GDI and partners launch the Collaborative for Frontier Finance at #SOCAP18

At SOCAP 2018 last month, GDI and a team of partners launched the Collaborative for Frontier Finance (CFF), a multi-stakeholder initiative comprised of investors, funders, and field builders that aim to increase the amount of appropriate capital available for small and growing businesses (SGBs) in frontier and emerging markets.

Alice Gugelev, the lead GDI director behind this initiative, noted on a panel at SOCAP that while SGBs seem to be the solution for so many global development challenges, they lack the finance and infrastructure to fulfill that potential. Through “clusters” – or communities of stakeholders focused on specific themes related to SGB finance – CFF is seeking to overcome those problems by co-designing initiatives that can catalyze new capital for SGBs. So far, clusters focus on areas including mezzanine finance, pre-investment advisory, and very early stage funds.

Alongside the launch, CFF, Omidyar Network, the Dutch Good Growth Fund, and Dalberg Advisors released “Missing Middles: Segmenting Enterprises to Better Understand Their Financial Needs,” a report which offers an innovative segmentation framework with the aim of helping investors, intermediaries, and entrepreneurs better navigate the complex landscape of SGB investment in frontier and emerging markets.

Interested in getting involved? Find out more information about specific initiatives or modes of engagement by signing up to receive periodic updates on the sector including resources and opportunities to participate in events and initiatives. CFF will also be connecting with interested partners through hosting a series of panels and workshops at ANDE’s Annual Conference, GSG Impact Summit, SOCAP, and the GIIN Investor Forum. To learn more about the Collaborative, check out CFF’s website here.