In partnership with the Foundation for Development Cooperation (FDC), the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), and ACCESS Advisory Services, the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI) is proud to announce a new research program to explore and test opportunities to enhance the support ecosystem for digital innovation and entrepreneurship in the Pacific region.
Recognising the important role entrepreneurs play in supporting livelihoods and contributing to broader economic growth, enabling the development and growth of small-scale enterprises has become an increasingly important issue for Pacific leaders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, small-scale enterprises were disproportionately affected with many experiencing sales declines or being forced to close. Pacific Island governments, together with the development community, have accorded high priority to implementing strategies to revive and build the sustainability of small-scale enterprises. Importantly, the rapid rise of digital technology across the region is providing new opportunities to support the creation of more viable and resilient enterprises.
Working in close cooperation with the Development Banks of three Pacific Island Countries (Samoa, Solomon Islands and Federated States of Micronesia), the program will examine the current mechanisms available in each country to support both potential and established entrepreneurs to develop their businesses. The study will focus on understanding how the beliefs and attitudes of entrepreneurs and the ecosystem impact their ability to successfully grow their business, particularly in relation to accessing educational opportunities to increase skills and human capital to support their use of digital innovations.
Implemented over a 2-year period, the project will identify and test potential solutions to enhance support for the Pacific’s small-scale entrepreneurs and provide practical recommendations for development practitioners and government agencies. The findings of the project will enable the three collaborating development banks to better target their financing and advisory services toward small-scale enterprises, thereby contributing to inclusive economic growth.
The project is being implemented as part of GAI’s Inclusive Growth Hub, which functions as the Institute’s focal point for research and capacity-building activities designed to deliver positive economic outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable segments of society across the Asia-Pacific region.
Click here for more information about the Enhancing the ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation in the Pacific program.
