Action Burkinabè de Fundraising

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) has announced that the Gender Lens Results Investment Fund (GLRIF) will use grants to test models for increasing investment in women-led small and growing enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets.

These subsidies are intended to cover the costs associated with the development the systems and processes needed to adopt a "gender" approach to investment. Grants will go directly to investors and will use a "pay for results" structure in which the grant payment will depend on investments made with a clear path to gender impact.

Categories

Applicants must propose how they will generate a positive impact on gender through their investments in one or more of the following categories:

• Investing in companies owned or run by women
• Invest in companies that offer products or services that significantly improve the lives of women and girls
• Investing in companies that advance gender equality through dignified employment and value chains

Information on financing

• ANDE intends to fund a minimum of five projects from a total funding pool of USD 186,000. Bids must be for activities lasting between 12 and 17 months with a minimum total request of 20,000 $ and a maximum total request of 50,000 $ US.
• This funding was made possible by the generous support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Concept notes will therefore be required to complete a questionnaire for sub-recipients.

Use of funds and payment

• Grant funds can be used to cover the costs of researching, evaluating and implementing investments that will have a positive impact on gender. This may include costs associated with staff time as well as direct expenses such as consultants, travel, etc. Grant funds cannot be used for investment, to repay investors or for profit.
• The grant funds will be disbursed in two phases, 50 % of the funds will be paid when the first deliverable is achieved and 50 % of the balance will be paid when the second deliverable is achieved.
• These deliverables will be proposed by the applicant and accepted by ANDE. To release payment, the beneficiary will provide the documentation to ANDE, which will review and approve that the deliverables have been achieved and that all investment criteria have been met.
• Partial funding may be provided on the basis of partial completion of the proposed investment package, as agreed by ANDE during the negotiation of the grant agreement.

Eligibility criteria

• The compensation fund for the objective is open to ANDE member organisations and non-member organisations.
• ANDE refers to organisation types in the call for concept notes from membership categories. Although you don't need to be a member to qualify, they use these categories throughout the work:
  • Capacity development providers: organisations that provide business development and consultancy services to SGBs.
  • Investors: funds or financial entities that focus on providing capital to small and growing businesses (SGBs) in developing countries. Investments include debt, equity and quasi-equity and are generally below US$2 million. In addition, some "investor" members also provide capacity development services.
  • Research and consultancy service providers: Organisations that provide consultancy, research and advisory services as a core mission of the organisation, as well as associations that provide a service to the sector as a whole. ANDE also lists non-governmental organisations and non-granting (operating) foundations as options in the application.
  • Non-governmental organisations: organisations independent of government involvement that generally serve humanitarian or environmental objectives. Applicants are encouraged to select this type of organisation if your organisation is a not-for-profit, non-governmental entity that does not fit the description of a capacity-builder, investor or provider of research and consultancy services.
  • Non-grant-making (working) foundations: non-governmental organisations that are called "foundations" but do not make charitable grants.
  • Organisations applying for the fund must be investors who wish to adopt a gender-focused approach to investing in SMEs. The funds are intended to cover the costs associated with developing the systems and processes needed to adopt a gender-responsive approach to investment. For the purposes of the fund, ANDE has defined gender-focused investment and SGB-focused investors. Organisations that support other organisations directly supporting women climate entrepreneurs and small and growing businesses (SGBs) are eligible.

For more information, please visit Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs .