The small and growing business (SGB) sector is at a turning point. Around the world, entrepreneurship support organizations and investors face tighter funding, shifting priorities, and growing demand for local economic opportunity. Following deliberations at the Global Annual Conference in Cancún, Mexico ANDE outlines a focused strategy to meet this moment—one that puts growth back at the center of impact. By channeling resources, evidence, and partnerships to where they are needed most, ANDE is ensuring that small businesses can thrive, drive inclusion, and build the resilient economies our future depends on.
A Network that Gets Business Done: A Strategic Response to the Moment We Are In
Across the small and growing business (SGB) sector, organizations are feeling the squeeze. As financing landscapes evolve and support ecosystems shift, resource flows have slowed just when the need for entrepreneurship and local job creation is greater than ever.
In response to the moment, ANDE’ is laser-focused on accelerating the flow of resources throughout the SGB sector. We are doing so by deepening engagement and partnerships with the actors who can make growth possible:
- Entrepreneurship Support Organizations (ESOs) — helping them demonstrate and amplify their impact through rigorous evidence and shared learning.
- Donors, Governments, and Policymakers — providing data and strategic insights to inform high-impact investment and policy choices.
- Corporates and Investors — connecting market capital and procurement strategies through our members’ work, to growth-ready small businesses in emerging markets.
- Universities and Researchers — collaborating to build the evidence base that strengthens entrepreneurship advocacy and informs smarter investments.
ANDE’s purpose has never been clearer. Our network exists to catalyze small business growth where it is most needed—across developing economies. Growth is not a competing goal to impact; it is the engine that drives it. By accelerating business expansion, we create jobs, strengthen communities, advance gender equality, and enable climate resilience.
ANDE stands apart in today’s landscape because we do not view growth as an afterthought to impact—it is our pathway to it. By channeling capital, knowledge, and partnerships where they can do the most good, we are helping build economies that work for everyone.
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