Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs

ANDE Central America and Mexico Chapter

Current activities:

The ANDE Central America Chapter is currently holding quarterly collaboration and information sharing teleconferences with ANDE members in the region. Teleconferences usually include a presentation of an initiative from one ANDE member, followed by a participant discussion on the topic. These teleconferences provide a platform for ANDE member organizations to get familiarized with each other and identify potential areas for synergy and complementary work in the region.

Other Chapter activities include carrying out a regional ANDE member organization mapping which will provide a conceptual view of the value-chain links of services provided by ANDE members to SGBs in the region. The Chapter is currently evaluating the establishment of a Steering Committee composed of ANDE member organization representatives that will give direction to the Chapter and its initiatives. Finally, the Chapter is strategically identifying the most effective ways to advocate for SGB development in the countries of Central America.

Upcoming meetings and events:

The next ANDE Central America Chapter teleconference will be scheduled in the month of May 2011. Specific information on the call will be provided at a later date.

Leadership:

Steering Committee Members:

The original Chapter launch member organizations are:

Agora Partnerships

Technoserve

Root Capital

World Resources Institute

RTI International

The Central America and Mexico Chapter is currently evaluating the establishment of a Steering Committee.

Overview:

The Central America and Mexico Chapter is made up of ANDE members who are actively working to support small and growing businesses (SGBs) throughout Central America and Mexico. Participating organizations work together on regionally specific initiatives and collaborate to promote a healthy eco-system for SGBs in the region. Members benefit from the opportunity to network and learn from other like-minded organizations in the region.

If you would like more information on the chapter, please email the Regional Chapter Coordinator Katia Dumont.

ANDE members - if you would like to join this chapter, please do so via the ANDE Member Portal. If you have any problems logging into the portal, please contact Stella Hanly.

Current activities:

The ANDE Central America and Mexico Chapter is currently developing a mapping activity of the actors in the region, which provides a dynamic view of the relationships between ANDE members and the services they provide to SGBs in the region. The chapter is also holding various activities: a quarterly chapter meeting and happy hour in which members learn about each other and identify potential areas for synergy and complementary work in the region and training opportunities for members on topics such as impact measurement, leadership development and collaboration.

In addition, the Chapter is currently working to identify the most strategic and effective ways to advocate for SGB development in the region.

Click here to read the latest chapter newsletter!

Upcoming meetings and events:

Platform development: Regional Knowledge Market, Impact Investment Facebook App

Project development: SGB Network and Ecosystem Building

Organic Inter-Organizational Relationship Building: Agora Partnerships Accelerator Network, New Ventures Mexico Partner Network

ANDE Members Active in Central America and Mexico

Click here to see a map of ANDE Members working in Central America and Mexico.

Leadership:

Steering Committee Chair: Tim Chambers (Value for Women)

Tim leads the development of Oxfam’s portfolio of rural enterprise development and investment as well as managing R&D and organisational learning of approaches to private sector led development focusing on small and growing businesses as driver of economic and social development in both rural and urban sectors. Raised in Zimbabwe and trained as a development economist and R&D project manager, Tim has built a broad set of personal and professional experience, capabilities and networks across Africa, Asia and Latin America that support his work on innovation in growth-oriented technical assistance and emerging impact investment models for small and growing business.

Chapter Coordinator: Katia Dumont

Katia Dumont joined ANDE as the Central America and Mexico Chapter Coordinator in 2012. Previously, Katia worked for two years at MTQ Consulting with social and development programs in her native El Salvador and the Central American region. While there, she proposed and evaluated a variety of projects focused on economic inclusion for at-risk youth and local fishermen. Katia received a B.A. in International Affairs and Sociocultural Anthropology at the George Washington University and recently finished her MBA in Creative Enterprises at the Complutense University in Madrid. If you would like more information on the chapter, please email Katia.