Southern Africa—Making Commodity and Service Markets Work for the Poor (ComMark)

Client: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, ComMark Trust

Duration: 2003-2007

Country: Regional

ComMark was designed specifically to facilitate the development and improved operation of commodity and service markets for the benefit of poor people in Southern Africa. This project focused on growing sub-sectors within and across countries with high growth potential, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland, as well as fostering broader regional linkages.

Sample Activities

Facilitate and incentivize the efficient operation of institutions, processes and practice which have a direct bearing on pro-poor market growth.

Select Results

Improved legal and regulatory frameworks in specific commodity and service sectors.
Investigated and overcame barriers to entry for merging farmers and small businesses.
Facilitated business linkages between large and small enterprises, many of the latter being from previously disadvantaged communities.
Enabled the establishment of commercial public-private partnerships.

Poland—Polish Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (PolSEFF I & II)

We created a perpetual market for investments in efficient energy by Poland’s local businesses by training financial institutions on how to appraise and finance sensible energy projects; detailing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the competitive advantages of investing in energy-efficient materials and equipment; and training local experts to assist SMEs in identifying and preparing technically feasible, bankable projects.