Our Portfolio
Flagship Initiatives
01.
Profit with Purpose Africa (PWPA)
Profit with Purpose Africa (PWPA®) is shaping the future of social impact and sustainable development across Africa.
In a world faced with pressing challenges from human rights to economic empowerment, Sociocapital through the Profit with Purpose Africa is harnessing the power of philanthropy and private capital to transform societies and enabling individuals to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
PWPA® offers a transformative pathway for businesses, nonprofits, and investors to drive meaningful change while achieving sustainable growth through Advocacy & facilitated exchanges, Advisory & learning, and Amplified evidence-based insights and Accelerated implementation of sustainable development models.
02.
Service Innovation Xchange (SiX)™ Program
Sociocapital’s Service Innovation Xchange (SiX) program enables companies to harness the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of their employees, driving sustainable growth, competitive advantage, and organizational excellence.
The SiX program seeks to transform organizations into innovation powerhouses by fostering a culture where every employee is empowered to think and act like an entrepreneur.
03.
Sociocapital Academy for Sustainable Blended Value
Fueled by a passion for impact-led entrepreneurship, the Sociocapital’s Academy for Sustainable Blended Value provides the information, tools and techniques that help public, private and social actors to help them stay relevant in their professional pursuit and commitment to delivering outsized social and economic value.
Through the Blended Value Academy, Sociocapital works with Individuals and organizations must upskill and evolve rapidly to position their value proposition, social impact models to improving social and economic outcomes for individuals, communities, and societies.
The SiX program seeks to transform organizations into innovation powerhouses by fostering a culture where every employee is empowered to think and act like an entrepreneur.
Featured Case Studies
Project: Growth4Her Accelerator
Partner: Africa Development Bank
Country: Nigeria & Cameroun
Program Area: Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Investment Readiness
Investing in women’s businesses can transform societies.
The Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) is a pan-African initiative to bridge the $42 billion financing gap facing women in Africa. The African continent has the highest percentage of women entrepreneurs in the world with one in four women starting or managing a business with up to 90% typically reinvesting of their income in the education, health and nutrition of their family and community. However, women entrepreneurs face multiple challenges to access finance, with an estimated $42 billion financing gap for African women across business value chains.
Aligned with AFAWA’s approach to closing the gender gap in access to finance and liberates women’s entrepreneurial capacity in Africa, Growth4Her was co-created by Sociocapital, Creative space start-ups, WETECH, and TLG as a growth-powered and leadership-driven accelerator which aims to empower 1500 women entrepreneurs across 10 African cities in the next 5 years by addressing the critical challenges of access to sustainable and flexible financing, weak psychosocial readiness, financial capacity and business acumen to respond to the need of financial institutions, ability to navigate the hostole business environment as well as legal and regulatory frameworks that hinder women’s full participation in private sector growth.
So far, G4Her supports 200 women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) access a cumulative $5 million AfDB fund for their businesses through a series of psychosocial support, financial literacy workshops, business clinics, and adaptive management coaching, growth hacking mentorship, and investment matchmaking.
Learn More: https://www.growthforher.org/
Project: Implementation Research Project on Country Transition from Iron and Folic Acid Supplement (IFAS) to Maternal Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) Partner: Nutrition International Country: Nigeria Program Area: Maternal Nutrition Recent evidence shows that administering Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) – a daily dose of 15 vitamins and minerals including iron and folic acid – during pregnancy was more effective than Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation in improving birth outcomes. The updated WHO (2020) guideline on Antenatal Care (ANC) recommends that low- and middle-income countries should consider transitioning from long-standing IFA supplementation to MMS in the government’s Antenatal Care (ANC) service package. Sociocapital is conducting a 3-year Implementation Research project on Optimizing Adherence to Maternal Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) in line with the Country’s transition from Iron and Folic Acid Supplement (IFAS). Funded by Nutrition International, this project supports and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) to integrate MMS into the Health Nutrition space, replacing Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) in maternal care. The project will collate evidence in the Nigeria context to garner programmatic insights from switching from Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation to Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) to effectively optimise ANC service package for delivery of services, health promotion, and preventing diseases including maternal anaemia. The project designs and test human-centered designed strategies that will optimize adherence (“adherence solutions”) to and uptake of MMS among pregnant women in Nigeria. This will ultimately provide an opportunity to increase attention to maternal nutrition, strengthen the ANC platform and improve gender-based outcomes such as women’s decision-making ability. |
Project: Strengthening Primary Healthcare (PHC) System Donor: BMGF | Technical Advice Connect (TA-Connect) Country: Nigeria Program Area: Primary Health Care (PHC), Integrated RMNCH+N Effective primary healthcare (PHC) delivery is crucial for improving health outcomes, yet many sub-national PHC systems in Nigeria face significant challenges. Weak institutional capacity, inadequate data management, and limited managerial skills hinder the delivery of quality services. Sociocapital is implementing a two-year project to strengthen PHC systems in Nigeria. The project employs locally led and evidence-driven approaches to enhance the capabilities of sub-national PHC systems. Focus areas include Institutionalization of policies, plans, and standards for more efficient and sustainable PHC management; strengthening PHC data management capacity for evidence-based responses; and improving the capacity of PHC managers to deliver quality services. The project aims to achieve stronger and more effective PHC systems capable of delivering quality services; Enhanced data management capacity will enable evidence-based decision-making and more effective responses to community health needs. Empowered PHC managers will be better equipped to lead and motivate their teams, ensuring the delivery of quality care. Ultimately, the project intervention would contribute to improved health outcomes at the community level. |
Project: UNFPA National Supplies Survey
Partner/Funder: United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA)
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Reproductive Health (RH) / Family Planning (FP)
Ensuring consistent access to modern contraceptives and essential maternal health medicines is critical for improving reproductive health outcomes. However, gaps in availability, inefficient management, and unpredictable supply chains hinder effective service delivery in Nigeria.
Sociocapital led the conduct of the 2024 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) National Supplies Survey to assess the availability, management, and use of key modern contraceptives and essential life-saving maternal and reproductive health medicines for delivery and build national capacity towards more predictable, planned, and sustainable supply chain system.
The comprehensive end-to-end study assessed factors influencing commodity availability, such as procurement processes, storage capacity, transportation logistics, and last-mile delivery. The survey also examined the utilization of these essential supplies at service delivery points and identified bottlenecks and inform strategies for building a more predictable, planned, and sustainable system for expanding access of sexual reproductive health products in the public sector supply chain
By supporting the Federal Ministry of Health, National Population Commission, State Ministries of Health and allied agencies to coordinated the national supplies survey, we also contributes to building national capacity for a more resilient and responsive supply chain system.The findings of the National Supplies Survey will inform strategies for improving forecasting, procurement, storage, and distribution of essential commodities. This will ultimately enhance access to quality reproductive health services and improve maternal health outcomes.
Project: Family Planning Sustainable Financing Scoping Mission Partner: Gated Foundation | Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) Country: Nigeria Program Area: Reproductive Health (RH) / Family Planning (FP) Scaling up family planning (FP) programs in Nigeria requires sustainable financing mechanisms. Reliance on traditional funding sources can be vulnerable, necessitating exploration of innovative approaches, particularly leveraging the private sector. A national Family Planning financing scoping study was conducted in Nigeria, commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and implemented in partnership with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN). This study aimed to identify sustainable financing pathways for FP programs, focusing on private sector-led strategies and partnerships. The study explored options for scaling up FP programs across five key states: Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Lagos, and Nasarawa. A comprehensive analysis of the existing FP financing landscape in Nigeria, including public and private sector contributions, funding gaps, and potential opportunities was conducted. It assessed the capacity and willingness of the private sector to engage in FP financing, explored different financing models (e.g., public-private partnerships, social impact bonds), and considered the policy and regulatory environment. Stakeholder consultations with government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society organizations were likely conducted. By identifying viable private sector-led pathways, the study aims to diversify funding sources and reduce reliance on traditional donors. This should lead to increased and more sustainable investment in FP programs, ultimately contributing to improved access to FP services, increased contraceptive prevalence rates, and better reproductive health outcomes for women and families in the target states and potentially nationwide. The focus on five pilot states allows for testing and refinement of approaches before wider scale-up. |
Project: National Market Assessment towards Shaping Equitable Sexual Reproductive Health Market for Sexual Reproductive Health
Partner: Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Family Planning (FP), Maternal & Newborn Health (MNH)
Ensuring equitable access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Nigeria requires a deep understanding of the market dynamics, including the interplay between buyers and sellers in both public and private sectors. A fragmented market and various socio-economic factors can create barriers to access, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Under the CHAI-led Shaping Equitable Market Access for Sexual Reproductive Health (SEMA-SRH) initiative, Sociocapital conducted the National Market Assessment for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services focusing on family planning (FP) and maternal & newborn health (MNH). This assessment identified the key drivers and challenges shaping the SRH market, analyzing the interactions between those seeking and those providing SRH products and services within the country’s health system. This comprehensive analysis covered both public and private sector provision.
Through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data on service utilization and availability with qualitative insights from stakeholders, including healthcare providers, consumers, and policymakers, the assessment explored factors influencing demand and supply, such as affordability, accessibility, quality of services, cultural norms, and information dissemination. The assessment also examined the regulatory environment and the role of various actors in the SRH market.
This assessment played a critical role in shaping a national strategy for the SRH market over a 5-year period. By providing evidence-based insights into the market dynamics, the assessment enabled the development of targeted interventions to address identified challenges and leverage opportunities. The resulting national strategy is contributing to current efforts to stimulate local manufacturing of essential health products, supporting state-led procurement of FP commodities, and strengthening state drug revolving fund (DRF) schemes to include SRH products.
Partner: World Food Program | Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
Project: Global convergence support to the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN)
Country: Global
Program Area: Nutrition, Food security
The Scaling up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) aims to reduce malnutrition in all its forms by mobilising businesses to invest and innovate in responsible and sustainable actions and operations, fostering country-led growth, and scaling up innovations. The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Strategy 2021–2025 (SUN 3.0) focuses on supporting systemic change and prioritizing country leadership toward a more coordinated nutrition response. The SUN global network, convenes government, civil society, donor, and UN Networks to mobilise civil society engagements, business action and investments, ensuring that nutrition-focused initiatives are government-led, collaborative, and consistent with global practices as enshrined in relevant United Nations charters and agreements.
Sociocapital supported the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to develop a global convergence toolkit, technical assistance strategy, and governance framework to fostering Country-led nutrition response through coordinated business action, investments, and best practices of the Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network’s (SBN) support to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt safe and healthy nutrition business practices.
Through our technical assistance, SBN can better support its 63 SUN countries partners to align with the SBN strategic priorities set out by governments in SUN countries while supporting nutrition-focuses businesses, private sector, as well as humanitarian and development actors within the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network. The technical assistance strategy supports nutrition-focused enterprises to collaboratively adopt safe and healthy nutrition business practices. The toolkit ensures alignment of efforts and investments within the SUN ecosystem, keeps nutrition on the global and national agenda across its partner countries, helps prioritise evidence-informed actions, and builds the investment case for nutrition by the private sector, philanthropies, and development actors.
Partner: Pathfinder International
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn & Child health (RMNCH)
Antenatal care (ANC) as the entry point to the health system for pregnant women, is proven to improve clinic attendance, client satisfaction, and health outcomes for pregnant women and newborns. Sociocapital worked with and supported Pathfinder International to strengthen the delivery of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) and malaria services at the primary health care (PHC) level through the Group-ANC project in Borno state Nigeria.
Through human-centred and context-specific, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, Sociocapital explored the institutional, programmatic, and social barriers to increasing uptake, delivery and scale-up of quality ANC, malaria and RMNCH services at the health system, facility, and community levels. We explored and unpacked the contextual dimensions of Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (BPCR) interventions as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which informed the design and deployment of the integrated Service Delivery, systems strengthening and Social Behaviour Change (SBC) interventions integrated within the maternal health technical assistance strategy.
Project: MSD (Merck) for Mothers, Saving Mothers Giving Life (SMGL2.0) Project
Partner: Pathfinder International
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn & Child health (RMNCH)
To replicate a Total Market Approach (TMA) for improving Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) outcomes in Nigeria, the Saving Mothers Giving Life (SMGL) project implemented by Pathfinder International in partnership with PharmaAccess and Nivi seeks to deliver a replicable minimum package of interventions in the private sector. Using data to inform its TMA strategies and measure progress, Sociocapital provided research technical assistance to strengthen data management systems and evaluation of the Saving Mothers Giving Life (SMGL2.0) project which aims to improve access to quality Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) services through private sector led Total Market Approaches.
Sociocapital assessed government stewardship capacity and suggested partnership approaches for effective program delivery and sustainable scale-up. This helped the government – as the ultimate steward of the health system with convening power – to aggregate the collective efforts of stakeholders and beneficiaries, in creating an enabling environment for coordination of public and private health sectors to improve access and institutional delivery of quality of MNH services. This contributed to the project objectives of improved access to and quality of maternal and newborn care and institutional delivery services and strengthened collaboration and partnership between the government and the private health sector.
Partner: Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
Project: National Product Introduction and Communication Strategy for the scale-up of Hormonal Intrauterine System (H-IUS)
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Reproductive Health (RH) / Family Planning (FP), Market Access
According to the 2020 FP market report, the sub-Saharan African contraceptive market is currently valued at $160 million (about 72% of the global market) yet Nigeria’s contraceptive market represents 9.7% of Sub-Saharan Africa. About 30 years after the initial product introduction, Hormonal Intrauterine Systems (H-IUS) experienced low availability in Nigeria despite their proven efficacy. In expanding the country’s equitable contraceptive technology access, Sociocapital supported the development of the country’s Hormonal Intrauterine System (H-IUS) product introduction strategy which incorporated a contraceptive investment case and comprehensive social behaviour change (SBC) strategy to expand new contraceptive technology access.
Sociocapital supported the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria on behalf of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to develop the national Hormonal Intrauterine System (H-IUS) product introduction strategy that addresses specific country requirements from selection to scale up in a manner that is wholly government led. Sociocapital conducted a comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive health (SRH) market analysis towards a national product introduction strategy applying design thinking methodologies to unpack the potential for the introduction of a new contraceptive mix and leverage additional investment to close the market gaps. This led to the development of the country’s H-IUS product introduction strategy which incorporated a contraceptive investment case and comprehensive social behaviour change (SBC) communication plan.
We also supported the establishment of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Community of Practice as a knowledge-learning and sharing platform to encourage productive dialogues, gather evidence to inform policies and programs and provide practitioners with the tools, evidence, and resources to implement SRH and rights (SRHR) strategies.
Project: Fleming Fund Project Promoting adaptive aquaculture antimicrobial use and Surveillance Practices
Partner: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) | DAI International
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Health Security & Aquaculture Infectious Disease.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity – with rapidly growing prevalence due to its implications for food safety, human health, animal health and ecosystem health. The Fleming Fund is a U.K. Department of Health and Social Care program funded by U.K. Aid to help low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Sociocapital supported the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on behalf of DAI International to develop a national antimicrobial resistance (AMR)/antimicrobial use (AMU) communication strategy that would drive behaviour change amongst stakeholders in the aquaculture value chain. This strategy is part of the Fleming Fund Country project’s strategy to build local laboratory capacity and strengthen national surveillance systems for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Antimicrobial Use (AMU) across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
Through our technical assistance, we aligned with relevant agriculture and food security frameworks, national disease surveillance and response plans to equip key aquaculture stakeholders with the information required to promote and adopt aquaculture AMR surveillance practices, reporting and data use. The strategy addressed myths and misconceptions related to AMR in the aquaculture value chain and proposed channels to improve knowledge of AMU amongst clinicians, practitioners, and the public toward better AMU practices.
Project: USAID – Targeted States High Impact Project (TSHIP)
Partner: Management Strategies for Africa
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn & Child health (RMNCH)
Weak health systems hinder effective service delivery and contribute to poor health outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations. The USAID-funded Targeted States High Impact Project (TSHIP) in Nigeria aimed to address these challenges by focusing on high-impact interventions to improve health outcomes working across multiple levels of the health system, from primary care facilities to state-level management, focusing on capacity building, improved service delivery, and increased access to essential health services. Strengthening these systems requires targeted interventions focused on improving capacity, management, and service quality. Improving maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) outcomes requires strong institutional capacity and effective program implementation. Understanding the impact of interventions is crucial for optimizing health service delivery and achieving desired health outcomes.
To evaluate the impact of institutional capacity building and organizational development interventions under the Targeted States High Impact Project. This evaluation focused on the effectiveness of efforts to strengthen local health systems. Second, a process and outcome analysis examined MNCH interventions aimed at increasing coverage of Vitamin A supplementation, routine immunization for children under five, and other essential MNCH services. This analysis explored how these interventions were implemented and their impact on service delivery and utilization.
The evaluations provided critical data on the effectiveness of the implemented interventions. The capacity building review likely assessed improvements in areas like human resources, infrastructure, and management systems. The MNCH analysis examined factors influencing service uptake, such as community awareness, access, and quality of care. Both evaluations likely employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data on service coverage and health outcomes with qualitative insights from stakeholders.
These evaluations provide valuable evidence for program improvement and scale-up. The findings will inform adjustments to strategies and interventions to optimize their impact on MNCH outcomes. The evaluations contribute to a better understanding of what works in improving MNCH service delivery in challenging contexts, generating lessons learned that can be applied in other regions.
Project: European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) | Program for Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)
Client: Save the Children, UK
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Nutrition
Acute malnutrition threatens the lives of millions of vulnerable children. Nigeria’s Sahel region faces significant challenges related to acute malnutrition, particularly among children with nearly one million children under 5 in the central Sahel facing severe wasting according to UNICEF. Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) poses a serious threat to child survival and development. Additionally, suboptimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices contribute to the problem. The ECHO 5 Program for Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) was implemented as a 5-year effort to address these challenges. The program focused on treating SAM cases and scaling up essential IYCF practices within communities across the Sahel region.
Sociocapital conducted the Endline Assessment of the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Program to evaluate the impact of the 5-year effort to treat severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and scale-up Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices in the Sahel region. The endline assessment findings documented the extent to which these goals were achieved and provided valuable lessons learned for future interventions aimed at improving child nutrition in similar contexts. This information has been crucial for developing sustainable solutions and ensuring the long-term nutritional well-being of children in Nigeria’s Sahel region.
Project: Improving Routine Immunisation in Nigeria
Partner: Save the Children, Nigeria
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Routine Immunisation
Nigeria’s routine immunization (RI) program faces significant hurdles, including funding shortfalls, lack of political commitment, accountability gaps, and frequent vaccine stock-outs. Community engagement to sustain RI is weak, and ownership at state and local government area (LGA) levels is low. These challenges hinder effective service delivery and limit RI uptake, impacting child health outcomes.
Save the Children, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, implemented a project focused on improving RI in four Nigerian states – Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe and Zamfara. This initiative aims to influence policy changes and mobilize resources for RI, nutrition, and maternal/newborn child health working at community levels to enhance accountability for RI, focusing on financing and vaccine security.
Sociocapital conducted a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the current status of vaccine cold chain infrastructure, architecture, and the effectiveness of Ward Development Committees (WDCs) to inform advocacy efforts and the development of targeted community engagement strategies to strengthen WDC participation in community-level RI efforts. Simultaneously, state and national level engagements and advocacy for increased support.
The assessment provided critical insights for developing evidence-based strategies to address systemic challenges and improve the effectiveness of RI service delivery and contributed to improving vaccine security, enhance community engagement, and strengthen local ownership of RI programs, ultimately leading to increased immunization coverage and better child health outcomes in the target states.
Project: Social Impact Entrepreneurship Program
Partner: British Council, University of Reading, Henley Business School
Country: Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa
Program Area: Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Investment Readiness
Early-stage social entrepreneurs in Africa often lack access to the necessary resources, networks, and expertise to scale their ventures and maximize their impact. This limits their potential to address critical social and environmental challenges effectively.
The British Council, University of Reading (Henley Business School), and Sociocapital partnered to create a pan-African social impact entrepreneurship program targeting early-stage entrepreneurs in Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. This initiative, in collaboration with AfriNolly Creative Hub, Nigeria, provides an e-learning program and incubator focusing on entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment readiness. The program supports ventures operating in key sectors including health, agriculture, climate/environment, and the creative industry.
The Social Impact Entrepreneurship Program empowers early-stage social entrepreneurs with the skills and resources needed to develop sustainable and impactful businesses. The program connects social entrepreneurs to regional and UK expert networks, facilitating knowledge transfer and mentorship opportunities. Participants receive business incubation and acceleration support, aimed at strengthening their business models and preparing them for investment. By fostering a supportive ecosystem and facilitating access to finance and expertise, the initiative aims to drive positive change across critical sectors in Africa.
Project: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) | Skills for Prosperity (S4P) Project
Partner: Palladium International
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Entrepreneurship, Human Capital Development
Nigeria’s Skills for Prosperity (S4P) project, implemented by Palladium International for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, aims to improve technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and the business environment. Understanding existing conditions, stakeholder satisfaction, and areas for improvement is crucial for effective program implementation.
Sociocapital conducted led the country landscape, baseline and endline assessment and stakeholder satisfaction research to identify and address factors that shape the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and the business environment; understand stakeholder’s satisfaction with TVET programmes, apprenticeships, and traineeships, identifying gaps and areas of improvement; and uncover specific areas related to safeguarding, gender equality and social inclusion capacity.
The assessments provided critical data on the effectiveness of S4P interventions, revealing how they impacted the country’s TVET system. The assessments contributes to a strengthened TVET system and inform adjustments to TVET programs, apprenticeships, and traineeships, ensuring alignment with market demands and promoting inclusivity through skills development and employment.
Project: Promoting Impact Investment in Nigeria Initiative
Partner: Impact Investors Foundation
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Innovation & Investing Readiness
Nigeria’s healthcare and creative economy sectors hold significant potential for growth and social impact, but often lack access to adequate investment. Bridging this funding gap requires a strategic approach to increase both the supply and demand for impact capital. Under the Promoting Impact Investing in Nigeria initiative, Sociocapital developed the National Creative Hub Strategy in partnership with the National Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER) and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Planning. This strategy aims to advance Nigeria’s creative economy through impact entrepreneurship, education, and strategic investment. It serves as a blueprint for increasing the flow of impact capital to two key sectors: healthcare and the creative economy.
Through extensive research and stakeholder consultations, we identified opportunities and challenges within the target sectors, assessed the existing landscape of impact investment, analyzed the needs of entrepreneurs and investors, and outlined specific interventions to stimulate market growth.
By creating a clear roadmap for impact investment, the strategy is expected to unlock significant capital flows to Nigerian healthcare and creative enterprises. This increased funding should fuel innovation, job creation, and improved service delivery within these sectors. Ultimately, the initiative demonstrates the viability and impact of investing in these high-potential areas, encouraging greater participation from both local and international investors and contributing to sustainable economic development in Nigeria.
Project: USAID – Water for Agriculture Program Review
Partner: Catholic Relief Services
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Water, Climate, Agriculture
Farmers and herders in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states in northeastern Nigeria face significant challenges related to water access, impacting their agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Climate variability and limited water management practices exacerbate these challenges. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is implementing the USAID-funded Water for Agriculture Project to sustainably increase water availability and improve water management practices in the region. The project aims to improve access to water resources for over 4,000 farmers and 50,000 herders. This intervention focuses on enhancing water access for agricultural purposes, recognizing the crucial link between water security and food production in this vulnerable region.
Sociocapital supported the evaluation of the impact of implemented water management practices, assessing community participation and ownership, and analyzing the long-term viability of the project’s approach in the context of climate change and environmental factors, as well as effectiveness and sustainability of project’s initiatives which aims to address critical water resource challenges and strengthen the agricultural sector in northeastern Nigeria.
By promoting sustainable water management practices, the project aims to build resilience to climate-related shocks and contribute to long-term food security in the target states. The review provide valuable insights for optimizing project implementation and ensuring its lasting positive impact on the communities it serves.
Project: Business Development Service Provider
Partner: Nigeria Bank of Industry
Country: Nigeria
Program Area: Cross cutting
Provides strategic advisory services to support the expansion, diversification, and modernisation of enterprises across several industry verticals, and linking them to the Bank’s suite of financing products.
Sociocapital has supported over 200 impact-focused enterprises at seed and growth stages through entrepreneurial training, business development services, access to blended finance and market linkage advisory working with a community of 100+ experts to with diverse industry experience who are also active investors from pre-seed to growth stages. Supported the deployment of accelerator cohorts successfully graduating over 100 entrepreneurs across various verticals including Health, AgriTech, education, fintech, logistics, Energy and Software-as-a-service.
The Founder Institute is the largest pre-seed start-up launchpad and network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. To date, FI has helped launch over 5,000 companies across 200+ cities and six continents. TLG is the local hub leader and Sociocapital is a technical partners and mentor for Founders Institute in Abuja where we help pre-seed entrepreneurs and teams build get to traction and funding. We do this by establishing a critical support network of local startup experts by providing a structured and challenging business-building. In the last 2 years we have organized 3 accelerator cohorts, 52 pitch events and 1 investor events. We have worked with 103 founders and supported 14 startups (Alumni) to raise funding, build a co-founding team, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, and transition from employee to entrepreneurs.