ScaleUp Africa

Honoring a legend! Looking forward to the Tribute: The Life & Legacy of Herman Chinery-Hesse with Amma A. Gyampo, James Nii-Tetey Chinery-Hesse, Regina Honu & David Bolton on Day 2. View the full Tech in Ghana schedule: https://lnkd.in/dj9G9nHN #techingh24 #14thEdition #HermanChineryHesse

Excited to be joining this year's Tech in Ghana: Accra Edition taking place 26 & 27th November at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel. I look forward to reflecting on the story, life and work of our dear friend - the late, great Herman Chinery-Hesse - during a Tribute panel in his honour. This year's Tech in Ghana theme is 'Security, Synergy & Storytelling'. Visit https://lnkd.in/dYs73Ata for more details and tickets. See you there! #techingh24 #storytelling

Top tip for donors, commercial banks, philanthropic foundations and systems change funders active in Africa: start paying attention to the growing evidence and latent financial ROI that comes from deploying catalytic capital for: - Activism - Field building - Ecosystem strengthening - Operator capacity building - Trust-based, flexible grant funding - Productive equipment and processing - Proximate leadership and operator development - Distribution capacity building and demand-driven private sector development - Financial Services product development designed to meet the needs of the Informal, mass market and the aspirations of Women in particular More and more, I see evidence - case studies, conversations and reports - that investing more creatively in Gender and Ecosystems makes financial sense. Supporting and resourcing these overlooked activities in partnership with the nonprofit sector, government and entrepreneurship support organisations makes financial sense while scaling impact and socio-economic justice outcomes in regions like Africa and LatAm. #effectivephilanthropy #StrategicAdvisor #genderlensinvesting #Africa #EcosystemBuilder #EconomicEmpowerment #socialjustice

For over a decade, I've provided strategic guidance and advice to foundations, governments, investors, ventures and donors on how, by taking an ecosystem and systems approach, we can achieve more effective, long-term, strategic outcomes in Philanthropy, Social Entrepreneurship, Social Justice, Impact and Gender Equality. I love what I do and grateful that I get to do it with partners and clients in Africa, Europe and the USA. Throwback and shoutout to McKevin Ayaba and the Africa Startup Ecosystem Builder summit - yes that's me figuring out perspective :-) . Get in touch if you need guidance on how to be more effective and strategic as an impact investor, donor or knowledge partner active in Africa. #PhilanthropyAdvisor #EcosystemBuilder #Strategist

Ghana ESO Forum 2024 #SessionHighlights: “Overcoming Challenges and Harnessing Opportunities: Collaborative Solutions for Strengthening the ESO Ecosystem” We just wrapped up a powerful panel discussion on the pressing challenges and transformative opportunities within Ghana’s Enterprise Support Organization (ESO) ecosystem. Moderated by Josiah Kwesi Eyison, CEO of iSpace Foundation, panelists Amma A. Gyampo, Director, ScaleUp Africa, @David Ofori, Director of Innovation at NEIP Innovation and Emmanuel Mumuni, Component Manager and Team Leader of Digital Projects in GIZ Ghana underscored the immense potential for impact when the ESO ecosystem comes together to address shared challenges. Key Highlights from the Session: Panelists and participants; ?? discussed strategies to unlock more accessible funding options for startups, advocating for hybrid financing models and enhanced access to catalytic capital.? ?? emphasized the need for continuous capacity-building initiatives, including targeted training programs and mentorship networks. ?? recommended expanding market access for Ghanaian ESOs by creating a central digital platform for international trade resources and mentorship partnerships.? ?? emphasized the need for a unified communication strategy to foster clearer dialogue and reduce fragmentation within the ecosystem in the form of the Shared Common Language Framework ?? emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue with policymakers to foster a more favorable business environment, suggesting policy adjustments to encourage innovation, reduce regulatory barriers, and incentivise private sector support for ESOs. By working collaboratively, we can strengthen support networks, drive growth, and ensure a resilient, inclusive, and thriving ecosystem for Ghana’s entrepreneurs. Impact Investing Ghana The RISA Fund FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank Innohub Association of Ghana Startups CEED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE GHANA) MBC Africa Reach for Change ScaleUp Africa Mirepa Investment Advisors Ghana Hubs Network @GEA NEIP Innovation Adinkra Spark Hub? Crescendo Foods Ghana Kumasi Hive? iValley Ghana Challenges Ghana Coalition for Positive Impact? @Developers Academy Footprints Africa? Fincap Securities Limited MEST Africa International Trade Center ITC (ITC) Kosmos Innovation Center Ghana (KIC) GSG Impact Impact Investors Foundation IIF #EcosystemForChange #ESOForum2024 #GhanaEntrepreneurship #ResilientEcosystem

Excited to have Amma A. Gyampo with us today, sharing her insights on Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy! #GWR2024 #gsew24 #tomchrisbreaksgwr sfanonline.org/events/live

Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Racial and Gender Inequity - While 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, Black women face unique challenges. They are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and with aggressive forms. - The 5-year survival rate for Black women is only 78% compared to 90% for White women, highlighting systemic issues that compound their disadvantage. To advocate for change: - Support equitable funding for breast cancer research targeting marginalized communities across the globe - Promote early detection through accessible screenings and education. - Engage in community outreach to ensure all women have access to health resources Every life matters. #BreastCancerAwareness #HealthEquity #SocialImpact #WomensHealth #CareEconomy #GenderEquity #GBV

It starts today! Guiness World Record Attempt by Tom-Chris Emewulu - "Longest Interviewing Marathon". He will be interviewing almost 100 #African changemakers and innovators in his official attempt at breaking the 96 hour Guiness World Record for Longest Interviewing Marathon. I first met TC about decade ago when he was thinking about ways to promote and support Student Entrepreneurship and when he was just setting up SFAN which is dedicated to youth employment and enterprise. As part of the Marathon, TC will be interviewing me on: #EffectivePhilanthropy #Entrepreneurship, #SocialJustice, #GenderLensInvesting #Philanthropy #PhilanthropyAdvisor #Africa Follow SFAN and TC for live updates on the GWR attempt. Best of luck Tom-Chris! #TomChrisBreaksGWR

Collaboration Boosts Cross Border Learning “Collaborative funds working in the Global South give donors access to specialized issue-area knowledge and locally rooted expertise. A donor who engages a fund can get up to speed quickly on a range of solutions and build issue knowledge in unfamiliar geographies. Of the funds we surveyed, 81 percent reported that they actively work to build knowledge of donors.” This is an important takeaway from the analysis. I hope that this practice allows global South entities to maintain ownership of identities as knowledge bearers even after their encounter with donors. We need to be very careful to to put in place bi-directional knowledge sharing modes that avoid extraction. And to operationalize rewarding knowledge sharing and building capabilities of donors. In the Triple B Framework, we emphasize the role of activators in unlocking and optimizing the value creation potential of all forms of capital. Scale Up Africa Private Equity Support Limited CARIBBEAN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION are good examples of organizations and initiatives that play this role.

Let's stop treating #Philanthropy like a charity case but rather like an investment in a better future. I've dabbled in Philanthropy, giving my time, talent and resources to nonprofits and social impact initiatives in #Africa over the past decade and it is clear to me that: Traditional philanthropy often lacks the creativity, flexibility, urgency and focus needed to drive REAL change in today’s fractured world. #inequality The world needs donors who are willing to RISK doing things differently for the sake of achieving something extraordinary. #socialjustice #effectivephilanthropy #strategicphilanthropy #PhilanthropyAdvisor Philanthropists and impact investors - frustrated by the same old results and approach from transaction or philanthropy advisors? Shift your mindset and strategy from simple, one-off donations or programs to proactive philanthropic investments and field building to change systems, unlocking broader, positive social justice and impact outcomes in regions or communities you may have thought "too complex" to understand or navigate. Start focusing on: - Diversifying funding strategies to include grassroots initiatives, field-building, systems change and sustainable projects - Partnering with local changemakers who understand the real needs of their communities. - Measuring impact not by dollars spent but by lives and systems transformed. - Supporting ecosystem strengthening and organizational development of underfunded social enterprises and nonprofits not just programs Ready to transform your approach to Philanthropy? If you're ready to do more and get help achieving more progressive global philanthropy outcomes join our exclusive membership dedicated to reimagining philanthropy in regions like Africa. Let’s work together to build a legacy of strategic, and urgent giving or funding that drives real social change. DM me to learn how you can become a member of a grassroots movement that’s turning donations into lasting change in Africa and historically marginalized communities in the USA. Comment below if you’re ready to rethink and rebuild your global philanthropic strategy when it comes to underserved regions like Africa.