Tag Archive: developing countries

1. How to support small and growing business to scale

   October 26, 2018 3:39 pm Comments Off on How to support small and growing business to scale

   Spring Impact recently published a research report produced in partnership with Numbers for Good, with support from the Argidius Foundation. The report identifies seven key barriers to effective advisory services focused on scale–– technical assistance (TA)–– for small and growing businesses (SGBs), and recommends the necessary steps to help more SGBs reach their scale goals.

   What if we were to tell you, that right now, there are a group of extraordinary organisations providing approximately 66% of employment opportunities, and generating 86% of new jobs in developing economies?[1]. That these organisations have the potential to transform economic development and access untapped markets of an estimated 4.5 billion new customers in 92 countries, valued at approximately $5 trillion USD.[2] That they are providing quality jobs, goods and services locally, and by doing so are lifting families and communities out of poverty, and generating larger-scale socioeconomic prosperity.

   We’re not talking about a tech company, or a government initiative, but small and growing businesses (SGBs). SGBs are interesting for a few reasons. Firstly, they are distinct from the broader group of micro, small, and medium three enterprises (MSMEs) in that despite their size, they have strong ambitions and potential for growth.

   Secondly, in their quest for financial sustainability they create social impact, economic development, and increase access to critical goods and services for underserved communities.

   [1] Ayyagari, M., Demirguc-Kunt, A. & Maksimovic, V. 2011. Small vs. Young Firms Across the World: Contribution to Employment, Job Creation, and Growth. Policy Research Working Paper WPS 5631. World Bank

   [2] Spending power in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Global Consumption Database: http://datatopics.worldbank.org/consumption/ Accessed November 2017.

   [3] Inclusive businesses are considered a subset of SGBs. Business Call to Action, United Nations Development Programme Kenya, KEPSA and SIB, New Horizons: Accelerating Sustainable Development through Inclusive Business in Kenya, 2017. As cited in ANDE, (December 2017):

   [4] Intermediaries are organizations that work with SGBs, funders, and/or TA providers but, for the purpose of this research, do not directly provide TA to SGBs. Intermediaries include organizations such as development finance institutions, private foundations, member networks, and research institutions.

2. Expanding the Reach of Primary Care in Developing Countries

   June 7, 2017 1:02 pm Comments Off on Expanding the Reach of Primary Care in Developing Countries

   “While advances in health care in the developed world often emphasize new technologies, in developing lower- and middle-income countries simply expanding the reach of basic primary care services is crucial to improving health.”  Click here to read the full article and you can also read the full “Rapid Routes to Scale report here“.

   Rapid Routes to Scale is a unique group of stakeholders from the academic, social and private sectors, committed to improving the health of poorer populations by understanding how to scale primary healthcare, and in turn acting upon these findings.

   These stakeholders include: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Center for Health Market Innovations, Spring Impact, GlaxoSmithKline, International Partnership for Innovative Healthcare Delivery, Merck & Co, Merck Serono, Novo Nordisk, T-HOPE University of Toronto.