Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs

Excitement is building as we prepare for the ANDE Pan Africa Conference, taking place in Dakar, Senegal from 11 - 13 February 2025! ✨ This inaugural event will bring together leaders, innovators, funders, and changemakers to drive inclusive entrepreneurship across Africa. 🌍 Under the theme “Catalyzing the Future of Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Africa”, we’ll tackle the pressing issues shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape - youth employment, digital innovation, diversity & inclusion, and the transformative role of cultural industries in economic growth. 💡This is not just another conference; it’s an opportunity to influence the future of entrepreneurship, promote sustainable practices, and position Africa as a global leader in innovation. Let’s ignite change, empower entrepreneurs, and amplify Africa’s impact on the world stage. Together, we can forge a brighter future! ✨ 🔗 Register Now: https://ow.ly/Pk3450UE9EN #PanAfrican #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #InclusiveGrowth #OurAfricanStory #MadeInAfrica #Africa

🚀Join us in shaping Africa’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem! 🌍 Let's meet in Dakar, Senegal for the ANDE 2025 Pan Africa Conference! Dive into key topics driving Africa’s entrepreneurial growth, including: 💼 The Future of Work for Youth 🌐 Digital Innovation & Entrepreneurship 🌍 Diversity & Inclusion 🎭 Cultural Enterprises & Economic Development Be part of the movement to amplify voices from the Global South and spark transformative change. 🔗Register now 👉 https://lnkd.in/dgHmFqns #Entrepreneurship #OurAfricanStory #Innovation #YouthEmpowerment #DiversityAndInclusion #CulturalEconomy #Africa

As the year comes to a close, we want to thank you for being an essential part of our community. Your dedication to supporting Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) and advancing sustainable development continues to inspire us! Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with peace, happiness, and success. Here's to new opportunities for collaboration and growth in the year ahead! 🌍 Don’t forget to register for the Pan-Africa Conference, happening February 11–13, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal. https://lnkd.in/dgHmFqns Let’s come together to shape the future of entrepreneurship and innovation. #ANDEPanAfrica #HappyHolidays #SGBSupport #SustainableDevelopment Pangea Global Ventures Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation Small Foundation FATE Foundation GFA Consulting Group GmbH Investisseurs & Partenaires - I&P MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) Impact Investing Ghana Impact Hub Accra Wangara Green Ventures TechnoServe Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University Winrock International YALI Network Rainbow Consult Flourish Africa Em Ekong John Scicchitano Open Capital Nathalie Gogue Ebo Nachula Wilson Nadia Mrabit Margaret Jackson FLPI Dr. Nneka Okekearu Teddy ROUX Gregory Valadie Awa Alyne Daffe Anene Christine (MBA)

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!

Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs also submitted a paper to the FFD4 and I am looking forward to being part of the conference in Sevilla next summer to explore how the international system of financing for development can do better in the next 10 years than it has in the last. The ANDE position here is a few simple points: -Finance is a blunt instrument that on its own will flow to the easiest opportunities to make a return even with an impact lens. -To get capital to the places where it can have the most impact on sustainable development, poverty alleviation and blunting the effects of climate change you MUST pay as much attention to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystems that cultivate investment capable businesses from the ground up. -Development grant funding must align with development finance and pay for the groundwork of incubating and accelerating businesses, fostering market access, matchmaking talent to market opportunities and building the human capital of the system. -Development Finance Institutions should advocate for their corresponding donor agencies to increase their work in this space by at least 5x. For example US DFC has a portfolio of $41 Billion, they should encourage USAID to spend $4 Billion of their $28B annual outlays grant funding to the ecosystem enablers who produce the pipeline for their future portfolio to be as impactful as possible. If development institutions put their grant money into alignment with their investment capital, then we would start to see more dynamic economies emerge from low income status. If that happened, in 10 years from now the FFD5 conference would be talking seriously about the end of global poverty.

How FinTechs Can Bridge the Gender Financing Gap in Latin America 🌍 Pro Mujer’s Gender Knowledge Lab, in partnership with ALIVE Ventures, explores barriers and opportunities for women-led MSMEs in their latest study. Why it matters: ✔️ MSMEs make up 99.5% of companies in Latin America. ✔️ They employ 70% of the labor force but face major funding challenges. ✔️ Women-led MSMEs face the greatest credit access restrictions. 💡 Practical recommendations for advancing inclusive FinTech practices are now available. 👉 Read the study: https://ow.ly/5rbt50UmMjf #FinTech #GenderEquality #MSMEs

📢 Deadline fast approaching! ⚠️ Session submissions and early-bird registration closes on December 11, 2024. We are looking for innovative concepts, effective strategies, and smart solutions centered around key themes such as: ✴️ Digital Innovation ✳️ Empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs ✴️ Strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems Submit your session ideas today to inspire action and spark meaningful change. Let us collaborate to build a sustainable, equitable future. 🌍 🔗More details here: https://lnkd.in/dgHmFqns #entrepreneurship #inclusiveentrepreneurship #youthempowerment #PanAfrica #innovation #inclusivegrowth #africa

Applications Open: Waste and Circular Economy Accelerator Program 🌱 Are you an Agri-SME focused on waste management or circular economy? The Agri Frontier Waste and Circular Economy Accelerator Program is here to help you scale your impact! Supported by ANDE, this program provides the tools to drive innovation and sustainability. 📅 Apply by December 9, 2024 👉 Register now: https://ow.ly/9oG750UmKZM #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #AgriSMEs

Share Your Voice: Women Entrepreneurs Survey 2024 🌍 The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, in partnership with Intuit and the The World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law project, invites women entrepreneurs from low- and middle-income countries to share their experiences. Your input will drive advocacy for a more equitable world. 🔒 Anonymous 🗣️ Available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish ⏱️ Takes 15 minutes 💵 Chance to win $50 USD prizes 📅 Deadline: December 16, 2024 👉 Take the survey now: https://ow.ly/YC7z50UmKtW

🌟 Calling all entrepreneurs in Colombia! 🌍 Acelera Sin Fronteras is here to help you grow and create impact for migrant communities. Get tailored growth plans, global mentorship, and access to 400+ CEOs. 💡 📅 Apply by Dec 16! https://ow.ly/CMt850UmJjU 🌍 #Entrepreneurship #Migration #StartupSupport #SocialImpact