DI supported JICA in SEA, India and Bangladesh

• Client: JICA
• Country: Southeast Asia + India + Bangladesh 
• Industry: Various

Background:

Innovations that leverage cutting-edge science and technology are crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) efficiently and effectively. By fostering social startups that address challenges with unconventional ideas, these innovations can accelerate the resolution of social issues. However, developing countries often lag in creating supportive ecosystems for startups. Key challenges include the development of policy and institutional frameworks, a lack of adequate support functions to facilitate startup growth, and insufficient funding for sustainable development.

This project aims to identify the necessary support to build and strengthen ecosystems that enable the birth and sustainable growth of social startups in the target countries. This includes addressing gaps in policy, management, and funding, as well as facilitating business matching with Japanese partners.

Support Overview:

The objective of this project is to conduct research to clarify the specific functions of the FUND and Technical Assistance Facility (TAF).

For the FUND design, we analyzed the supply and demand for financing within the startup ecosystem of the target country, breaking it down by sector and stage of startup development. This analysis helps to identify segments where public financial assistance is necessary and how it can be differentiated from private funding.

Similarly, for the TAF, we reviewed the efforts of existing players and the challenges faced by startups. We identified the support currently available and areas that require enhancement, and we designed how this support should be integrated within the TAF framework.

Image: DI’s approach to development strategy

Other support cases

Several publications on our work can be found here

• Data collection survey on partnership for leading enterprises acceleration fund (LEAF) Data collection survey on partnership for leading enterprises acceleration fund (LEAF): final report. – (jica.go.jp)
• World, data collection survey on TA facility for impact investment and ecosystem development World, data collection survey on TA facility for impact investment and ecosystem development: progress report. – (jica.go.jp) (Progress report); pdf (jica.go.jp) (Final report)
• North/Latin America (Wide Area) Information Gathering and Research on Social Impact Bonds in LAC North / Latin America (wide area) Information gathering and research on social impact bonds in LAC: final report [electronic resource]. — Japan International Cooperation Agency: Dream Incubator Inc., 2022.1. w. (jica.go.jp)
• Data collection survey on collaboration with start-up companies in Latin America and the Caribbean Data collection survey on collaboration with start-up companies in Latin America and the Caribbean: final report. – (jica.go.jp)