Looking Back on a Transformative Year

For the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), 2024 was a transformative year of challenge, recalibration, and growth. 

Refining Our Strategic Focus

After listening closely to our members and funders, we launched a new strategic framework during the ANDE Annual Conference in Thailand this September. This refined strategy is simple and action-oriented:

1. Strengthen Our Members: ANDE’s primary goal is to make our members as effective as possible at supporting entrepreneurs. Through collaborative action, applied evidence, and rigorous measurement, we’re helping our community maximize impact.
2. Build Stronger Local Ecosystems: We recognize that SGBs thrive best in well-resourced, inclusive, and aligned entrepreneurial ecosystems. By focusing on local realities and working with regional leaders, we are ensuring that our interventions respond to on-the-ground needs.

Inclusive and Distributed Leadership

To bring this strategy to life, we transformed our leadership structure to better reflect ANDE’s global footprint. In addition to our Executive Director, we now have Regional Directors for Latin America, Africa, and Asia, ensuring that local voices directly inform global priorities. We also integrated regional and global advisory committees, giving regional chairs guaranteed spots on the Global Advisory Committee. These changes help ANDE listen more closely to member insights and diversify the perspectives guiding our decisions.

Building Accountability and Execution Rigor

In the last two months of 2024, we doubled down on effective execution. Led by Lina Rossi, our Senior Advisor for Analytics and Planning, we introduced a structured annual planning cycle and a performance review process oriented around how well we are serving our members. By measuring how many touch points each member gets, and whether those connections result in meaningful action, we can ensure every staff person understands how they contribute to making ANDE members more effective, better connected and better informed so that they can do their best work. This data-driven approach ensures that resources are allocated wisely, roles are clearly defined, and staff performance is aligned with our strategic goals. By grounding our decision-making in evidence and accountability, we’re poised to meet evolving member needs more efficiently than ever.

Looking Ahead to Innovation and Creativity

With stronger systems and clear direction in place, we’re excited to enter a new phase characterized by innovation and creativity. We don’t need endless growth to make a big difference. Instead, we will rely on resourcefulness, local insight, and collaborative energy to spark new solutions and amplify the work of our members. As we nurture a culture of warmth, trust, and connection, we’ll help the SGB sector flourish and grow. 

Regional and Programmatic Highlights

East and Southeast Asia (ESEA)

• Ecosystem Research in Fiji: ANDE secured a research project assessing accelerators and incubators in Fiji, expanding our presence in the Pacific Islands.
• Scaling the SCALE Framework: Deployed in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam, we supported 116 business development service (BDS) providers and funders in enhancing support models for entrepreneurs.
• Investment Manager Training: Bringing together 26 impact investors and Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) from 16 countries in Phuket, Thailand, this training built capacity, connected peers, and boosted investment readiness.
• New DEI Learning Series: Together with South Asia, we launched a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative to foster more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• Membership Growth: We welcomed five locally headquartered members and saw no member deactivations—reinforcing our local roots and network health.

South Asia

• Green Finance & Markets: We exceeded targets in our Access to Green Markets project, incorporating a new access to markets component that de-risks private sector investment in the waste and circularity sector in India.
• Asia Climate & Environment Learning Lab: In partnership with ESEA, this effort was well-received, supporting climate-focused enterprises and building more resilient entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• DEI and Convenings: A joint DEI learning series with ESEA and a successful 2024 South Asia Convening connected over 200 stakeholders across Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
• Membership and Partnership Growth: Five new locally headquartered members joined, adding depth to our community, and the regional advisory committee remained highly engaged.

East Africa

• USAID CATALYZE MS4G Ethiopia: Through convenings, new membership, and ecosystem mapping, we strengthened Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial environment and launched a publicly accessible mapping tool on Ecomaps.
• Green Financing in Kenya: Supported by the IKEA Foundation, we launched innovation funds for waste entrepreneurs, hosted an Investment Manager Training on waste and circularity, and formed a multisectoral policy working group on the circular economy.

Southern Africa

• Global Spotlight on Township Economies: President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a new G20 “Township20 (TS20)” engagement group reflects a landmark policy win for township economies and acknowledges ANDE’s advocacy. We are excited to highlight our longstanding work on Township economies at next year’s G-20 and develop new partnerships to strengthen these ecosystems even further. 
• Positioning for Pan-African Impact: By engaging policymakers, investors, and community stakeholders, we’ve elevated grassroots entrepreneurship to the global stage. Next year’s Pan-African Conference will amplify these voices and opportunities even further.

West Africa

• Ecosystem Snapshot in Sierra Leone: Our latest mapping effort helps local stakeholders understand gaps, opportunities, and pathways to strengthen SGB support in Freetown.
• Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Webinar: In partnership with Open Capital, we addressed the financing barriers facing women entrepreneurs and exchanged ideas on innovative solutions and policy reforms.

Latin America (CAM and Andean Regions)

• Impact Investing Market Sizing in Mexico: With GIZ funding, we’re launching the country’s first impact investing market sizing study, aiming to replicate this methodology across Central America.
• Ecosystem Assessments and Pilot Projects: A partnership with Fundación Coppel, Tec de Monterrey, and Seedstars will update our ecosystem assessment toolkit, piloting it in northern Mexico.
• Guatemala Entrepreneurial Development Initiative (GEDI): A two-year extension and over $4 million in funding will continue strengthening the Guatemalan entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Regional Convenings: Over 10 convenings across Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Mexico fostered networking and knowledge-sharing.
• Workshops and Impact Measurement: Collaborations with ProMujer enhanced value chains in coffee and cacao sectors. Our forthcoming ANDEimpact.org platform will help members quantify their social, environmental, and economic contributions.
• BDS Provider Certification: With Argidius Foundation, we’re deploying the SCALE framework to improve and potentially certify BDS providers, starting in Guatemala.
• Visibility for Impact Startups: The “140” program, launched with Citibanamex and Impact Hub MX, highlights impact startups shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.

Brazil

• Impact Procurement Coalition: Convening corporations, ESOs, entrepreneurs, and government, we’ve built a coalition to unlock procurement opportunities for SGBs with positive social and environmental impact.
• Regional Policy Collaborations: A new MOU with the Governor’s Climate and Forests Task Force positions ANDE to drive progress in the Pan Amazon region.
• National Impact Economy Strategy: As a permanent member of Enimpacto, we contributed to a 10-year plan to guide the growth of an inclusive, impact-oriented economy, including sub-national committees to localize efforts.

Charting a Path to 2025 and Beyond

In 2024, we rose to meet financial and membership challenges, sharpened our strategic focus, and cultivated deeper local engagement. By listening intently, iterating thoughtfully, and executing effectively, we have renewed our sense of purpose, expanded our influence, and strengthened our commitment to serving SGBs worldwide.

As we head into 2025, our prospects are bright. We’ve laid the groundwork for stronger ecosystems, better-aligned resources, and more inclusive growth. We look forward to co-creating solutions with our members and partners—drawing on creativity, collaboration, and trust to help entrepreneurs everywhere thrive and drive sustainable development. Thank you for all you contributed to the network this year, and we can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the years to come.