This flagship report by the International Labour Organization, profiles SMEs throughout the world in relation to economic growth, job creation and the opportunities to access finance based on their economy. While large enterprises are the principal source of employment in the formal private sector relative to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the contribution of SMEs to total employment has grown over the past years.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Fund (MBRF), a fund established by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai to finance the UAE's youth and SME projects, has now set up a post-fund monitoring service for its portfolio companies.
SMEs are responsible for delivering so many economic benefits, but a lack of access to adequate finance is one of the biggest constraints SMEs face worldwide. It is estimated that between 50% to 70% of SMEs in emerging markets are either not funded or under funded by the formal financial sector.
IFC MSME Finance Data Competition 2019 Recap
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) organized its first MSME Finance Data Competition to provide graduate students an opportunity to work collaboratively in learning about micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and exploring some of the challenges MSMEs encounter in today’s world.
Open data is data that is made available for anyone to access, use and share. With more access to open data, people can help shape a more sustainable future with evidence-based solutions, contributing at the same time to a more transparent decision-making. But to reach the full potential of open data, it must be available to and used by all. Read more about web foundation’s investigation into whether open data is working for women in Africa.
The Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) released its latest report – the study on “Scaling Access to Finance for Early-Stage Enterprises in Emerging Markets: Lessons from the Field”. The report is a result of a comprehensive research undertaken by DGGF with the support of consultants, experts, field builders, investors, and other local and international stakeholders.
While companies that have a positive environmental or social impact are critical to driving sustainable growth, many of these companies, and particularly the smaller ones, face difficulties in accessing and attracting funding. Where more common financing channels (such as bank loans and bonds issued by large corporations with steady cashflows and deep balance sheets) may not be available, PE/VC could provide at-risk capital for many of these young, often innovative companies.
Here is one of three Field Notes from the Partnership for Financial Inclusion, a joint initiative of IFC and the Mastercard Foundation, to help DFS providers to tailor products and services to particular market segments as they shed new light on two particular market segments, youth and women, as well as the potential for digitizing social payments on the continent.
Close to 200 senior microfinance practitioners all over the globe will meet to discuss, network and understand the main challenges the industry is facing at the moment. They will present success stories from the leading players on the market, compiled with the most innovative solutions which enable a smooth transition into digital microfinance.
