ANDE Southern Africa will host the “State of the Small and Growing Business Sector (SGB) Event”, where we will disseminate our latest research findings and facilitate collaborative discussion among stakeholders through networking and knowledge building.

For the past few years, ANDE has successfully conducted the “State of the SGB Sector” report, which measures annual funding flows to SGBs, highlights regional trends and in the past has featured case studies drawn from ANDE’s member network that illustrate innovative approaches to SGB support. Our research reports have previously been used by intermediary organizations to advocate for greater support for SGBs and inform about key aspects of the sector.

At ANDE, we have learned that the ecosystem of support around SGBs is very active in South Africa but often fragmented, with duplication of programs or lack of collaboration, often limiting the potential impact of work being done. To address this lack of collaboration, ANDE plays a critical role in convening various ecosystem actors to learn who is doing what and where there are areas for collective action. We have found that these convenings are incredibly effective when centered on a common knowledge base. The State of the Sector event will offer ANDE members and ecosystem players a new and enjoyable way to engage, whilst learning content from cutting edge research, curated in one place in an easy-to-absorb manner.

Key highlights include:

• Presentation of the State of the SGB sector report
• Networking and collaboration – including the State of the Sector “Quiz”
• Presentations by leading ecosystem players aligned to the SDGs goals