Last week, we had the pleasure of meeting with Doug Seebeck and Roxanne de Graaf from Partners Worldwide. PW is doing amazing work around the world promoting enterprise solutions to poverty through global partnerships. One of their key focus areas is "the Middle Market" in developing countries (see PovertyCure Issue Page on SMEs). Consider the following information courtesy of some materials that Doug and Roxanne shared with us.

"In economically developed countries such as the U.S., SMEs typically “generate two-thirds of private sector employment and are the principal creator of new jobs” (De Ferranti and Ody 2007).  In Africa, SMEs have the same potential to be the economic engines of prosperity.

Liberia: Since 2006, Partners Worldwide affiliate, LEAD, has trained over 3,000 businesses, given out $634,747 in loans to 2,816 businesses, and helped create and/or stabilize more than 6,000 jobs in the emerging post-war economy of Liberia. There are currently 75 Middle Market enterprises on a waiting list with LEAD-Liberia to receive a loan. Another 800 entrepreneurs will go through training at LEAD in the coming year, many needing capital for growth.  LEAD cannot meet the growing demands without new resources for loans.

In Mozambique, an $8,000 loan, plus technical and marketing assistance, transformed Anabela’s poultry supply business, empowered 30 chicken out-growers, and helped the community sustainably support over 200 HIV-AIDS orphans.  We need loan funds to support social entrepreneurs like Anabela.

In Ghana, “I could expand my business, hire 20 more employees, and meet market demand for cashews if I had access to capital to purchase the equipment I need for expansion; but banks in Ghana charge 40% and think I’m too small for them to do business with,” reports Gallant Kwame, a Ghanian cashew nut processor.

In Uganda, Margaret Aloya is processing shea nut and amaranth, supporting more than 2,000 small farm producers.  Each farmer now has additional income to care for their families, feed and send their children to school.  Partners Worldwide is providing processing experts to work with Margaret on scale-up her successful operation.

Partners Worldwide aims to walk alongside small and medium enterprises like these, as they transform Africa, as they create sustainable businesses and jobs that end poverty. They are the compassionate capitalists of Africa who God has gifted to transform their communities through business.

For more on Partners Worldwide, visit their home page here.

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