Enterprise & Market Development

Rising income inequality threatens gains in poverty reduction around the world. Marginalized populations often do not benefit equally from economic growth initiatives in developing countries. Markets are where people participate in economic activity, so market access is vital to enable individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty. But for many, knowledge and resource barriers block the way – a problem that is compounded for women, youth and other historically underrepresented people.

Facilitating equitable access to markets is key for inclusive, sustainable growth. Improved market access increases incomes, creates job growth, provides opportunities for entrepreneurship and enterprise development, and benefits communities as a whole. Inclusive markets extend choices and opportunities to excluded community members as producers, consumers and wage earners. Global Communities’ economic development programs take a systems approach to facilitating inclusive markets, focusing on market failures and gaps that result in inequitable access, as well as integrating vulnerable and at-risk groups into formal market activities. This includes activities that improve the way markets operate so that these groups can participate and fully benefit, as well as strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises to access finance, expand their operations, create jobs and maximize profits.

Our programs support new and growing entrepreneurs by linking them to service providers, strengthening their technical and management skills, connecting them to financial institutions and helping them source critical market information, with the goal of increasing sales, employment and incomes.

As an example, Global Communities implemented the Agribusiness Investment for Market Stimulation program in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi to bolster trade in key agricultural sectors by increasing access to financing, markets and capacity building for small and medium-sized agribusinesses, including cooperatives and farmer-based organizations. Business linkage forums brought buyers and sellers together to build trust and understanding, resulting in further efficiencies within the value chain and millions of dollars in trade deals.

Global Communities works with micro, small and medium enterprises to access new domestic, regional and international markets through facilitated commercial linkages. We then partner with innovative and influential businesses on activities that lead to growth for firms throughout the value chain, with a particular focus on generating jobs and increased income for the value chain’s smaller producers and micro, small and medium enterprises. By strengthening leading firms to implement activities aimed at improvements in production, quality, standardization and access to markets, we ensure that results are market-driven, sustainable and help small enterprises grow through participation in major local and global supply chains. Taking a systems approach inherently requires partnership and collaboration with local actors to catalyze change at key advantage points in that system.

Cooperatives, or member-owned enterprises, can also provide market access for their members and have the proven potential to create meaningful employment, strengthen local economies and enhance social capital. Global Communities has been working to support cooperatives for over 60 years through capacity building, strengthening operations, fostering growth through new partnerships and engaging in policy and research initiatives to improve the enabling environment. Our programs respond to market and member needs while fostering civic engagement, gender parity and financial inclusion.