Strengthening the ESCP Network through a new partnership with CFF
Image: Anne Njuki (Sayuni Capital) and Janice Rudo Sambaza (Aisiki Capital) attend the 2023 CFF Convening in Cape Town.
We are excited to announce a new phase of partnership with the Collaborative for Frontier Finance (CFF). This collaboration will strengthen the Early Stage Capital Provider Network (ESCP), an impact network dedicated to knowledge sharing, collective problem-solving, and innovative solutions for common challenges faced by emerging capital providers.
With over 100 members, primarily from across Africa, ESCP represents an emerging asset class of investment vehicles focused on providing finance to small and growing businesses (SGBs). ESCP works to identify and validate innovative, scalable, and appropriate investment approaches to serve Africa’s growth-oriented small businesses – key drivers of local economies and job creation across rural sub-Saharan Africa.
Over the next 18 months, our partnership will focus on:
- Strengthening the ESCP network team
- Enhancing collaboration through the ESCP annual gathering
- Driving action on key ecosystem challenges through ESCP’s working groups
Reflecting on the partnership, Drew von Glahn, CFF’s Executive Director said:
Small Foundation’s commitment to CFF and the wider ESCP network’s shared vision will enable us to support more early-stage capital providers, find innovative ways to invest in small businesses, strengthen peer relationships, build their capabilities, link them to investors and continually cultivating learnings and insights to better inform approaches.
CFF and Small Foundation first partnered in 2018 and are longtime ecosystem collaborators. We are pleased to continue supporting the ESCP network in addressing shared challenges within the SGB financing gap.
🔎 See preliminary findings from CFF’s 2024 Local Capital Providers Annual Survey.
💡 Early stage capital providers can apply to join the ESCP network through this form.
