ANDE South Asia

🌟🎉 Happy New Year from ANDE! 🎉🌟 Start the year with inspiration! 🌏✨ Check out the heartfelt messages from Sucharita Kamath (She/Her), ANDE Asia Regional Director. Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and impact across the entrepreneurial ecosystem! 🌱🤝

Broadening digital access is expected to be the most transformative trend – both across technology-related trends and overall – with 60% of employers expecting it to transform their business by 2030. Advancements in technologies, particularly AI and information processing (86%); robotics and automation (58%); and energy generation, storage and distribution (41%), are also expected to be transformative. These trends are expected to have a divergent effect on jobs, driving both the fastest-growing and fastest-declining roles, and fueling demand for technology-related skills, including AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity and technological literacy, which are anticipated to be the top three fastest- growing skills. 📚 Access full report on The Future of Jobs Report 2025 by World Economic Forum at https://lnkd.in/etjcF76e

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2025, in collaboration with our trusted partners, including the IID - Research Institute for Innovation and Development. This initiative was unveiled at the IID Kick-off Event 2025: Drive Innovation for Impact in Vietnam, bringing together over 60 women-led social enterprises and businesses. The event showcased the vibrant enthusiasm and potential of women entrepreneurs driving transformative change. Are you a woman entrepreneur from Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, or the Middle East? Are you innovating in health or food security? Don’t miss this opportunity to gain global recognition, resources, and support for scaling your impactful ideas! Apply by February 18: bayerfoundation-wea.com #BayerFoundation #ImpactHubNetwork #WomenEntrepreneurs #SocialEntrepreneurship #SocialImpact

Are you a stakeholder or startup in the Green Building Materials sector? 🌱🏗️ Habitat for Humanity, Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, and Villgro are conducting a survey to explore challenges, trends, and opportunities in the green building materials space. Your insights will help shape strategies to scale innovations and drive impact in this critical sector. Survey for stakeholders: https://lnkd.in/gUeWzzab Survey for startups: https://lnkd.in/gd-xYwpM Take the survey to help us build an ecosystem that supports green and climate-resilient infrastructure!

📢 Applications for the 5th Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2025 are now OPEN! If you’re a woman entrepreneur from Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East seeking to grow your impact business, then this is YOUR moment. Apply by Feb 18th, if your business is driving innovations in: • Health • Food security Don’t miss this opportunity: bayerfoundation-wea.com

As I prepare to sign off for the year I am so grateful for this amazing team and the chance I have to lead them. We accomplished a lot in 2024, the very long list at the end the linked blog post is just scratching the surface. But I am confident we will do even greater things in the year to come as we increasingly orient our work around catalyzing our members. The magical thing about a network is that as we help our members scale more quickly, have deeper impact, and engage a broader ecosystem, we become more than just a team of 40 across 10 countries. Instead we are a movement of 236 organizations and growing, with a presence in almost every country on earth, mobilizing tens of thousands of practitioners and billions of dollars towards an economy that includes everyone. Where prosperity ends poverty, where women have ownership and equity, and where we solve our environmental challenges with innovation and resilience. This is the promise of small and growing businesses. Thank you to all who do this work the world so desperately needs. I hope you have a restful and restorative holiday break because 2025 needs the best of us all to rise to the world's many challenges. Happy holidays and see you on the other side!

In a crowded market, why do some brands become household names while others fade away? 🤔 The secret lies in strategic brand positioning—crafting a unique identity that resonates deeply with consumers. Consider how Zoom became synonymous with video calls during the pandemic, or how Dyson is instantly associated with innovative cleaning solutions. Effective brand positioning involves answering 4 major questions: - Identifying your target audience: Understand who you're speaking to. - Defining your competitive set: Know your market landscape. - Highlighting your unique benefits: Clearly articulate what sets you apart. - Providing reasons to believe: Build trust through consistent messaging and delivery. In the GCC, brands like Careem and noon have excelled by tailoring their offerings to local needs and preferences, carving out significant market share. So, is YOUR brand positioning optimized to stand out in today's competitive landscape? Let’s connect, book a time to speak here! https://lnkd.in/e3PTsqzR __________________________________________________________________ Explore more insights on mastering brand positioning in the complete article: https://lnkd.in/eJ9qFP3z #data #insights #P01C Platform01 Consulting Zia S. Mustafa Nadeem, CFA Tarik Chebib Nasser AlGhanem Tariq Ba-Abbad Faisal BinSuwaileh Mohammed Ba abbad Ahad Awaidha Muhannad Alhumaid Paul Arnold Malik Shamim Khan Wael Hammad - وائل حماد Mitri Haddad Zubair Ahmad Abdul Jabbar Randy Boyer Michael Gale Sami Ahmed

Looking for exciting opportunities to create change in 2025? Check out this week’s #WorkItWeds opportunities 👇 1️⃣ Communications Officer at UNDP Pakistan UNDP Pakistan is hiring a Communications Officer in Islamabad to lead content creation, manage multimedia campaigns, and position UNDP's work nationwide. ✅ Proficiency in graphic design, Adobe Suite, and social media management is required. ⏰ Deadline: January 15, 2025 For full details and to apply: tinyurl.com/WIW5-1 2️⃣ Project Manager at Kenan Foundation Asia Kenan Foundation Asia is looking for a Project Manager in Hanoi, Vietnam, to lead STEM education and youth leadership programs. ✅ Must have a Bachelor’s/Master’s in Education, Business, or related fields, with 5+ years in project management. ⏰ Deadline: Rolling until filled For full details and to apply: tinyurl.com/WIW5-2 3️⃣ Leading Scholarship at One Young World Summit 2025: Building a Sustainable Future The Leading Scholarship 2025 invites young leaders to attend the One Young World Summit in Munich, Germany, from November 3-6, 2025. ✅ Must be aged 18-30 with proven leadership and a commitment to creating positive change. ⏰ Deadline: July 7, 2025 For full details and to apply: tinyurl.com/WIW5-3 4️⃣ Project Management Associate at Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) ASSIST is hiring a Project Management Associate to coordinate projects, engage with stakeholders, and support sustainable development initiatives across South and Southeast Asia. ✅ Must have a Bachelor’s in Social Sciences or related fields, with 1-2 years of experience in project management or community development. ⏰ Deadline: Rolling until filled For full details and to apply: tinyurl.com/WIW5-4 5️⃣ Communication & Visibility Associate at Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) ASSIST is hiring a Communication & Visibility Associate in Makati City, Philippines, to develop communication strategies, manage social media, and create impactful content. ✅ Degree in Multimedia Arts, Marketing, or related fields. Fresh graduates are welcome to apply! ⏰ Deadline: Rolling until filled For full details and to apply: tinyurl.com/WIW5-5 #MoversProgramme #GreenJobs

We are thrilled to announce that Neena Joshi, Senior Vice President, Heifer International Asia, has joined our Regional Advisory Committee. Neena Joshi has over 20 years of experience in community development and offers strategic and programmatic leadership for Heifer’s interventions in Asia. The programming she oversees supports more than 500,000 smallholder farmers, largely women, in building inclusive agrifood systems. Neena has authored several research papers on social capital, child nutrition and gender, which she has adapted into impactful program design and development approaches. She serves as a board member for Heifer Korea and Heifer India. With her extensive experience, Neena aims to dedicate her time to advising ANDE on its strategic direction and strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems in South Asia. She seeks to provide strategic insights to promote entrepreneurship among smallholder farmers while advancing allied services such as market creation, access to finance, and value-added services. We are confident that her expertise in building sustainable agribusiness ecosystems and fostering collaborations will significantly contribute to ANDE’s mission of driving long-term economic growth while delivering social and environmental benefits.

As we close the curtain on the ANDE South Asia Convening 2024, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, shared insights, and made this event truly memorable. We hope #SAC2024 has been a platform for inspiration, connection, and action. Together, let’s continue to unlock the economic potential of South Asia and empower SGBs to thrive. What’s Next? Stay tuned for a blog post summarizing the key learnings from SAC 2024, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for our future events!