Economic and business development is an essential lever for harnessing Africa’s demographic potential and contribute to inclusive and sustainable growth. Today, the private sector generates 70% of GDP, 80% of capital flows and 90% of jobs in the international cooperation partner countries.

Enabel contributes to strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems, facilitating access to finance for businesses and supporting businesses to access regional and international markets. That way, Enabel is laying foundations for solid economic development that gives younger generations the opportunity to become the driving force behind shared prosperity and that acts as a catalyst for social progress, resilience and stability.

Priorities

In the face of strong demographic growth and the potential for transformation it brings, Enabel focuses on strengthening the structural foundations for inclusive economic development, with particular attention to women and young people. Economic and business development is a pillar of social and economic emancipation, organised around three complementary axes:

Improved business climate: Enabel acts on several levels to foster a solid, sustainable and inclusive socio-economic ecosystem. At macro level, we work with authorities to strengthen public policies and institutional frameworks. At meso level, we support incubators, chambers of commerce and financial players to consolidate their capacities and coordination. At micro level, we work directly with individuals, communities and businesses, offering solutions tailored to local realities.

Strengthening value chains and economic sectors: Enabel helps to structure value chains, improve access to markets and formalise and professionalise players at various levels. These actions strengthen promising sectors, create opportunities for growth and promote the creation of jobs for all.

Support to entrepreneurship and business growth: To ensure the development and scaling of businesses, Enabel facilitates matching needs with our offer of financial and non-financial services. This allows creating new businesses, improving economic and social performance, gradual formalising of informal employment and developing green and circular entrepreneurship.

Services

We put our networks, expertise and tools at the service of inclusive economic growth through the following:

Improving the business climate (macro):

• Supporting public policy reform
• Public-private dialogue and multi-stakeholder consultation
• Promoting decent work and social protection
• Supporting innovation and green transition
• Mitigating international investment risks

Strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem (meso):

• Supporting incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs and business labs
• Strengthening access to finance systems
• Supporting the development of business development services (BDS)
• Networking of players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Supporting employability services, market-oriented skills training and matchmaking services

Strengthening businesses and employability (micro):

• Business coaching
• Facilitating access to adapted financing
• Supporting the formalisation of informal businesses
• Supporting women and youth entrepreneurship and inclusive access to entrepreneurship services
• Supporting investment preparation
• Market access (local, regional, international).