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.

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.

With support from GIZ, ANDE is pleased to launch the South Africa Townships Ecosystem Map, a new tool designed to improve connectivity within the township entrepreneurial landscapes 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.

East Africa is emerging as a vibrant hub for climate innovation, with a growing number of innovators and stakeholders developing solutions to address the region’s pressing climate challenges. The region's unique combination of urgent climate needs, a burgeoning tech ecosystem, and an increasing focus on sustainability has attracted significant attention from investors looking to support the advancement of climate action.

Within the East Africa climate ecosystem, stakeholder networks and relationships are crucial for ensuring the successful implementation of climate action policy and innovative solutions. Effective collaboration across the diverse stakeholders shaping the East Africa climate ecosystem, is key to fostering a more integrated and impactful approach for tackling climate challenges. Several factors influence how these stakeholders interact and collaborate within the climate ecosystem. These include the availability of funding, policy frameworks, technological infrastructure, and the strength of local entrepreneurial support systems.

This study examines the dynamics of climate innovation in East Africa, with a focus on the interactions, relationships and networks among key climate stakeholders. Qualitative and quantitative data collection was used to identify the enablers, barriers, and support needs critical to fostering a mature and integrated climate innovation ecosystem in the region. The insights provided in this report are aimed at informing stakeholders on the varying factors shaping interactions among key players in the ecosystem. Greater awareness of these dynamics can help reduce fragmentation in adaptation and mitigation efforts, while also enhancing the scalability of climate solutions to drive increased impact and inclusivity in East Africa’s climate ecosystem.