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We excel in designing and implementing various innovation-related programs, such as innovation challenges, acceleration, and incubation initiatives. Additionally, we specialize in mapping entrepreneurship ecosystems and developing financing solutions for SMEs and startups, encompassing equity and debt strategies. Our expertise extends to promoting startup and SME policies, enhancing Higher Education Organizations' management, and designing mechanisms to foster university-industry collaboration.
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The project "Employment Promotion in the Informal Sector in Africa by Leveraging Diaspora Money Transfers" aims to improve the employment and income situation of start-ups and micro and small entrepreneurs in Africa.
Transfers from the diaspora are to be subsidized by the BMZ and invested in business start-ups, start-ups and micro-enterprises. The project was initially piloted in Ghana and Cameroon. Money transfers from the African diaspora are subsidized via an online platform to give start-ups and micro/small entrepreneurs better access to finance. At the same time, the entrepreneurial skills of the target group in Africa are improved through accompanying coaching measures. The novel and innovative person-to-person (P2P) approach enables very targeted and individual support. Thanks to consistent digital implementation, projects that are worthy of funding are also identified and supported in a cost-efficient manner.The online platform has been live since November 2019 and the first payments had been made in Ghana and Cameroon. By the end of the pilot phase ( April 2020), it was planned that 130 payments have been made to small business owners per country. Following the pilot phase, an evaluation was to be carried out, on the basis of which the WIDU.africa platform will be conceptually further developed and optimised. An extension to Kenya was also planned.
Our contribution
Supporting the implementation and roll-out of the project “Employment promotion in the informal sector by leveraging diaspora money transfers” through a digital platform (www.widu.africa). In particular:
- Conceptual development of the WIDU.africa platform, including the identification and set up of new payout schemes.
- Further development of the SME coaching network.
- Roll-out preparation Kenya, Tunisia and Togo ( the platform at the moment was operating in Ghana and Cameroon).
- Knowledge preparation and distribution
The development of the agricultural and food economy is of central importance in order to meet the increasing demand for agricultural products from a growing population and to create more jobs in rural areas. However, many countries lack the innovations to achieve a sustainable increase in production.
The global project “Fund for Agricultural Policy Advice and Innovation (FABI)” set the goal of using innovation promotion instruments for the agricultural and food sector successfully under the innovation component. In order to achieve this goal; a process for the selection and promotion of innovations for the agricultural and food sector had to be established, innovations developed and tested and self-supporting platforms for the dissemination of innovations set up.
The GV FABI established the Innovation Challenge to identify innovations for the agricultural and food sector in the areas of mechanization, digitization and renewable energies in the GIZ partner countries.
Our contribution
We advised the GIZ programme in designing the Innovation Challenge and coached a selected group of agri-preneurs in product and business model design as well as pitching. Our tasks included:
1. Content preparation, organisation and roll-out of three virtual group coaching sessions with 15 finalists, focusing on product/service refinement (user journey, personas’ pain and gain points), business model refinement (business canvas, scaling strategy, and business pitch preparation.
2. Content preparation, organisation and roll-out of over 20 individual coaching sessions with 15 finalists, tailored around each specific creative process for adjusting and refining their product/service, their business model and pitching skills.
‘Scaling Digital Agriculture Innovations through Startups’ (SAIS) is a project implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The overall goal of the project is to support African startups in scaling their digital innovations; these innovations should enable users in the agriculture or food sectors to increase their income. Up to 18 startups are selected annually to participate in a nine-month Investment Readiness Programme fully funded by the BMZ. The aim of the Investment Readiness Programme is to support more African startups in improving their business models, gaining access to investors and business partners, and achieving greater impact.
Our contribution
- Needs assessment and business development plans for selected start-ups
- IRP programme design (how the company development is implemented over the time period)
- IRP implementation - provision of training and advice, largely virtual
- Start-up progress tracking in collaboration with the SAIS project team
- Coordination and the provision of additional business development services
Get in touch with Emmanuel Nomafo
Lead Adviser on Private Sector Development & Innovation
Privacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website. Blocking categories may impact your experience on the website. More information
Accept all cookiesPrivacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website. Blocking categories may impact your experience on the website. More information
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