considered when comparing metrics such as utilization, catalyzed capital, or additionality. While the ultimate aim of guarantees is to be made redundant, this goal is unlikely to be met in the short term for agriculture as a sector and in SSA given the sector’s profile i.e., mainly fueled by smallholder farmers who are deemed risky because of informality, largely non-commercial farm models and the sector’s vulnerabilities resulting from climate risk. There are several opportunities for donors to support lending to agriculture across the value chain to build the market using an ecosystem approach to increase agri-lending.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the cornerstone of the global transition towards sustainability. India's ambitious climate commitments make EVs not just an environmental imperative, but an economic opportunity. They represent our path to both decarbonization and energy independence, while providing opportunity to accelerate innovation and manufacturing.

This report comes at a crucial time when India's EV charging landscape is at an inflection point. The challenges we face are unique – from installing charging points in crowded urban areas to building networks that withstand everything from Rajasthan's heat to Kerala's monsoons. 'Charging Ahead-Part II' delves into the intricate interplay of policy, regulation, and industry trends shaping this crucial segment, providing cross-jurisdictional analysis that contextualizes India's efforts within a global framework. The insights from markets like California, Singapore, and the UK offer invaluable lessons for our path forward, from integrating renewable energy to deploying innovative business models. The collaboration between GameChanger Law Advisors and Speciale Invest in producing this report
exemplifies the interdisciplinary approach needed to build a sustainable future.

With support from the Vitol Foundation, ANDE is pleased to launch the Mozambique Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Map, a new tool designed to improve connectivity within the entrepreneurial landscape across the country.

This essential resource includes a filterable web directory of the diverse ecosystem players in South Africa, including investors, entrepreneur support organizations, academic institutions, donors, and more.

The map is available in English and Portuguese.

 This initiative reflects Heifer International's ongoing dedication to developing impactful solutions for Nepal's smallholder farmers and women-led agri-enterprises. The study's primary objective was to assess and strengthen the impact of the investment landscape in Nepal, fostering increased financial support and growth opportunities for these vital sectors.

The report highlights several critical insights into the current status of impact investment in Nepal. First, it underscores the challenges that need to be addressed to attract potential and interested impact investors to the region. These challenges include regulatory hurdles, a lack of investor confidence, and limited access to reliable market data. Second, the study identifies strategies to unlock more capital for impact-oriented initiatives. These strategies encompass enhancing financial and investment literacy, improving transparency and governance within agribusinesses and cooperatives, and fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors to create a more conducive investment environment. Furthermore, consulted financial institutions shared several critical challenges hindering Nepal’s agriculture sector investment. The commodity value chains lack clear and distinct opportunities for targeted interventions. There is a significant shortage of bankable projects, as most farmers and agribusinesses—aside from a few large companies—struggle to develop compelling, investment-ready proposals. Existing policies need urgent reform to foster greater private sector participation and unlock the sector's full potential. 

The concept of gender-lens acceleration has taken hold in recent years, with various toolkits outlining how to be more gender inclusive at every step of the acceleration process, from selection to programming and alumni support. However, it is not well understood how effective these strategies have been in producing more equitable outcomes for women. This report aims to fill that information gap by synthesizing the research on accelerating women-led ventures, exploring case studies of two accelerator programs in Asia that have outsized impacts for such ventures, and spotlighting other programs with unique program models or perspectives.

Micro-, small, and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) are crucial to economies, accounting for two-thirds of business employment in advanced economies and nearly four-fifths in emerging ones. They contribute half of all economic value added and play a key role in preserving competitiveness in globalized economies. However, MSMEs' productivity is only half that of large companies, with a more significant gap in emerging markets. Closing this gap could add 5% to GDP in advanced economies and 10% in emerging ones. Strategies to boost MSME productivity require tailored approaches to specific subsectors and countries. Collaboration between MSMEs and large companies is a win-win strategy that often leads to mutual productivity gains, as seen in sectors like automotive and software development. All stakeholders must develop targeted strategies, enhancing infrastructure, policies, and networks to support both MSMEs and large enterprises.