Overview : In line with its Private Sector Strategy, UNDP is becoming increasingly well positioned to support innovative approaches of inclusive market development (IMD) engaging the private sector and other stakeholders to improve opportunities for the poor to participate in markets as producers, employees or consumers. With Africa being a major focus of UNDP’s work, a strategic, regional Private Sector and Inclusive Market Development for Poverty Reduction in Africa project, the “African Facility for Inclusive Markets” (AFIM), commenced in November 2010 and got integrated into the UNDP Regional Programme in January 2015. The work of the UNDP private sector team is led by the Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) and coordinated from UNDP’s Regional Service Center for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. More can be found at www.undp.org/africa/privatesector. One of the project’s objectives during the programming period was to “Develop access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs)”. To this end, the team made some concrete recommendations on how to advance inclusive business finance as part of its Flagship report “Realizing Africa’s Wealth - Building Inclusive Businesses for Shared Prosperity,” one of which was to support the development of Finance vehicles for inclusive businesses entrepreneurs. The team then commissioned the services of an individual consultant to conduct a study and develop a working draft report on ‘Impact Investment in Africa: Trends, Constraints and Opportunities.‘ The aims of the study on Impact Investment in Africa were to: - Take stock of the current sector and market for Impact Investment in Africa (demand and supply) as well as its trends over time (taking into account the work of the GIIN, UNCTAD and others)
- Identify the key constraints hindering the development of the Impact Investment sector in Africa as well as solutions.
- Identify and showcase key success stories in Impact Investment in Africa, list relevant funds as well as key lessons learnt including from other parts of the world. Special attention to be given to the support of the government in creating a favourable enabling framework and incentives for impact investment.
- Propose recommendations for developing the Impact Investment market in Africa, directed at various stakeholders including policy makers, financial sector actors (including DFIs), companies and entrepreneurs, foundations, other intermediaries and development partners. The development of professional careers and networks for impact investment sector in Africa should be considered.
The consultant will work closely with the private sector team in the UNDP Regional Service Center for Africa. S/he will be working under the supervision of the AFIM Project Manager, collaborated closely with AFIM staff to produce a working draft document on ‘Impact Investing in Africa.Hence, UNDP- RSC is seeking the expertise of the consultnacy firm who have the required expertise to conduct the captioned consultnacy services. |