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The AECF and Market Systems Change. Introducing the AECF (1). Goal : The Goal of the AECF is to accelerate pro-poor growth in Africa
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Introducing the AECF (1) • Goal: The Goal of the AECF is to accelerate pro-poor growth in Africa • Purpose: The purpose of the AECF is to make agribusiness, finance, renewable energy and information market systems work better for the poor in rural areas in Africa • Result: By improving the way market systems work we aim to have a positive impact (jobs and incomes) on large numbers of people living in rural areas • Modus Operandi: The AECF works by supporting private sector companies to develop and test innovative business ideas in agri-business,rural financial services and renewable energy in Africa
Introducing the AECF (2) AECF is a fund of donor money available to the private sector on a competitive basis AECF is a ‘special partnership’ initiative of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). AGRA is chaired by Strive Masiyiwa and funded by Rockefeller and Bill and Melinda Gates Initial capital was US$34m in 2008, now US$ 217m January 2014 (and growing)
The AECF and the Challenge of Market System Change • Systemic change as a selection criteria • do business understand & why should it? • Innovation as a key indicator of systemic change potential • boundaries: company, country/region, conditions of operation, field/sector as a whole • disruptive innovation • Motivation as a key indicator of systemic change potential • commercial motivation • social motivation (CSR)
Finding the Right Projects We seek to support business ideas that are commercially motivated & innovative to get systemic impact • Commercial Motivation: Scale required for systems impact; scale will only be reached if business model is (very) profitable • Disruptive Innovation: as a key indicator of systemic change potential • Upsetting the market such that others will copy and replicate – the more innovative the better • Principle: Start races rather than picking winners
8 Funding Windows 17 Rounds General Window (GW) Early Bird + R1-3 Agribusiness Africa Window (AAW) R1 Zimbabwe Window (ZW) R1-3 AECF WINDOWS Post-Conflict Window (PCW) R1 Tanzania Agribusiness Window (TZAW) R1-R3 South Sudan Window (SSW) R1-2 REACT Window R1-2 + Moz Research Into Business (RIB) R1-2 Introduction
AECF Applications Summary 191 343 755 4456 9,622 17 Rounds completed 5 June 2008 to 19 March 2014 Performance to date Projects Approved Business plans Shortlisted for IC Concept notes submitted Registered companies
CONTACT DETAILS • :+254 20 269 9137/8/9 • : www.aecfafrica.org • : info@aecfafrica.org • : www.facebook.com/AecfAfrica • : www.twitter.com/AecfAfrica