Digital upskilling for Alterfin partners
Small Foundation is excited announce our support of a new pilot programme called Digital Africa BRIDGE, a collaborative initiative between Alterfin and Lightful. This programme is expected to help us understand how improved communications can benefit rural-serving organisations.
Alterfin is a cooperative with over 6,000 members that invests in social enterprises across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Together with Lightful, they have identified an opportunity to strengthen Alterfin’s network of partner organisations, including NGOs, microfinance institutions, and small agricultural cooperatives, by enhancing their storytelling and digital capabilities.
Lightful is a technology company that empowers purpose-driven organisations to become more effective digital storytellers. Lightful will provide a tailored six-month BRIDGE programme to 50 of Alterfin’s partners, which will include training, one-to-one coaching, and access to purpose-built digital tools.
“Our vision with the Lightful BRIDGE programme is to harness the power of digital resilience to elevate organisations in the financial inclusion and agri-SME sectors. By empowering them to not only adapt but thrive in a dynamic digital landscape, we aim to unlock their full potential, enabling them to take charge of their future and create lasting, positive impacts for smallholder farmers and financial inclusion beneficiaries. This initiative is about driving innovation and securing sustainable livelihoods for the communities they serve, and we are very grateful to Small Foundation for its support.”
– Jean-Marc Debricon, CEO at Alterfin
Through the BRIDGE programme, participants will develop key digital and storytelling skills and expertise. This includes building effective communication strategies, growing their online audiences, and broadening interactions with key stakeholders.
The programme aims to equip these organisations to transform their online presence and engagement. Many already have a digital footprint but are not maximising their digital potential to reach new donors, attract mission-aligned investors, or deliver impact in their communities.
Small Foundation sees this pilot as an opportunity to learn how a cohort-based approach to digital upskilling can positively impact businesses that uplift rural MSMEs. An external evaluator is being engaged to assess programme outcomes at its close, after six months, and after one year.
We look forward to sharing these results and hope the learnings will inform future initiatives for Small Foundation and the broader rural MSME ecosystem in sub-Saharan Africa.
Image: Smallholder corn producer and member of Pearl Investments in Rwanda, a partner of Alterfin since 2020. ©Alterfin, 2022.
