Impact SME Development Programme

Our vision

We want to reach a human economy whereby impact-driven small and medium enterprises (iSMEs) contribute to a fairer, greener, and more inclusive ecosystem. By providing decent jobs, using climate conscious business practices, and offering fairer income to small holder producers, iSMEs have the power to tackle today’s social and environmental challenges.

Bright drops: access to safe drinking water in Nigeria

We at Oxfam believe a different approach is urgently needed. That is why we support hundreds of impact driven small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).

Yetunde Akande, Fashion entrepreneur

Tackling textile waste in Nigeria

WHAT ARE IMPACT SMEs?

Impact SMEs are businesses that aim at benefiting the community, individuals, and the planet beyond profit-making. Using human centered and ecological business models, iSMEs tackle pressing issues such as climate change, youth unemployment, accessibility to services and gender inequality.

MEET SOME OF OUR IMPACT SME'S

Impact SME's

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Why do we support Impact SMEs?

SMEs are a key driver of economic development, accounting for over 50% of GDP, 67% of full-time employment and 85% of new jobs created in the countries we work in
Impact SMEs play a key role in offering innovative and sustainable solutions for local economic development
In order to grow sustainably, SMEs need to overcome issues related to their organizational capacity, access to finance, investment readiness and the overall business ecosystem.

MEET SOME OF OUR IMPACT SME'S

Impact SME's

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The approach

Business development services

Access to finance

Enabling environment

Our approach consists of

We improve the business and impact performance of SMEs by providing tailored support, group trainings, peer learning, and network facilitation. We connect SMEs with investment funds that deliver impact by increasing investment readiness and connecting SMEs to investors. We influence stakeholders to drive change in national policies by engaging with policymakers and promoting SME stories to gather support.

The superstar impact business competition

Every year, businesses that were part of our iSME or start-up development programmes participate in our Superstar Competition to scale-up and innovate through grant funding and technical support.

Click here for more information about the superstar impact business competition.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS 2015-2025

545

SMEs have been supported

81%%

of SMEs got external financing

+15,600

At least 15,600 jobs were created by SMEs

46%management positions

are held by women

Stories of impact

Kheav Thida, founder of solar green energy cambodia

Gender Transformative Climate action

Relieve women from unpaid care jobs

From Coffee Bean to Prosperity

Florence Okot holding basket with grains

Recipe for change

Circular fashion textiles

Olufunto Boroffice, the founder and CEO of Chanja Datti, posing next to bags of waste.

Women in business leadership

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Read stories of impact driven SMEs that we work with from Cambodia, Kenya, Uganda, Somaliland, Nigeria and Egypt. These SMEs are defying the odds to show that it is possible to build a more human economy that profits people and the environment.

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