Small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a major role in economic

development and are often the single largest source of job creation,

particularly in emerging economies.

The Group of 20 and Ashoka’s Changemakers, with support from the Rockefeller

Foundation, are looking for the best models *worldwide *that catalyze

finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and to give the creators of

those models a chance to solicit financing from development banks and

interested bilateral donors. It  also addresses how public finance can

unlock private finance for small and medium enterprises on a sustainable and

scalable basis.

This  challenge is open to proposals from all private sector participants,

including private financial institutions, private investors and companies,

socially responsible investors, foundations, and civil society

organizations.

In order to ensure a good representation in the competition, as well as

source finance innovators in *Ghana.

Proposals should address one or more of these objectives

   - Catalyzing debt finance for SMEs (e. g., local bank lending, supply

   chain finance, debt issuance) along with related financial services;

   - Mobilizing equity or quasi-equity investments in SMEs;

   - Building the capacity of financial institutions, related financial

   infrastructure, and any technical finance-related SME assistance needs;

   - Developing regulatory and policy best practices that facilitate SME

   finance;

   - Addressing gaps in financial market infrastructure to reduce search

   costs for creditworthy SMEs with growth and profit potential;

   - Expanding SME finance access in fragile and weak states; and

   - Addressing the particular barriers confronting women entrepreneurs

   seeking SME finance.