Donor Impact Report
Ethiopians Driving Growth, Entrepreneurship, and Trade (EDGET)
Every dollar of your support has had $48 of impact!
Ethiopia 2019 Assessment Demonstrates Growing Impact of Project
Building Business Capacity and Incomes
In 2010, MEDA launched the EDGET project, with a focus on increasing incomes for 10,000 men and women farmers and weavers. The project aimed to help smallholder rice farmers and small-scale artisans access much needed supplies, finances, support services and hands-on training. The goals included helping to increase their access to growing markets and improve their productivity through more effective techniques. As a result of MEDA’s work, many Ethiopian rice and textile entrepreneurs are producing high-quality products and reaching new and growing markets, which is driving growth and improving incomes and livelihoods. We see that the project indirectly helped to increase education, health and opportunities for their children and family members. ,
Today, EDGET continues to demonstrate positive, sustainable and GROWING impact on the livelihoods and businesses of small entrepreneurs in Ethiopia.
Your Support in Action
2019: Bosena continues her journey with MEDA through the EDGET—follow-on project EMERTA (Ethiopians Motivating Enterprises to Rise in Trade and Agri-business), receiving training and mentorship to support her business growth in the rice sector.
Bosena's story
Meaningful & Sustainable Impact: EDGET 2019 Assessment
INCOME
Since project close, producer incomes continued to increase by an average of 34%. Producers have nearly doubled their assets since project close.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
73% joined a savings and loan group and continue to see benefits today.
EDGET-initiated loan program to support business growth.
MARKET LINKAGES
30 Chencha-based weavers continue to supply garments for Ethiopian Airlines flight attendants under an EDGET-facilitated contract.
GENDER EQUALITY
82% received Gender Equality training that continues to have positive impact today.
Women reported more respect from husbands as a result of training and business activities.
Download the full report to see more results by the numbers
DownloadSupport Michael White in the Limestone Century Ride
Daw in Myanmar
Michael White
You can make a difference for women in Myanmar
One in four of the 53 million people living in Myanmar live below the poverty line and those living in rural areas are the most vulnerable. Rural women are among the country’s most marginalized groups. Though they play an active role in agricultural production and markets, women still experience barriers that prohibit them from fully participating in a growing economy. A wide wage gap between women and men also exists, and women often struggle to access financing, market information, and higher-growth markets.
I am doing a 100 mile bike ride in Kingston this Sunday, the Limestone Century Ride, and I would like to use the opportunity to raise $1,500 to help 15 women from Myanmar. Because of the funding from Global Affairs Canada, every dollar you give will have over $7.00 of impact. I hope you will decide to join me by donating $100 to help hardworking women like Daw Nan, who although she was not able to attend school herself, through this project is now able to provide an education for her children.
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) aims to strengthen the participation and status of 25,000 women in the Myanmar economy. We will support rural women and women-owned businesses involved with vegetables and rice to grow their productivity and incomes, increase their access to financial services, and take on leadership positions in market and community systems.
Every gift has an impact, no donation is too small – if five people give $20 each that will make an enduring difference in the life of a woman in Myanmar. Thank you.
Michael White
Donate to support Michael today!
Join us for dinner and a chance to hear Dr. Dorothy Nyambi, MEDA’s new President and CEO!
Doors open at 5PM | 6PM Dinner | 7PM Program
Tom and Trinda Bishop's backyard | 5385 Autumn Dr. | Greenwood Village CO 80111
We have put together resources to help plan and advertise your next network event:
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#HowTo plan a MEDA Network Event
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Network Hub Event Planning Toolkit: Meet the President
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Brainstorm
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Request MEDA promotion of your event
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Email your Hub
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Manage your network subscriptions
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The MEDA Network Guidebook
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Sample Sponsorship Letter
Join us on June 7 for a special opportunity to engage with the MEDA Board while also networking with other professionals and entrepreneurs in the fields of economic development, impact investing and gender equity.
Hear from expert, Majid Mirza, Sr. Program Manager at MEDA on addressing the trade financing gap for small and medium enterprises in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Learn how you can be part of creating business solutions to poverty.
Doors open at 7pm | Presentations begin at 7:30 | Networking reception to follow in foyer | Appetizers served | Free admittance
Majid Mirza
Join us on June 7 for a special opportunity to engage with the MEDA Board while also networking with other professionals and entrepreneurs in the fields of economic development, impact investing and gender equity.
Hear from expert, Majid Mirza, Sr. Program Manager at MEDA on addressing the trade financing gap for small and medium enterprises in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Learn how you can be part of creating business solutions to poverty.
Doors open at 7pm | Presentations begin at 7:30 | Networking reception to follow in foyer | Appetizers served | Free admittance
Majid Mirza
Accommodation Options
Holiday Inn
Burlington Hotel & Conference Centre
3063 South Service Rd
Burlington ON L7N3E9
www.hiburlington.ca
$159 per night.
1-905-639-4443
Quote event name ‘peopleCare’
Quality Hotel Burlington
950 Walkers Line
Burlington, ON L7N 2G2
Quality Hotel web page
(905) 639-9290
$149 per night
Quote event name ‘peopleCare’
To address this, MEDA, in partnership with the Government of Canada, is implementing the Jordan Valley Links project which will provide women and youth, as well as existing market actors, with the capacity building and incentives required to develop their businesses and better integrate women and youth producers in three value chains: food processing, tourism and clean technologies.
Women and youth will develop and expand their production and/or businesses through training, coaching/mentorship, networking opportunities and market engagement.
Project Quick Facts:
Goal: To increase the contribution by Jordanian women and youth to Jordan’s economic growth. This will be done by improving entrepreneurial and business acumen of women and youth and by reducing barriers to entry (market and societal/cultural) for enterprise development.
Reach: 25,000 women and youth
Funder: Global Affairs Canada
Project Length: 2016-2021
Project Partners: Our growing list of partners includes the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD); Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN); Experience Baraka Consulting; Feynan Ecolodge; Green Tech; Future Pioneers; Royal Scientific Society; Jordan River Foundation (JRF); and National Association for Family Empowerment (NAFE).
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MEDA's origins are rooted in the aftermath of the second World War when thousands of Russian Mennonites fled as refugees to the country of Paraguay. There, they established strong communities that were grounded in peace, justice and entrepreneurship. Many of the people that fled violence in Russia were skilled craftspeople and capable farmers and were eager to set up their own businesses, but they lacked financial capital, and key resources.
Mennonite Economic Development Associates was born out of the need to provide small businesses with capital, business training, microloans and investment. That's what we continue to do today.
In 1969, the founders of MEDA moved their services and expertise to countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The members realized that other communities around the world were struggling with some of the same challenges the Mennonite refugees faced in Paraguay - lack of access to finance, credit, business training and investment. As businessmen, they understood that it was not lack of will, rather, it was lack of access to knowledge, skills and capital. They realized that they could be part of the solution and help people raise themselves out of poverty by supporting small businesses all over the world. This new awareness inspired a new mission and vision - to create business solutions to poverty.
At MEDA, measurement matters. We don’t wait until the end of our projects to evaluate success. From the moment a project begins, we gather data to understand whether our interventions are achieving the results we expected, what we can learn, and which approaches need to be refined to help our clients reach their true potential.
MEDA strives for results. We use a Results-Based Management (RBM) approach and tools to collect and manage robust data related to our intended results. From project design to implementation all the way through to wrap-up, we focus on feedback loops to learn how each project can best contribute to our clients’ economic empowerment and prosperity.
Sustainability is important to us, and we want to see our clients continue to grow their incomes and operate successful businesses even after we leave. We measure key business performance indicators among past clients three years after our projects close and use this information to continually improve how we create business solutions to poverty.
Our measurement tools and approaches:
Rolling Baseline
In many of MEDA’s projects, staggered entry of clients allows us to manage and improve interventions over the course of the project based on early results. Clients enter the project in a series of cohorts, which begin receiving interventions at different times within the life cycle of the program. A rolling baseline methodology allows us to use a “before and after” one-group design. The logic of this design is simple yet effective. Program participants are assessed before they work with MEDA and then again throughout their interactions with us.
Using baseline information collected with the entrance of each cohort, the project has a series of data collection points offering a “rolling” perspective on the pre-MEDA socio-economic conditions of clients. By comparing data collected at each of these points, a “rolling” control group is established.
Additionally, by comparing data at a single point in time from cohort 1 after one year to that of cohort 2 at baseline, we have an ongoing perspective on the progress of the project. In this way, we can establish a quasi-control group analysis. This technique mitigates ethical challenges related to traditional control group studies, whereby control respondents are not given access to the benefits of working with MEDA.
Surveys
MEDA uses surveys to establish cause and effect relationships in the lives of our clients. We sample our entrepreneur and business clients and ask questions on variables to measure the effectiveness of the project activities, as well as key performance indicators.
Surveys are comprehensive, attributable, and allow our teams to gather the data they need to assess key indicators related to the business success and wellbeing of our clients. Usually conducted annually, they allow us to measure project results over time.
Mobile data collection
Mobile data collection is the use of mobile phones or tablets for data collection in rural and inaccessible places. Two main advantages include data available online in real-time and data errors are reduced.
MEDA works with mobile data collection platforms that allow offline data entry, allowing us to collect data from rural clients. We customise surveys to collect specific data needed by our teams, such as income data, enterprise performance and capacity, business metrics, photographs, GPS coordinates, and even photos.
Having this data at our fingertips faster allows MEDA to quickly pivot and make decisions based on realities on the ground.
Focus group discussions
Focus group discussions (FGDs) are interviews, but of 6-10 people at the same time in the same group. FGDs are designed to elicit qualitative data.
FGDs consist of diverse groups of people whose reactions are studied to understand the impact of MEDA’s work and measure performance indicators.
Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members. During this process, the researcher either takes notes and records the vital points he or she is getting from the group. Researchers select members of the focus group carefully for effective and reliable responses.
Most significant change stories
The most significant change (MSC) story approach is a form of participatory monitoring and evaluation. MEDA involves stakeholders at different levels to discuss the sorts of changes expected and to review which are the most important. This method is valuable for learning about what types of unanticipated changes may be occurring in a project.
At its core, MSC is a simple process of asking our clients what changes they have seen in their lives since working with MEDA, and why these are important. MSC is an effective monitoring tool because it can occur throughout the program cycle and provides information to help people to manage the program.
It can evaluate project efforts because it provides data on impact and outcomes to assess the performance of a program. It is not based on pre-defined indicators but instead involves a systematic process of selecting the most significant stories, chosen by a panel of designated stakeholders.
Our publications
- EDGET client stories doc
- EDGET Parboiling Case Study
- GROW Market Actor Case Study
- Sarona Values Report
- UHDP Most Significant Change Stories
- YouthInvest Business Case for Serving Youth
Blogs
MEDA takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the complex environmental issues our programming encounters. We incorporate a range of environmental assessments that ensures our work provides ecologically sustainable approaches to poverty alleviation. Across our programming, Cross-Cutting Services' environmental experts assists both MEDA staff and clients realize a more equitable and sustainable approach, one that ensures our work is ecologically sound.
Read more about our Environment & Climate Change approach:
What qualities do you look for in internship candidates?
- skills and ability required to successfully perform the work assignment, based on work or volunteer experiences and academic background
- interest in international development work and career goals
- language capacity
- suitability / readiness for living and working in a cross-cultural environment
- flexible, independent, self-directed, and motivated
How important is language capacity?
Fluency in the native language (usually Spanish) is a preferred advantage, however, the main consideration will be the applicant's ability to complete the work assignment. Fluency in the language is not a requirement for any of the internships. The advantage of knowing the native language will only be in relation to the language capacity of other applicants for the same position.What expenses are covered?
All direct expenses are covered including items such as: round-trip airfare, housing, health insurance, and other related direct costs such as work visas and vaccinations.How much money will I need to contribute?
MEDA does not require interns to contribute any money toward the internship. All costs will be provided through GAC funding, or by MEDA. Please note: The housing and living allowance is modest, and designed to provide enough money for safe and comfortable living conditions. Participants should not expect to have savings accumulated from the living allowance at the end of the assignment.When does it start?
MEDA typically hires Interns for departures in January and July. Please visit our Careers page to see any available opportunities. Once hired, all Interns attend an orientation session in Waterloo, Ontario. Interns will depart to the field to begin the work assignment following the orientation.How flexible are the departure and return dates?
The Orientation Session is mandatory and once the date is set, it will not be flexible.- Departure: Several factors will influence when you will be able to depart for your field assignment including: the host country's schedule, airfares, work visas, and your schedule.
- Return: Many of our interns have taken the opportunity to travel after completion of assignment before returning to Canada. This is undertaken at their own expense.
What type of orientation / training do you provide?
An Orientation Session will be provided prior to departure. During this session, you will receive a thorough introduction to: MEDA, our philosophy and methodology; your specific assignment and history of MEDA's work in the country; training in specific research and reporting techniques; review of intercultural effectiveness; and other general background on travel and work overseas.How are overseas living accommodations arranged?
We put our interns in contact with the host MEDA Country Manager and previous interns to explore options for living accommodations. Although MEDA provides support, it is ultimately up to the intern to arrange a place to live. All of our interns have found places to live through contacts that MEDA has provided.
Click here to download the brochure
We require volunteer auditors to assist MEDA’s internal auditor with audits in our field offices around the world. Each audit is usually two weeks in length.
MEDA volunteer auditors support MEDA’s vision that all people may experience God’s love and unleash their potential to earn a livelihood, provide for families and enrich their communities.
If you…
- are interested in experiencing a project from the local office perspective,
- have a desire to share your time and talents,
- wish to witness firsthand the integrity of local staff,
…then serving as a volunteer auditor with MEDA might be for you!
Qualifications
Ideally, volunteer auditors have audit experience, but we are interested in hearing from individuals who have some accounting knowledge. The ability to speak the local language in the field and international travel experience are assets.
How to Apply
- Express your interest to MEDA by emailing your resume to volunteers@meda.org
- Our team will follow up with next steps
Costs
MEDA asks that Volunteer Auditors consider covering the full cost of their trip as a gift to the MEDA project they are auditing. However, if this is not within your means, we still encourage you to apply as an auditor!
If you have additional questions, please check out the Volunteer FAQ section or email volunteers@meda.org
MEDAx
MEDA's Next Generation Programming
Calling all next-generation changemakers - MEDAx is your space.
Engage with peers who care about sustainable, co-created, respectful solutions for those experiencing poverty around the world.
Through MEDAx events and activities, learn more about MEDA's values-driven international work.
Share your ideas on how we can continue creating business solutions to poverty for generations to come.
This newly-launched initiative is quickly growing! Check out how you can join the community.
MEDAx at Convention
It’s the biggest MEDAx gathering of the year! For an enriching long weekend you’ll never forget, register for Tucson 2019.
CloseMEDA's work with Youth
MEDA specifically seeks out opportunities to support women and youth such as Ahmad and Waed in Jordan who are championing clean technologies. Read more about their story on the MEDA blog.
CloseMEDAx and Network Hubs
Community Network hubs host local events and activities. Plug into a hub in your community to raise awareness for MEDA in your own backyard.
CloseMEDAx and Network Hubs
Everyone and anyone can be a philanthropist, because every dollar—even a single dollar!--counts. At MEDA, donations are leveraged by major institutions. That means that one dollar is leveraged up to six times. Consider casting your vote for empowerment-driven economic development by becoming a MEDA Monthly Donor.
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MEDAx welcomes you to MEDA. Connect with us today!
Get In Touch
MEDAx At Convention
Hey next generation changemakers, social innovators, and entrepreneurs! You’re invited to participate in MEDAx young professional programming at MEDA Convention 2019.
MEDAx offers a series of seminars, events and a pitch competition designed for young professionals - all at one low cost. Meet likeminded individuals, dive deep into MEDA’s worldwide work of creating business solutions to poverty and explore how you can integrate your faith and values into your work.
Last year, over 100 young professionals participated in MEDA Convention. Year two promises an educational, invigorating lineup of activities that can’t be missed—plus a stunning desert backdrop to help you take a much needed break from life’s busy chatter.
Here’s your chance to reset, learn, grow and be a next generation changemaker.
Take the leap and join us in Tucson, Arizona from
October 31st to November 3rd 2019!
Learn more about MEDA’s global projects and join in on fun activities with other young professionals
Connect with hundreds of MEDA staff, supporters, leaders and mentors in business and international economic development through workshops, tours, meals, and more!
Explore how to incorporate your values into your work with programming that is designed to encourage and foster social-minded innovation for professional growth
Participate in the MEDA Pitch Competition live or apply today for a chance to win up to $10,000!
MEDAx at Convention brought together a community of diverse perspectives that enlighten our approaches to capacity-building, community engagement and social justice.
- MEDAx 2018 Participant
Meet the 2019 MEDAx at Convention Planning Committee
Meet your peers planning MEDAx for MEDA convention in Tucson! This team of 10 features next generation leaders and MEDA supporters from communities across the United States and Canada. We can't wait to host you in Arizona this fall!
Abby Neufeld Dick
Anyone who knows me would say I'm quick to laugh, quick to plan, and quick to find a good sale!
I grew up on a farm in Leamington, the tomato capital of Canada! I attended the University of Waterloo and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Knowledge Integration and a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies. Since then, I have worked at the high school I attended, UMEI, as Director of Advancement.
I am fortunate to have a huge family (most of which live in Leamington), and I love spending time with them. I love going out for coffee and playing Euchre with my grandparents, chatting with my aunts, uncles and cousins, entertaining my younger cousins, and helping my 3-year old nephew build his Lego dreams.
Many of my weekends are spent traveling up the 401 to visit friends wherever they are. I love to travel and am always looking for a new destination!
CloseAlena Yoder
After growing up in Elkhart, Indiana, and Nairobi, Kenya, Alena landed at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA, where she studied History, English, and Gender Studies. She began working at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding in Harrisonburg soon after she graduated from college, and is currently working as CJP’s Cohort Projects Coordinator.
Alena views herself as a listener to and connector of people, their stories, and their ideas. She is committed to learning continuously about the intersection of gender, privilege, power and social justice.
n her spare time, Alena also enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, travelling, reading memoirs, and nearly anything that gets her outdoors in the sunshine. She is also an avid table tennis player.
CloseClara Yoon
Clara Yoon is a project manager at MEDA on the Global Programs team. She manages a project portfolio focused on testing and learning about non-traditional finance and its role in improving innovation adoption by smallholders in East Africa, South America and South Asia. Other areas of interest include digital financial services and its potential to improve gender equality and women's participation in the marketplace. Clara holds a MA in Global Governance from the University of Waterloo and BA in Global Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Prior to joining MEDA in Canada, Clara interned with MEDA in Ethiopia. She has prior experience in South Korea, working with a human rights non-governmental organization.
CloseCorine Alvarez
Corine Graber Alvarez is an MBA candidate at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. She is a graduate of Goshen College, where she majored in accounting. Corine started her career at Deloitte in Chicago, Illinois, where she consulted companies and expatriates about the tax implications of their cross-border activities. She is a Certified Public Accountant with experience in audit, litigation consulting, and forensic accounting services. In her free time, Corine enjoys reading, hiking, playing ice hockey, and traveling internationally with her husband, Niles.
CloseJake King
I’m a research analyst and consultant to investors and companies primarily in the life sciences industry. Prior to my remote life as a freelancer, I ran an intelligence service called PropThink in NY focused on publicly traded equities in the healthcare sector. Today, I split my time between diligence projects, consulting, trading, a vending machine business, and running my kids around. I’m an ’09 grad of Eastern Mennonite University (English & Lit), and I live on a farm in Lancaster, PA with my wife and two children. We attend James St. Mennonite Church.
CloseLauren Francisco
Lauren Francisco serves as the Director of Outreach & Communication for C3 Hampton as well as a Creative Consultant to multiple non-profits throughout the globe. Dedicated to her mission of “building what’s strong” while traditionally consultants aim to “fix what’s wrong,” she creatively finds ways to intervene while highlighting the strengths of those with whom she comes in contact.
Although Lauren’s background is in clinical social work with a concentration in family and child therapy, she has intertwined her passion of cinematography, art therapy, and writing to help tell the stories of those who may need assistance, while intervening on their behalf. Most recently, she has spent the past 3 years living and assisting local communities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa via the implementation of an education plan that involved building a resource center which has drastically improved the literacy rate, as well as addressed the lack of creative arts in the public education system. Whether playing acoustic guitar for children stateside or abroad, or exploring new and old places throughout the continents, she strives to connect with all people, regardless of background, belief or lifestyle.
Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University as well as a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from George Mason University.
CloseMatt Veith
Matt Veith is a Winnipeg-based freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer/Videographer committed to helping individuals and organizations clearly and boldly express their identity in the visual world of design, brand, and story. Born and raised in China, Matt adds a natural grasp of context and culture to his nearly 6 years of professional experience in the design field, always keen to incorporate socio-cultural and environmental consciousness in his process and choice of clients. Matt’s clients include non-profits, small businesses, restaurants, and social enterprise. On a regular work day, you’ll find him hunting for the perfect typeface for a branding project, knee-deep in the weeds of a multi-page layout, or working on his calligraphy and lettering skills. In his spare time, Matt builds custom bicycles, hosts a bi-weekly documentary night called Documondaries, and enjoys travelling and cooking.
CloseRylan Miller
Rylan was first introduced to MEDA while attending Hesston College. After attending his first MEDA convention in 2005 in Whistler, BC he quickly realized the power of the work that MEDA does around the world. After graduating from the University of Iowa in 2008 he started working for Harper Industries Inc. in Harper, KS. Tim Penner, President of HII, who has been working with MEDA for many years encouraged him to continue to be involved with MEDA. Rylan was a member of the MEDA Kansas chapter board for a short time before relocating to the Bay Area. One of his favorite memories was attending a MEDA trip to Paraguay with Tim and several others from MEDA. “When you get the opportunity to see and experience the work of MEDA abroad, it really blows you away.” One of the aspects that really hits home for Rylan is the fact that MEDA is involved in Agricultural projects given the fact that he grew up on a dairy farm in Kalona, IA. Today Rylan lives in Oakland, CA with his wife Karissa and two young children and works as a recruiter in the Ag equipment industry.
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Promote MEDAx and the MEDA Pitch Competition with students, colleagues, friends, and family with posters and postcards. All print-ready MEDAx and MEDA Pitch Competition materials are made available to you.
Get In Touch
MEDA Pitch Competition
MEDA wants to mobilize the next generation of changemakers, social innovators, and entrepreneurs to engage in sustainable business practices for a lasting global impact.
The 2019 MEDA Pitch Competition is for next generation start-ups running with a social innovation that aligns with MEDA’s values. It is held in the spirit of MEDA’s mission and vision, to encourage and foster social-minded innovation, a space in which MEDA has over 60 years of experience.
Have a great idea? Applications for the MEDA Pitch Competition are open!
We want to hear your ideas! Submit your application for a chance to participate in the MEDA Pitch Competition. MEDAx invites young professionals, social entrepreneurs, and community innovators to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges for a chance to win up to $10,000. The MEDA Pitch Competition will take place on November 3rd at MEDA Convention 2019 in Tucson, Arizona.
1st Place Prize $10,000
Win an all-expenses paid trip to MEDA Convention 2020 in Montreal
Be a judge at MEDA Pitch Competition 2020
Have your pitch featured in marketplace Magazine
2nd Place Prize $5,000
How It Works
Explore
View and download the Official Competition Guidelines, Rubric and business model canvas.
Apply
Submit a competed application and business model canvas by September 25th online.
Attend
Attend MEDA Convention 2019 in Tucson, AZ. Finalists will be informed by September 30th
Pitch
Pitch your idea in five minutes to a full room + a panel of judges for a chance to win up to $10,000!
Official Competition Entry Guidelines
Important Dates
The 2019 MEDA Pitch Competition will be held at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona. The event takes place starting at 4:00 pm on Friday November 1, 2019. Finalists must be available to present their product, service or idea in person to the panel of judges.
- Applications Open: August 6, 2019
- Application Deadline: September 25, 2019
- Finalists Announced: Week of September 30, 2019
- Live Pitch Finale: Friday November 1, 2019
Eligibility Criteria
Teams must:
- Appoint a team leader who will be the point-of-contact with MEDA.
- Have between one and five members.
- A minimum of 51% of your social innovation must be owned by an individual under the age of 40.
- Each Team member must, at the date of November 1, 2019 be between the age of 18 and 40.
- Your team’s social innovation must be less than three years old as of November 1, 2019 and have raised less than $50,000 in funding, grants, or prize money.
- Past finalists of the MEDA Pitch Competition using the same business idea, are ineligible.
- To qualify you must provide a business plan and prove the feasibility and sustainability of your big idea.
Prizes
Prizes must be accepted as awarded. Prizes may not be sold or transferred.
First place winner will receive:
- $10,000 USD cash prize
- An all-expenses paid trip to MEDA Convention 2020 in Montreal for one team member
- One winning team member will be a judge at the 2020 MEDA Pitch Competition
- The winning pitch will be featured in Marketplace Magazine and across MEDA social media platforms
- The winning team will be partnered with a successful business professional for mentorship opportunities
Second place winner will receive:
- $5,000 USD cash prize
- The team will be partnered with a successful business professional for mentorship opportunities
Fan Favourite Award:
- Audience will vote for their favourite pitch and ask questions on the mobile app. Votes will be tallied to add bonus points to judges scores. Five points will be awarded to the team with the most votes, the team with the second most votes will receive four points, the team with the third most votes will receive three points and so on. The audience’s favourite pitch will win the fan favourite award and, as a one-time offer, be featured on all MEDA social media!
How to Enter
All applicants must submit the application requirements on-line by September 25, 2019.
1. Complete the application form.
2. Include with your application a Social Enterprise Business Model Canvas. The file must be in PDF format.
3. Include with your application a link to a YouTube video of your mini pitch.
4. Agree to terms and conditions upon application.
Your Social Enterprise Business Model Canvas must include the following:
- Key partners/suppliers/resources/activities
- Cost structure/expense analysis
- Revenue streams and model
- Market analysis and customer segment relationships
- Value propositions
- Marketing and production channels
Judging Criteria
All applications will be reviewed and five finalists will be selected. You will be judged on your business idea, product, or service, not the overall company.
All finalists will be contacted via email the week of September 30th, 2019. If MEDA is unable to connect with a finalist by October 10, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Toronto time, that finalist will be disqualified and an alternate finalist will be selected. Finalists will receive reimbursement of up to $500 USD in travel costs, $588 USD for one hotel room for three nights, and no charge for Convention registration. Only one team member is eligible to receive the coverage of these fees.
Each finalist will be asked to deliver a five-minute pitch to a live audience and a panel of judges in English and will participate in five minutes of Q&A. Each Team will pitch who they are, what they’re doing, and how they’re big idea is going to change the world! During the presentation, the audience will send their questions into a mobile app. One question from the audience will be selected, as well as one question from our expert panel of industry leaders for your team to answer during the Q & A. The judges will evaluate your pitch using the official Pitch Competition Rubric.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of three judges from the five finalists. The decision of the judging panel is final and binding. The winner of the 2019 MEDA Pitch Competition will be announced on Saturday November 2, 2019 at the evening’s closing plenary session.
The winning team must engage in follow up procedures including: cost breakdown and application of prize money, follow up interview with Marketplace magazine, and attendance at the 2020 MEDA Pitch Competition.
The odds of winning the Competition depend on the total number of eligible entries received. In order to be the declared winner of any prize, a selected contestant must, in addition to meeting the eligibility criteria in the rules, correctly answer, in person, a mathematical skills testing question without the assistance of any kind, whether electronic or otherwise.
All pitch contestants are responsible for ensuring that any material they provide to MEDA, including text, photographs, video and sound, does not violate the copyright, trademark, trade secret or any other personal or proprietary rights of any third party or is used with the permission of the owner(s) of such rights.
CloseTerms & Conditions
1. This Competition is for the general public eligible to enter and will be interpreted and subject to Canadian Federal and Ontario provincial laws and regulations.
2. By participating in this Competition each entrant agrees to be legally bound by these official contest entry rules, [including the 2019 MEDA Pitch Competition Guide].
3. MEDA reserves its right to cancel, terminate, modify, amend, extend or suspend the Competition.
4. Employees, representatives and agents of MEDA as well as anyone domiciled with or related to such employees, representatives or agents and the Competition judges are not eligible to enter, or otherwise participate in this Competition.
5. To be considered an eligible entry, MEDA reserves the right to vet entries based on consistency with MEDA’s policies and procedures.
6. MEDA shall not be liable for the failure of any contents submission or entry to be received by MEDA for any reason, including, but not limited to technical problems, traffic congestion, or for any other issues.
7. MEDA shall not be liable for any injury or damage to a contestant’s or any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in the Competition.
8. The Competition winners are solely responsible for payment of any applicable taxes and reporting any taxable income associated with winning the Competition. The prize cannot be substituted or transferred to a third party. Any additional costs not described in these rules as part of the prize that are incurred in collecting and/or using the prize are the prize winner’s responsibility.
9. Termination of Competition: MEDA reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to void any entry and/or withdraw, suspend, amend, or terminate this Competition in whole or in part (or to amend these rules) in any way at any time without prior notice (but subject to applicable law), in the event of an error, technical problem, computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of MEDA that in MEDA’s sole discretion determines, interferes with the proper conduct of this Competition as contemplated by these rules, or in the event of any accident, printing, administration or other error of any kind or for any other reason. Any attempt to undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such attempt be made; the person will be automatically disqualified, and MEDA reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extend permitted by law. MEDA reserves the right in it sole and absolute discretion and without prior notice to adjust any of the dates and or time frames stipulated in these rules, to the extent necessary for the purposes of verifying compliance by an entry with these rules, or as a result of technical problems or in light of any other circumstances which in the opinion of MEDA in its sole and absolute discretion affect the proper administration of the Competition as contemplated in these rules.
10. Personal information: By entering this contest each contestant expressly consents to MEDA its agents and or representatives, storing, sharing and using the personal information submitted with his/her entry only for the purpose of administering the Contest and in accordance with MEDA’s privacy policy [website] unless the contestant otherwise specifies by giving MEDA notice in writing.
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This Competition is administered by Mennonite Economic Development Associates of Canada. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Competition should be directed to:
Questions about MEDA?
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Media contact: Krista O'Brien, media@meda.org, 226-499-9038 or 1-800-665-7026
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm EST
MEDA Logo Download
The original MEDA logo was developed in the early 1970s at the time of MEDA's incorporation. The colour green and the images of the globe and leaf symbolize growth, renewal and our international scope of operations. The logo was refreshed in 1996, making it more contemporary with current design. While it has been changed to a word mark, it retains its original green colour, Pantone 356C (Hex#007A33 - R0 G122 B51 - C91 M4 Y100 K25), incorporating the globe into the letter D, with a leaf stemming from it.
Please referece the MEDA Corporate Colour Palette and Clear Space around the MEDA logo(s) documents in your media creation.
Below are MEDA Logos in various formats for your use. Please use Adobe Illustator or Adobe EPS files whenever possible to maintain high resolution on printed material.
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| Pantone 356U | Black | White (no black) | |
| Adobe Illustrator | Download | Download | Download |
| Adobe EPS | Download | Download | Download |
| Adobe PDF | Download | Download | Download |
| PNG | Download | Download | Download |
| JPG | Download | Download |
About the MEDA Logo - Healing a fractured world
For many years MEDA was depicted by a globe-shaped symbol which the corporate statement described as follows: "Many persons in the world community are suffering because of spiritual, social and economic needs. Hope and new life for a broken world is symbolized by a growing leaf. By showing concern and sharing, the void is filled and wholeness is restored."
The symbol was initiated by Milo Shantz and designed by Glenn Fretz in 1974.
Previously MEDA had used a symbol of a handshake to represent "brotherhood economics."
In 1974 a new charter was acquired for MEDA Canada, and the original MEDA charter in the U.S. was changed from profit to non-profit status. The timing was right for a new symbol. "We wanted something fresh," Shantz recalled later.
The symbol was revised in 1996. The new visual identity built on the old by utilizing a contemporary typeface along with a stylized "D" that retained the globe and leaf motif. It, too, was designed by Glenn Fretz.
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Get Involved
Volunteer Auditors
Do you have accounting or audit experience? Consider serving as a Volunteer Auditor at a MEDA field project! We require volunteer auditors to assist MEDA’s internal finance team with audits in our field offices around the world.
Volunteer Business and Technical Experts
Are you a business professional with senior level work experience? MEDA is looking for individuals with specific business or technical expertise to volunteer with the Enabling Growth through Investment and Enterprise (ENGINE) Program in Tanzania.
Business Volunteer Program
MEDA's Business Volunteer Program is designed to create relationships between MEDA business volunteers and business leaders who work in similiar industries or have similiar business models. The program supports a 6-month remote mentorship relationship which includes a 1-2 week in-country visit. Stay tuned for more details!
Internships
You can make a difference in the world! Explore MEDA’s local and international internship opportunities! Click here to learn more.
Questions?
Check out our Volunteer FAQs page. If you have additional questions, email volunteers@meda.org
Stay connected!
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How climate change impacts men and women differently
Climate change not only impacts agriculture through weather events such as drought – it also is expected to exacerbate current gender inequalities.
Women are on the frontlines, which is why the impacts of climate change – weather events like floods, droughts, storms etc. – further burden them disproportionately in terms of:
- Agricultural productivity – Women may produce less since climate change makes it harder to perform these tasks.
- Disasters are more likely to kill women – They are often the last ones to leave due to responsibility of care for children and the elderly.
- Time – Droughts and lack of access to water means women and girls spend more time collecting water and travelling further and further to do so. Water collection usually falls to women and girls.
The agricultural sector is often the biggest contributor to a developing country’s GDP. It is often the sector most of the population relies upon for their livelihood in these countries. Women make critical contributions to agriculture in developing countries: On average, women comprise 43% of the agricultural labor force in developing countries (20% in Latin America to 50% in Eastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa).
One thing women have in common across regions is that they have less access than men to productive resources and opportunities – land, education, finance, labor and decision making/leadership roles.
The depletion of natural resources and decreasing agricultural productivity caused by climate change place additional burdens on women and reduce their time to participate in decision-making processes and income-generating activities.
Climate-related disasters have been found to impact female-headed households more severely, too, particularly where they have fewer assets to start with. If women had the same access to productive resources as men, they could increase yields, ultimately raising total agricultural output in developing countries, which could in turn also strengthen food security.
How climate shocks and stresses further burden already struggling populations
Climate-related shocks can include:
- Natural disasters that destroy assets and livelihoods;
- Waterborne diseases and pests that become more prevalent during heat waves, floods, or droughts;
- Crop failure from reduced rainfall; and,
- Spikes in food prices that follow extreme weather events further burden those already vulnerable.
Such shocks also can impact those who are not poor and drag them into poverty – for example, a flood destroying a microenterprise, a drought eliminating a herd, or contaminated water making a child sick. Over 96% of disaster-related deaths in recent years have taken place in developing countries. Often, climate shocks can set back the development process for decades.
How climate change impacts various issues and sectors
Climate change impacts various issues and sectors:
- Health – Negatively affects the health of poor people, increases the prevalence of vector-borne diseases (for example malaria), and with increased severe weather events, vulnerability to water borne diseases.
- Economic growth – Climate change is expected to alter the path and impede economic growth due to changes in natural systems and resources, infrastructure, and labor productivity.
- Food security – Climate change poses a threat to food security by reducing natural resource productivity and by exacerbating malnutrition.
- Water and Women – Climate change further reduces access to drinking water, and as a result, prevents women’s empowerment since women and girls will have to spend more time and energy obtaining water, for example in times of drought. This is time that could be used for educational or income-generating activities.
A climate sensitive approach to economic growth
We need to re-frame development by recognizing the links between climate action and poverty.
Those who are most vulnerable are often most severely impacted by the negative impacts of climate change. That vulnerability may be:
- Geographic – SIDS (small island developing states), coastal areas, developing countries
- Financial – those living in poverty, or
- Gender – men and women are impacted differently
A climate sensitive development approach requires the understanding that these vulnerabilities, especially those that come with climate change, may impact different populations differently.
Climate change threatens the developing world in new ways, and it would be counter-productive to our goal to ignore this reality.
Learn about issues facing women in developing countries.
Hear about MEDA's projects that empower women to rise above social and cultural barriers toward improved livelihoods.
Engage with MEDA and our various projects around the world in countries like Ghana, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Nicaragua, Libya, and Kenya.
Give a generous donation* at each meeting to benefit MEDA projects.
“There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”
– Kofi Annan, Ghanaian diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations
“I do passionately believe in encouraging more women to be part of this group,” said Jan from Souderton. “We have a tremendous opportunity to do something about issues that affect women...and to change the world.” Read more online.
Donate *Tax receipted by MEDA.
2019 Meeting Schedule
Waterloo: February 7, May 2, October 3 and Dec 5 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Community Room at 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1. RSVP to: Katie West: kwest@meda.org / 519-725-1853 x330
Lancaster: More information coming soon!
Delaware Valley: More information coming soon!
Northeast Ohio: Contact Eva Keim at 330-763-4317 or via email at ebkeim@yahoo.com.
For more information, call Vanessa at 717-560-6546 or email vhofer@meda.org
At MEDA, you will contribute to enduring livelihoods through Partnerships, Innovation, Results and Impact. Through the strength of our business network, and our professional and entrepreneurial staff, we inspire real change for both individuals and local businesses in poverty-stricken communities.
MEDA is recognized as a global leader in pro-poor development, inclusive financial services, market systems and investments – particularly for women, youth and rural populations.
Culture
MEDA’s strength is found in its passionate people and positive work environment. We believe in MEDA’s mission and are purposeful and entrepreneurial in creating business solutions to poverty.
Total Rewards
Work is more than earning an income at MEDA. We provide competitive total reward packages like competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, flexible working arrangements, and supportive employee programs.
Values
We are a diverse team committed to our core performance values: respect, entrepreneurship, collaboration, and accountability. These values reflect our Mennonite roots and our commitment to business solutions to poverty.
Team
We are dedicated and talented team who are committed to making an impact. We trust, collaborate, care, and support each other and celebrate together.
Leadership
MEDA’s senior leadership team is committed, ethical, visionary, and has an open door to all. We foster an environment that encourages leadership from all levels of the organization.
Opportunity
MEDA places a high priority on staff growth and development. We provide opportunities for professional development initiatives that contribute to career growth and organization expertise.
Though our work may take place in seemingly faraway places, MEDA supporters’ time, generosity and spirit fuels MEDA’s projects, staff and clients’ work. Join us!
It is now easier than ever to be a create social change close to home. You can join MEDA in eliminating one of the world’s toughest issues – poverty.
MEDA is an industry leader in creating innovative, sustainable business solutions to poverty.
We have over 60 years of tried-and-true experience working in partnership with thousands of clients in dozens of countries. This work could not happen with support from partners, leaders and changemakers all over the world. Join us and become part of a community of like-minded individuals to network, learn, and create change and build a better future for others - together.
MEDA Convention 2019
MEDA's Network Hubs play a pivotal role in engaging and mobilizing supporters and participants for one of the largest gatherings of business professionals annually: MEDA Convention. Network Hubs act as the facilitators for Convention Grants. Check out everything you need to promote, manage, and distribute Convention Grants.
Stay in touch with what's happening with the MEDA Network
What is the Network?
The MEDA Network is an umbrella term for any supporter-led event or activity that promotes MEDA’s mission and vision. By joining the MEDA Network, you become a MEDA ambassador.
As a part of the MEDA Network, you might plan or participate in a one-night-only or limited-time-only MEDA event. This could be a MEDA get-together in your hometown, at your school, through your church, or in your own backyard.
You might also join the MEDA Network as a leader or participant of a Network Hub nearby. Or, you can start your own Hub!
What are Network Hubs?
Formerly called chapters, Network Hubs have been a MEDA staple in communities across the United States and Canada for over 30 years.
Hubs are ongoing committee-operated affinity groups. Think of Hubs as local clubs for anyone and everyone excited about MEDA’s life-changing work.
These groups build awareness about MEDA in their local community through annual meetings, events and activities.
Get started today!
There’s a role for everyone at MEDA.
We want to partner with you to empower thousands of entrepreneurs, business owners, farmers, employees and employers all around the globe.
Join us today in creating business solutions to poverty and join the MEDA Network!
Investments that benefit the poor …
another way MEDA creates business solutions to poverty
The MEDA Risk Capital Fund (MRCF, formerly the Sarona Risk Capital Fund) provides early stage capital, an important source of funding for young companies. MRCF invests in promising companies in developing countries where we see both an excellent prospect of financial success and economic benefit to poor communities.
Your donation can help make it happen!
Experience and innovation for lasting impact
MEDA's first investment – in 1953 – was a dairy serving small farmers in Paraguay's Fernheim Colony. The Sarona Dairy, named after the fertile biblical Plain of Sharon in Israel, became a smashing success.
As our partners in Paraguay repaid the investment, MEDA created a pool of capital to re-invest elsewhere on behalf of the poor.
That investment was repaid in full in 1972. The Sarona Dairy closed a few years ago, but that initial investment spun off a variety of dairies that today provide a large portion of Paraguay's milk products.
That was the beginning of MEDA – a pioneer in sharing risk with the poor – decades ahead of today's emerging impact investing trend.
The MEDA Risk Capital Fund (MRCF) provides capital, both directly and through funds, to growing companies.
Now with $19 million in total assets managed, MRCF achieves MEDA's mission of creating business solutions to poverty and creates funds to invest in these companies.
Today, MEDA also co-invests with private investors through the MRCF 1 LP fund.
Purpose
MEDA is committed to serving poor communities. MRCF focuses on ...
- leveraging profitable market and business opportunities, and,
- offering solid social and environmental dividends,
... while providing strong growth and financial returns to reinvest.
We believe investing for social impact is a powerful way to sustainably increase the prosperity, health and wellbeing of millions of families around the world.
Current projects around the world
MEDA has an extensive library of videos available on many different topics from around the world.
Explore our complete listing below:
General
Investment
Gender and Social Inclusion
Financial ServicesEthiopia
Ghana
HaitiKenyaLibya
Myanmar
NicaraguaNigeria
Pakistan
TajikistanTanzania
Ukraine |
MEDA Convention 2018
MEDA Convention 2017
MEDA Convention 2016
MEDA Convention 2016 - MEDA Next Talks
MEDA Convention 2015
German
FrenchUrdu |
Join our bold campaign
Building Enduring Livelihoods
Donate Today!
Every dollar counts when each dollar you give will be leveraged 7x in impact with matching funds from institutional partners! Your gift enables MEDA to bring hope, opportunity and economic well-being to millions of people around the world. Your gift will go towards one of MEDA’s 25 global projects, to help an estimated 10 million entrepreneurs lift their families and communities out of poverty.
Join our bold campaign
Building Enduring Livelihoods
Donate Today!
Every dollar counts when each dollar you give will be leveraged 7x in impact with matching funds from institutional partners! Your gift enables MEDA to bring hope, opportunity and economic well-being to millions of people around the world. Your gift will go towards one of MEDA’s 25 global projects, to help an estimated 10 million entrepreneurs lift their families and communities out of poverty.
At MEDA, we invest in big dreams. We partner with trusted, local businesses in over 60 countries to provide effective and sustainable change that can be measured and scaled. We know that when we work together, we can create sustainable and effective solutions to poverty. BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. Let’s use business to provide solutions to poverty. TOGETHER. Give today!
Your gift is multiplied in impact up to seven times, on average, through funding from government and organizational donors.
Join the Campaign and support MEDA’s bold vision
Building Enduring Livelihoods
MEDA’s business-solutions approach to poverty is having an amazing impact and garnering much attention. As a result, there are a growing number of opportunities to get involved – increasing impact beyond what we ever dreamed possible. Your financial gift is what makes this a reality!
Help us Reach the Finish Line Today!$47.5 Million
gifts and commitments made to date
$2.5 Million
remaining to meet our target
10 Million
entrepreneurs will be impacted positively
Building Enduring Livelihoods Campaign
An exciting opportunity to help 10 million entrepreneurs
Today, through our Building Enduring Livelihoods (BEL) campaign, we’re working to fund 31 major MEDA projects, which will help an estimated 10 million entrepreneurs lift their families and communities out of poverty.
Through this campaign, we’re looking to raise $50 million in private donor support, which will unlock over $300 million dollars from institutional funders to support this work. This means every $1 dollar given by you will be leveraged 7X in impact with matching funds from institutional partners.
Tanzania
Project: SSBVC
PCT and Mamboleo Farms
Lead firms such as Pyrethrum Company of Tanzania (PCT), part of MEDA’s Strengthening Small Business Value Chain (SSBVC) project, are working to drive economic growth for over 20,000 small entrepreneurs in Tanzania. With MEDA’s help, the firm makes irrigation systems accessible to small farmers, allowing them to transform land of marginal productivity into land that can support reliable outputs. As a result, both the productivity and the price of crops have increased for clients like Mamboleo Farms. “Because of MEDA, I have upgraded my home, purchased additional livestock, and I am sending my children to school for the first time. Now I can also give back to my community, ” said Anangisye Mwankina of Mamboleo Farms, a top producing farmer for Pyrethrum Company of Tanzania.
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Project: GROW
Assibi Sumani
Before Assibi Sumani became involved with MEDA’s GROW (Greater Opportunities for Rural Woman) program in Ghana, she and her husband struggled to send their five children to school and to repair their leaky roof.
In her first year with GROW, Assibi cultivated two acres of soybeans and harvested 10 bags, weighing approximately 1,000 kg. With the profits, she was able to build a two-bedroom house. “Now my family is not afraid of when the next rain will come. GROW has shown us how to plan and taught us agronomic practices on how to plant soybeans, helping us increase our yield.”
Assibi has seen the benefits of GROW and offers this advice to her follow women farmers: “Take you work seriously. For now, you will not see the benefit, but in the future you will improve your lives.”
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Project: UHBDP
Nataliia Kvitka
When Nataliia Kvitka joined MEDA’s Ukraine Horticulture Business Development Project (UHBDP) and partnered with Ukrainian Women Farmers Council (UWFC), she accessed valuable information, support, and networks to build her business selling herbal teas.
With training from UHBDP partner MASHAV, Nataliia created a website and Facebook page and learned how to reach a whole new audience online. In four months, her Facebook page had 46 orders, 22 comments, and 100 messages. “The course immensely boosted my self-confidence as an entrepreneur,” she said.
Now Nataliia wants to expand production, increase her growing area from 50 acres, and buy a building to store and dry herbs. She also plans to sell to other European countries. “We can enter the world market with this product and succeed.
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Learn how donations are having an impact:
Working together to reach our goal
We’re excited to report that, as of April 2019, we have:
- $47.5 million in commitments
- 6.4 million entrepreneurs and their families are living more dignified, prosperous lives
Together, we are still looking to secure $2.5 million in private donations to help 3.6 million families and reach our goal.
MEDA works with partners like you! We need sponsorship at all levels and thank you in advance for doing what you can to help us extend our reach – and help more people around the world build sustainable livelihoods!
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who has given to this campaign. Together we are making a real and lasting change in our world.
Join our campaign
Help us reach the finish line today!
In the United States:
Michael Miller
Sr. Director, Resource Development, Western U.S.
620-694-7497
Bethany Nussbaum
Sr. Development Officer, Central U.S. and Florida
717-560-6546
Ruth Leaman
Sr. Development Officer – Campaign Director, Eastern Seaboard
717-371-4580
In Canada:
Dean Shoemaker
Sr. Development Officer, Eastern Canada
519-823-3033
John Goossen
Sr. Development Officer – Western Canada
604-505-1911
Building Enduring Livelihoods has relevance everywhere ... it is one of the most important initiatives we in the developed world can be involved with!”
- Dave & Ester DeFehr
Executive Leadership Team
Dr. Dorothy Nyambi
Chief Executive Officer and President
Dorothy's 25+ years career in the international and entrepreneurial sectors is informed by her unique life experiences working on the ground in developing countries (long-term development and humanitarian), with a lifelong focus to ensure women and girls are not left behind. Bilingual in English and French, with a tested C-suite experience across CEO, COO, Executive Team and organizational phases of start-up, rapid growth, crisis and turnaround, Dorothy's professional experience includes strengthening business processes and mobilizing funding in support of grassroots movements, community impact, and diversity in Africa, North America, Eastern Europe, Asia , Latin America & Caribbean, and the Middle East. Passionate about Gender Equality and inclusion, Dorothy has been a leader and founding member of Gender Summit Africa (Cape Town 2015 and Kigali 2018); member of AWID for the past 15 years; board director, Kigali Collaborative Research Centre (KCRC) - Carnegie Mellon University; member of the Board Room Africa focused on mentoring and getting young African women into governance roles across the continent though selection, training and mentoring.
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Chief Operations Officer
Kim provides the vision and strategic leadership of MEDA’s international operations. With her valuable field experience in countries like Haiti and Tajikistan, Kim provides informed insight and direction in MEDA’s project design, implementation and reporting. Kim’s experience in private sector development and support for vulnerable populations around the world has come from over 25 years of experience serving with MEDA in different capacities. Her field experience has served the organization well as it’s mandate has expanded to serve economically marginalized populations around the world. Kim has a keen understanding of the challenges and barriers women and youth face due to her extensive experience working in countries like Mozambique, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Romania, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Kim currently serves on the Board of Directors of IMON, a microfinance institution in Tajikistan and has been a faculty member at the Boulder Microfinance Training Institute on Leadership and Strategic Human Resource Management for over 15 years.
CloseGerald Morrison
Chief Financial Officer
Gerald provides financial oversight of MEDA – an organization with 37M US in annual revenue and $40M US in assets. As MEDA’s CFO, Gerald manages and directs MEDA’s Sarona Risk Capital Fund, a pool of investment assets that invests in promising companies and private funds that benefit poor communities while having a high likelihood of success. Gerald currently serves as the Board Chair of Business Partners East Africa and as MEDA’s shareholder representative to numerous companies including MiCredito, Sarona funds, MicroVest and IMON.
CloseMichael White
Chief Strategic Engagement Officer
With over 12 years of fundraising experience and 100 million dollars of success in cultivating transparent, meaningful and trusting relationships, Michael is dedicated to journeying with people in realizing their philanthropic vision. Michael is passionate about listening to the knowledge, wisdom and values of MEDA donors and helping them discover the impact of their giving. An optimist, Michael is excited to help individuals and communities blend their philanthropic passions with ethical business. Michael believes that MEDA supporters are the key to MEDA’s success to create business solutions to poverty around the world.
CloseSusie Cochran
Executive Assistant and Board Relations Manager
In this role, Susie provides direct administrative support to the CEO and Board members. Susie brings her organized and professional work ethic to manage the administration of the MEDA board, including the coordination of national and international board meetings, document management and ongoing communication. She holds a masters in Local Economic Development from the University of Waterloo and has experience serving clients in the Canadian financial sector and coordinating programs for provincial environment initiatives.
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Dr. Dorothy Nyambi
Chief Executive Officer and President
Kim Pityn
Chief Operations Officer
Gerald Morrison
Chief Financial Officer
Michael White
Chief Strategic Engagement Officer
Susie Cochran
Executive Assistant and Board Relations Manager
Programs Team
Dr. Linda Jones
Vice-President of Partnerships & Innovation
Linda heads up a team that leads on business development, partnerships and technical innovation and direction across MEDA’s global programming. Linda is an internationally recognized expert in the field of inclusive economic development, with a focus on the integration of vulnerable populations, especially women, into market systems and financial sectors. Currently the Vice-President of Partnerships & Innovation at MEDA, Linda has held senior positions at the Aga Khan Foundation in Geneva, the Coady International Institute and Open Text Corporation. During ten years as a consultant, Linda advised on a wide range of bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental development programs, with extensive experience in strategic development, field research, building the capacity of project teams, and training policy makers and practitioners through recognized institutions such as the ILO, Boulder Institute and CGIAR among others. Linda has contributed to building the inclusive economic development field in key roles such as: co-founding and chairing the Canadian Forum for Impact Investment and Development; serving as a board member and chair of the SEEP Network (DC); advising the Eurasia Foundation on women’s enterprise development; publishing extensively from articles in peer-reviewed journal to books and reports; and serving as editor of the Enterprise Development and Microfinance Journal. Jones holds a MA and Ph.D. in Anthropology and Linguistics from McMaster University in Canada where she received numerous awards for academic excellence including a Commonwealth Scholarship and a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada graduate fellowship.
CloseJerry Quigley
Sr.Vice-President of Programs
Since 1990, Jerry has worked in various management positions with Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). Jerry is currently Senior Vice President of Programs at MEDA, providing oversight to MEDA's three geographic areas of focus; West Africa/MENA Programs, Eastern Southern and Central Africa Programs, and Global Programs. He has served on numerous boards including several years as chair of the board of IMON microfinance bank in Tajikistan, chair of the board of Agro Capital Management in Ukraine and the chair of IMON Foundation in Tajikistan. Jerry is a seasoned consultant having executed a wide array of assignments including business and marketing plans, program designs and evaluations.
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Dr. Linda Jones
Vice-President of Partnerships & Innovation
Jerry Quigley
Sr.Vice-President of Programs
Resource Development
John Goossen
Sr. Development Officer for Western Canada
John has a breadth of professional experience in business, both as an entrepreneur in several businesses and also as a senior marketing executive in larger companies. He is also well connected in Mennonite circles across Western Canada. John lives in British Columbia and travels regularly throughout the Western Region of Canada engaging with MEDA supporters.
Book for speaking engagement CloseMike Miller
Sr. Director of Resource Development
Michael has an extensive background in sales, marketing and financial advising. From 1991 to 2010, he worked for Mennonite Mutual Aid in Goshen, Indiana – nine years as regional sales manager/regional vice-president, and the past 10 years as regional representative/vice president with the Mennonite Foundation/MMA Trust Company. Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the Williams College in Williamstown, MA. Working from his home office in Kansas, Michael is responsible for the US Mid-West territory.
Book for speaking engagement CloseRuth Leaman
Sr. Development Officer, Campaign Director
Ruth brings six years of successful fundraising experience in Mennonite education to her new role. Ruth most recently worked at Hinkletown Mennonite School, where she led a major capital campaign as their director of advancement. Previously, as an executive advancement associate at Lancaster Mennonite School, she launched an international development program.
Book for speaking engagement CloseBethany Nussbaum
Sr. Development Officer
Bethany is in her 14th year of professional fundraising. She comes most recently from Central Christian School in Kidron, Ohio, where she provided leadership to fundraising and marketing efforts as advancement director. Prior to that, she served as development associate and communications coordinator at Mennonite Mission Network. Bethany earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication and public relations from Goshen College, a certificate in fundraising management from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, and her MBA, in leadership from Goshen College.
Book for speaking engagement CloseDean Shoemaker
Sr. Development Officer
Dean is originally from Elmira, Ontario and has worked in the Mennonite Community early in his career with the Mennonite Savings and Credit Union (MSCU). After leaving MSCU he worked for 5 years in the private sector for a company called GrowersFlowers Inc. (Thiessen’s Greenhouses) in Leamington, Ontario. There he was responsible for Marketing and Sales. After GrowerFlowers he worked for a non-profit Trade Association called Flowers Canada (Ontario) Inc., in the areas of Business Development and then Marketing. When the Executive Director of Flowers Canada retired, Dean was promoted into that position and continued in that role for 5 years.
Book for speaking engagement Close
John Goossen
Sr. Development Officer for Western Canada
Mike Miller
Sr. Director of Resource Development
Ruth Leaman
Sr. Development Officer, Campaign Director
Bethany Nussbaum
Sr. Development Officer
Dean Shoemaker
Sr. Development Officer
The MEDA Board of Directors is composed of volunteer members who bring together diverse skillsets in areas including entrepreneurship, finance, business operations, and investment. The board develops and guides organizational strategy, provides governance oversight, and proactively monitors risk (fiduciary, operational, reputational, etc.). Members serve a maximum of three 3-year terms. Four core committees operate within the board: executive, finance, audit, and nomination. For more information on the work of each committee, click on the links below.
Executive Committee
The Executive committee meets 5 times annually to review the organization status, ensuring alignment between strategy and performance. The committee reviews board nominations and supports the board chair in setting meeting agendas.
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The Finance Committee is responsible for overseeing MEDA's administrative and financial activities.
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The Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring that reliable financial and management audits are carried out on MEDA projects and that audit policies are current, safeguarding the effectiveness and efficiency of operations.
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The Board Membership and Nomination Committee is responsible for identifying, recruiting, nominating and training new members of the Board and its committees. It ensures the recognition of the services of retiring directors, staff, advisors, and others who merit recognition by MEDA. In addition, this committee ensures performance evaluations are completed for the Board and individual directors.
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Officers
Tim Penner
Chair / Kansas, USA
Tim is president of Harper Industries, which manufactures specialized agricultural, industrial and turf products – from flatbeds and hydraulics to bale loaders and all-terrain mowers.
Tim got to know MEDA while serving with Mennonite Central Committee in Bolivia and says he was "very impressed with how MEDA operated in economic development, job creation and micro-loans." Ever since then, economic development has been in his blood. His children caught it, too. Son Daniel spent part of last year with MEDA Paraguay, and daughter Jessica works with Plowsharing Crafts, based in St. Louis.
Tim and his wife, Faith, like to bring fellow employees to the annual MEDA convention. "That has been a lot of fun," he says. "It's just amazing how often during the year those times together as a business group, with spouses, come up in conversation as people reflect on what they learned."
A MEDA investment club that former MEDA staffer Peter Wiebe helped start a dozen years ago still meets on the first Saturday of each month. "I don't think we've ever missed a Saturday," Tim says. The group has invested in two MEDA entities – Sarona and MicroVest.
Tim enjoys sports and reads widely. Recently he and his brother planted native grasses and several hundred trees on their farm in Nebraska to create a wildlife habitat and return some of the land to its natural state. Another "hobby" is the sister church relationship between his local congregation and a Mennonite church in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. "About every other year there is some kind of fraternal visit – either we go there, or they come here," Tim says. "That church started in Santa Cruz in the 1970s, and now there are 10 churches in the area."
CloseJenny Shantz
Vice-Chair and Nominating Committee member/ Ontario, Canada
Jenny Shantz of Mercedes Corporation, and co-owner of Stone Crock Inc, a family operated restaurant and food service business, has actively been involved in St Jacobs’s operations since 1991. She has managed and developed the St. Jacobs Country brand since 2002, creating a partner marketing consortium and taking an active role in regional tourism development efforts.
Jenny is vice chair of the Grand Philharmonic Choir and past president of the Centre for Family Business, Waterloo Region. She continues to be active with a number of community organizations including The Mennonite Story Inc.
“MEDA is hopeful and positive. In a world of distress and turmoil, MEDA’s work and involvements encourage us to keep looking forward. Not only is it motivating for those businesses and clients who we partner with around the world, but also for us as donors who get involved and contribute on various levels. MEDA is creative and not paternalistic. It actively creates projects and partnerships that have potential to outlive MEDA’s involvement.”
Jenny and her husband, Willem Moolenbeek, live in Waterloo, Ontario.
CloseZach Bishop
Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair/Colorado, USA
Zach Bishop is Senior Vice President, Public Finance for D.A. Davidson & Co. in Denver, specializing in investment banking for local governments. His work primarily involves raising capital for real estate development, whether for a new residential neighborhood or the redevelopment of blighted urban projects. That gives him a lot of affinity for the deeper undercurrents of MEDA's investment activities. His father, Tom, was a long-time member of MEDA's board of directors who also served as MEDA treasurer, chair of its finance committee, and as a member of the board of MEDA Investments Inc./Sarona.
"What attracted me to MEDA is the sustainable, market-based approach," says Zach. That was reinforced in February when Zach toured MEDA's Ethiopia project, which assists rice farmers and weavers. He was struck by the number of non-government organizations (NGOs), as seen by all the signs in the towns and along the roadside. While he does not doubt those organizations' good intentions, he believes MEDA scores higher on long-lasting sustainable impact. He was also highly impressed by MEDA's Ethiopia staff.
Zach and his wife, Christina Alderfer, have two sons, four and two, and keeping up with them almost constitutes a hobby for Dad. "They're big train lovers so we're always looking for the next train ride for them," he says.
CloseGary Leis
Secretary / Ontario, Canada
Gary Leis is President and CEO of Leis Pet Distributing Inc., which distributes pet food and supplies to independent pet retailers across Eastern Canada. Between the head office in Wellesley, Ontario and a second location in Moncton, New Brunswick, Leis Pet employs 65 full and part time employees.
As a long-time social and peace activist, Gary has always struggled trying to justify feeding pets for a living but has found comfort in MEDA. "Belonging to an organization like MEDA, meeting other business people and financially supporting the poorest of the poor in an entrepreneurial setting has given me a sense of social responsibility. What better way to achieve world peace by meeting the basic needs of people around the world?"
Gary was first introduced to MEDA through the local Waterloo chapter, where he became a member of the local board for nine years and served six years as Board Chair. As a semi-retired person, he felt the need for a new challenge. It was his belief in MEDA's mission, coupled with his business experience, that made MEDA a natural fit.
Gary says it's not only important to help people start businesses, but also to complete the value chain from producer to the end user, as MEDA does. He added how rewarding it is to see their lives improve in a sustainable way. "My MEDA dollars are multiplied many times over by government and other funders. The management and staff at MEDA are second to none. I trust them with my donated dollars."
Gary and his wife, Brenda Sauder, have three children and six grandchildren. Active in his community, Gary is a member of the Wellesley Lions Club and is a member of Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church. His hobbies include golf, hockey, camping and fishing.
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Tim Penner
Chair / Kansas, USA
Jenny Shantz
Vice Chair and Nominating Committee member / Ontario, Canada
Zach Bishop
Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair / Colorado, USA
Gary Leis
Secretary / Ontario, Canada
Board of Directors
Abe Fehr
Audit Committee Chair / Ontario, Canada
Abe Fehr is the owner of Uni-Fab, a metal fabricating company they founded in 1991. With 130 employees, Uni-Fab specializes in custom metal fabrication of machine enclosures that they ship across North America as well as globally.
Abe and his wife Lisa became acquainted with MEDA in 2005 on a MEDA tour to Egypt. They liked what they saw, and in 2008 went on a MEDA tour to Romania. In 2009, Abe also visited MEDA's Ukraine Horticultural Development Project (UHDP). On his time on the Board they have also visited MEDA projects in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Ghana & Nicaragua. Seeing projects first hand reinforces his support for MEDA.
He particularly appreciates MEDA's emphasis on creating multiple levels of value chain for the clients we work with.
Abe and Lisa, married 35 years, have three grown children: Helen, married to Geordie Hagerman, she is a teacher in Kitchener-Waterloo; David, is working in construction in Calgary; and Mary, who is studying for her Master's in Business at Wilfred Laurier University. Besides being an avid golfer, Abe also owned the Leamington Flyers Junior Hockey team for the past 8 years.
CloseAlbert Friesen
Past Chair / Manitoba, Canada
Bert Friesen founder, President, CEO and Board Chair of Medicure Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization cardiovascular drugs for the U.S. market. He is also founder, President and CEO of Genesys Ventures Inc., which helps scientists commercialize their human therapy research. Genesys selects the most promising prospects and helps them form a company, license the technology, provide all the regulatory and financial expertise, and try to commercialize the business. Dr. Friesen played a key role in founding several health industry companies including the first employee and President of the Winnipeg Rh Institute for over 20 years where he oversaw the development of WinRho, a drug which prevents Rh disease of the newborn.
"What initially intrigued me about MEDA was the combination of providing a forum to explore and discuss work and faith, and then to help the poor with a business solutions" says Bert. He found the emphasis on efficiency and sustainability appealing. "That's what I do for a business, so I really associated with that."
His appreciation for the international dimension deepened when he joined a MEDA trip to Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia with Gerhard Pries to see how business solutions relieved poverty. "The entrepreneurship surprised me," Bert recalls. "To see firsthand the excitement and entrepreneurship of Bolivian farmers at work was awakening."
Bert is a big sports fan. He loves golf and plays whenever he can. He played hockey in university and still straps on the skates.
CloseCrystal Weaver
Nominating Committee member / Pennsylvania, USA
Crystal Weaver is a visionary who enjoys creating businesses that contribute specifically to the social landscape of Lancaster city.
Her specific passion and experience is in creating job opportunities within the hospitality sector that are meaningful, empowering, and forward thinking. Crystal loves connecting people and places in ways that have lasting impact.
Her strong work ethic and commitment to the city have been evident in the success of Prince St Cafe, Passenger Coffee Roasting, as well as prior city business ventures in a market stand and residential housing. Despite her upbringing on a working farm in Millersville, Crystal has lived in Lancaster city for over a decade and cannot imagine life any other way.
CloseDallas Steiner
Ohio, USA
Dallas Steiner is CEO/COB of Venture Products Inc. with its headquarters in Orrville, Ohio. Venture is a global company that designs and manufactures two product lines; VENTRAC, a compact tractor with over 30 commercial grade attachments for markets that include slope mowing, golf courses, landscape/snow contractors, and municipalities, and TILMOR, a small agricultural tractor with implements and tool equipment that provide innovative solutions built for small-scale farms.
Steiner describes himself as passionate about MEDA's mission, vision and values. His own acquaintance with the organization goes back to the late 1970s when he served with Mennonite Central Committee in Bolivia and worked collaboratively with MEDA's agricultural team.
"MEDA provides that spark of hope in a person's life that can ignite into a flame," Steiner says. "When that flame ignites, it makes such an impact and changes their own personal life, their families, schools, churches, communities and countries. I am honored to be a part of this type of activity!"
Since Steiner spends half his time on international sales to keep up with the volume of VENTRAC products exported, he is on the road a fair bit. With his frequent travels, Steiner admits, "I just love to come home. I have such a wonderful family and enjoy them so much. I have nine grandkids and enjoy spending time with them; they are such a joy."
CloseDonovan Nickel
Colorado, USA
“I started in digital electronics when the computer industry was in its infancy,” says new MEDA board member Donovan Nickel of his long career with Hewlett‑Packard, where he ended up as a vice‑president leading two global divisions. When he retired in his early 50s he wasn’t ready to “sit on the porch and sip lemonade.” Today he keeps busy with business and investment management, consulting, a house construction project, a farm operation of wheat, milo and beans in Kansas, and involvement with non‑profits.
Donovan appreciates MEDA’s track record of effectiveness based on strong leadership and solid management processes, as well as its “congruence and alignment between who we say we are and what we say we do, and who we actually are and what we actually do.” He also likes MEDA’s focus on sustainable economic and opportunity development through market‑based principles and investments. Not only does it work, he says, but it also fits well with his own values and beliefs on how to accomplish positive outcomes in areas of need.
Donovan and his wife, Jewel, who have three daughters in various stages of advanced education, travel “for fun” when possible (such as MEDA’s recent board tour to Ethiopia; in the photo above he’s getting a quick course in weaving). He enjoys scuba diving in island locations and exploring Colorado’s back country on his mountain bike. Donovan also maintains a well‑equipped woodwork shop, where he builds furniture, as well as a metal machine shop complete with lathe, milling machine and welder to enable his hobby projects.
CloseGregory Gaeddert
Finance Committee member/Kansas, USA
Greg Gaeddert is a managing partner with B12 Capital Partners and B12 Real Estate Advisors, a private equity investment firm located in Kansas City, MO. He has experience in investments focused on manufacturing, distribution and real estate related entities. His private equity investment interests are the culmination of five -years of direct employment in manufacturing entities and eleven-years of commercial banking, most recently as executive vice president and commercial banking group manager for one of the large regional U.S. banks. Greg serves on the boards of numerous manufacturing, distribution, and financial servies and non-profit entities. He is a graduate of Bethel College, and the University of Kansas where he earned an MBA with a focus on finance.
Greg enjoys the work of MEDA and its ties to the global community. The “blended finance” that MEDA has become known for resonates with him due to its similarities to the private equity investing, consulting and end market customer engagement roles of his “day job.” Providing business solutions to poverty is more than a passion, it’s a responsibility for those of us fortunate enough to offer assistance to the working poor with aspirations for more.
Greg and his wife, Terri, live in Leawood, Kansas. They have three children. Greg’s interests include travel, history, art and outdoor sport.
CloseJeremy Showalter
Washington, USA
Jeremy works in global sales and scale engagement with non profit customers in the Microsoft Philanthropies Technology for Social Impact group. He has worked for both Microsoft Ireland and Microsoft Vietnam, recently serving as Chief Operations Officer and Chief Marketing Officer for Microsoft Vietnam Jeremy is an avid learner, earning degrees from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, George Washington University, and Rose-Hu Iman Institute of Technology.
Jeremy first connected with MEDA when he was in college through the Northern Indiana chapter. He has acted as advisor of several technological improvements at MEDA over the past years and appreciates MEDA's value of faith and development via business solutions with a focus on vulnerable populations in emerging markets.
Jeremy and his wife Pa'lee have enjoyed raising their three children across different cultures and being active members of church communities wherever they are living.
CloseJim Alvarez
Indiana, USA
Jim Alvarez is chief financial officer of Everence Financial, which offers banking, insurance and financial services with community benefits and stewardship education. He joined Everence in 2006 after gaining broad industry experience in food processing and international grain markets in Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Texas. He got his start in the family grain and feed business in 1988 after earning an MBA in Marketing from Pennsylvania State University and a BA Economics from Goshen College.
Jim serves as board member for the Goshen Health System in Goshen, Indiana, and Mennonite Health System in Puerto Rico. Jim lives in Goshen, Indiana.
“It is fulfilling to be a part of MEDA. This is an organization that closely connects donors, staff and board members with people in significant need around the world. While we engage rationally by providing business solutions to poverty we also experience the emotion of literally improving the livelihood of people. Travelling and personally visiting with recipients of of our services fill me with tremendous joy.”
Jim enjoys endurance bicycling and travelling.
CloseJim Miller
Finance, Audit and Nominating Committee member / Florida, USA
Jim Miller is founder and CEO of JMX Brands, a Florida e-commerce company recognized as one of the top 1,000 internet retailers in America. The company’s flagship brand, DutchCrafters, is the largest e-commerce brand of Amish-made furniture.
Jim was also founding director of Goshen College Sarasota, and has taught at Goshen and Eckerd colleges. He served as associate pastor at Bahia Vista Mennonite Church (1993-1998), in various capacities with Southeast Mennonite Conference, and in a transitional role as bi-vocational pastor at Covenant Mennonite Fellowship (2011-2013), where he still attends.
A graduate of Goshen College, he earned a Master’s Degree in management from the University of South Florida, and studied at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Eastern Mennonite University and Bethel Theological Seminary.
Jim gives generously of his time through community service, including twice as president of MEDA’s Sarasota chapter and playing a formative role in the chapter’s development. He is currently a member of the board of directors at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana.
“For me MEDA’s faith perspective is compelling. MEDA blends compassion with effective solutions to change economic systems. While this is not the only appropriate response to poverty, it certainly resonates with me as a way to use my gifts as a business leader to following the way of Jesus in a complex world.”
Jim and his wife, Linse, have two adult sons, James and Alexander, and two teenage daughters, Alysa and Brielle. His interests include tennis, boating, fishing, reading and traveling.
CloseJohn Schroeder
British Columbia, Canada
John and his wife, Kelly, own Valleybrook Gardens, a leading North American producer of containerized perennials for independent garden centers. They established the company right after John graduated from university in 1980, and today grow 1,500 varieties of perennials, ornamental grasses, herbs and succulents. John and Kelly have four daughters and twelve grandchildren to keep them young.
John has been involved with MEDA since his university days, more than 40 years ago. MEDA's work with small-scale producers in developing countries resonates with his own entrepreneurial spirit. "I love to see opportunity, get something started, get in there and be hands-on," he says. He likes MEDA's efforts to create business solutions to poverty. "I've always been a great fan of using good business principles to solve problems," he says.
John has participated in a number of MEDA related trips, including Ethiopia and Nicaragua. Seeing some of the projects and meeting with farmers and entrepreneurs whose lives have been changed dure to MEDA's work is "humbling and fulfilling at the same time" he says. "You can read about it and you can watch videos but to actually be face to face and see it allows you to personalize it in a dramatic way."
John is an avid reader (especially history) and photographer. "I love to travel," he says. "It's my favorite activity. I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning." John and Kelly share their love of travel by organizing and leading garden tours to destinations around the world.
CloseJoyce Bontrager Lehman
New Hampshire, USA
Joyce Bontrager Lehman has been working in international economic development for the past 20 years, first with the MEDA Consulting Group and most recently as a Program Officer with the Financial Services for the Poor team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she managed a $100 million grant and contract portfolio that funded projects throughout the developing world. From 2003 through 2007, Joyce spent most of her time in Afghanistan working with the World Bank, USAID and other bi-lateral donors to establish and support a microfinance sector. Currently, she is an independent advisor with a focus on financial inclusion using digital delivery channels.
While she admits to having been invited to join other boards, she acknowledges MEDA's "is the one I felt was most closely aligned with my own work and passion. I also like the way MEDA staff involves the board in the field projects or MEDA investments as appropriate." She is now on the board of MiCredito, a microfinance institution in Nicaragua that's partially owned by MEDA and MEDA members.
"The business approach to poverty encourages, even demands, innovation and flexibility in project design. Things change quickly in the industry and MEDA has been good at responding to new priorities...if I didn't love and believe in what the organization is doing, I wouldn't be able to support it."
While hard to pick a favorite memory, Joyce shares that she'll never forget the first microcredit client she visited in Managua in 1998. She recalls being so impressed at how an illiterate woman knew both the CHISPA (a MEDA-supported microcredit program) loan terms and how much additional daily income she was able to make by using the $75 loan to purchase four months of firewood for her tortilla stand in bulk instead of every day. "The increase in income was enough to permit her to send one of her boys to school and also to buy fruits and vegetables so her family could have a more nutritional diet. Illiteracy does not imply incompetence."
Living in New Hampshire, Joyce has two adult children who live on the west coast – one in Seattle and one in Portland, Oregon. She loves to travel, especially to places she hasn't been before, and is nearing her goal of travel to 100 countries.
CloseKarin Krahn
Alberta, Canada
Karin Krahn works for an oil and gas company (Nexen, A CNOOC Limited Company) in Calgary, AB. She is currently the Manager, Operations and G&A Accounting for the Canadian Operations. Previously she was the Manager, Risk Management and Internal Controls for the company. Karin received her Canadian CPA designation in 2002 after graduating from University of Saskatchewan with a BA, majoring in Psychology and a BComm, majoring in Accounting. In between degrees, she worked with adults with developmental disabilities placing them into wage-earning positions.
While serving on the Abundance Canada (formerly Mennonite Foundation of Canada) board, Karin met Abe Fehr, a current MEDA board member. After many conversations about similar values and interests, Karin found herself drawn to the mission that MEDA has to reach out globally to assist people to enhance their livelihoods and support their families through business opportunities that they see, but need a little assistance.
Karin and her partner, Harold, enjoy watching sports, specifically football, both Canadian and the NFL. Both have spent time travelling with previous jobs and roles so spending a little more time around home and at their little place in Radium Hot Springs, BC are high on their relaxation list.
CloseMarianne Unruh
Audit Committee member/California, USA
Marianne Unruh developed a passion for produce selling peaches out of an old pickup truck in high school. After studying Biology at the University of Kentucky, she decided to return home to California and jump head-long into produce. For numerous years she worked as a commodity manager for a large retailer buying and selling fresh produce.
In 2006, Marianne decided she missed being in the fields and decided to start her own business, Fresh Solutions. Today Fresh Solutions provides on-the-ground buying services to retailers and food service vendors in several states following the produce seasons. She also serves on the board of the Mennonite Aid Plan of the Pacific Coast.
Marianne attends First Mennonite in Reedley, California, and is Auntie M to numerous nieces and nephews. She is a huge San Francisco 49er fan and loves watching college football. She also enjoys classic cars.
Why MEDA? "I was first drawn in by like-minded business people who were willing to open up about their business experience. Through the years I have kept coming back to MEDA because of their creative, business-minded solutions to poverty."
CloseMyrl Nofziger
Audit Committee member / Indiana, USA
Myrl Nofziger has had a 52-year career in real estate. He is board chairman of Hoogenbomm-Nofziger, which has developed many areas in the vicinity of Goshen, IN. the company has a variety of holdings - from apartments, commercial, retail, office, bank and industrial buildings to gas stations.
A graduate of Goshen college and Indiana University, Myrl has served on many boards in his community - churches, businesses, banks and public companies, and many different committees. He is passionate about philanthropy, estate planning, deferred giving and working with endowments for non-profits. His hobbies include travel, jogging, golf, woodworking and reading.
A long-time MEDA supporter and Sarona investor, Myrl has attended many conventions and traveled to various MEDA projects. In both a seminar at a MEDA convention and in Marketplace magazine he has expressed the importance of planned giving, philanthropy and preparing one's testament.
Myrl and his wife Phyllis, split thier time between Goshen, where they attend College Mennonite Church, and Green Valley AZ. They enjoy spending time with their four children and six grandchildren.
ClosePat Vendrely
Executive member and Nominating Committee Chair / Indiana, USA
Pat is president & CEO of TGI Systems Corporation, which provides signage, graphics, display systems and services (design, install, event management) to the sporting sector of the marketplace. If you've ever watched a soccer match on TV you've probably seen his work – the bright graphics and dazzling perimeter signage along the sidelines.
Pat has been active with MEDA at the local level, helping start a MEDA chapter in Chicago and heading up planning for the annual entrepreneurs conference in Palm Springs, California. He likes the Mennonite church's "best-kept secret," especially the way it multiplies donations by 10 times for greater impact on the field. "With a ratio like that, why not invest/donate?" he says. "What better form of stewardship and utilization of talents with our values?"
"I enjoy attending conventions and forging lifetime relationships with other businessfolk whose goals and objectives are similar to mine," he says. "As Coach John Wooden said when asked why he coaches basketball, 'Where else do you find more splendid company?'" With an appetite for international business in his own pursuites, Pat "can't wait" for a trip to a MEDA project.
Pat likes to travel with his family – wife Ann and twin children, Chris and Kate – to new and favorite places like Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Europe. "Certainly we like to watch soccer matches live, like the FIFA World Cup matches," he says. "Hanging out at our Lake House in the summer is always a favorite fun time."
ClosePeter Dueck
Executive and Nominating Committee member / Manitoba, Canada
Peter Dueck is co-president of Vidir Machine Inc., which specializes in storage and handling solutions for big box stores such as display and storage mechanisms for carpets, vinyl flooring, tires and bicycles. They sell widely to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Chile and Australia.
A former pastor, Peter sees a great deal of skills transference between church ministry and business. "Seminary prepares you to be an ethical, moral businessman," he says, "and business teaches you how to behave, act and interact with people, which you need in the church."
While some agencies seem like "big black holes that you just pour money into," MEDA aims to create durable business solutions to poverty. When Peter speaks to others about MEDA, "they always want to know more" and would like to become involved. "It's a charity that kind of sells itself."
In 2009, Peter joined a MEDA tour to the Mennonite World Conference assembly in Paraguay, and enjoyed visiting early MEDA sites there as well as touring current projects in Peru. He also climbed to the top of Machu Pichu with MEDA president Allan Sauder. "It was an absolutely exhilarating experience."
Peter and Trudy, parents of two adult children, enjoy summer visits to their Hecla Island cabin on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. In winter Peter enjoys downhill skiing and snowmobiling.
CloseRick Martin
Finance Committee member / Ontario, Canada
Rick is general manager of Wallenstein Feed & Supply Ltd., Ontario's largest feed mill. The business his father began in 1958 now operates 24 hours a day, six days a week, providing a complete range of nutritional solutions for Ontario's livestock and poultry farmers.
Rick is a director of Ontario Agri Business Association, Chesley Lake Camp and Hallman Chapel. He enjoys playing golf and curling, chess and math puzzles and reading.
Rick likes the way MEDA uses microfinance to help women (and families) gain independence and status in countries where this is not the norm. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Elmira, Ontario. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.
CloseVerda Beachey
Florida, USA
Verda is no stranger to MEDA, having served on the board of the Sarasota chapter, assisting with audits, and helping plan MEDA board tours to Tajikistan and Tanzania.
Verda, her husband Dale, and their grandchildren participated in the recent Tanzania board tour to see first-hand the impact of MEDA's projects. Verda's 25 years of involvement with MEDA has inspired a passion and interest in international travel, experiencing different cultures, and meeting new people.
Verda attended Hesston College, then pursued a career in Property and Casualty Insurance. She proceeded to own her own agency, Mutual Aid Services, for 20 years.
Since retiring, Verda and Dale enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and attending their various music and sports events. She also enjoys golfing, reading, and walking.
CloseYvonne Sieber
Nominating Committee member / Kansas, USA
Yvonne Sieber is the new Chief Philanthropy Officer of Bluestem Communities, a growing corporation of retirement communities in South Central Kansas, effective July 2014. For the past seven years, she was VP of Advancement at Hesston College and had previously served on their Board.
With an MBA and undergraduate business degrees from Hesston College and Bethel College, most of her career has been in health care, undertaking various management and executive roles in the areas of human resources, finance and philanthropy. She notes that MEDA's "business approach to poverty solutions, as well as the quality of leadership and membership, was impressive. I'm pleased to join the Board of a growing organization that is diligently measuring results and outcomes."
Yvonne has attended the last six MEDA conventions in her role at Hesston College and has encouraged the college's business students to get involved with MEDA. "I value the engagement of MEDA's clients, staff, members and Board. I also value MEDA's innovation, flexibility and results-oriented approach."
Yvonne looks forward to learning more about MEDA and visiting a project in the field during her first term on the Board. She hopes to help spread the word about MEDA's impact on improving lives, a quality Yvonne appreciates. "I support MEDA because I see it making a difference to many."
Married to Gerry Sieber, a cross-country coach at Hesston College, they live together on an eight-acre farm along a peaceful creek. The couple has two adult daughters - one married with three children in Illinois and the other married with two children in AbuDhabi. Yvonne enjoys country living, travel, sports, historical fiction and a newly formed gospel choir.
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Abe Fehr
Audit Committee Chair / Ontario, Canada
Albert Friesen
Past Chair / Manitoba, Canada
Crystal Weaver
Nominating Committee member / Pennsylvania, USA
Dallas Steiner
Ohio, USA
Donovan Nickel
Colorado, USA
Gregory Gaeddert
Finance Committee member / Kansas, USA
Jeremy Showalter
Washington, USA
Jim Alvarez
Indiana, USA
Jim Miller
Finance, Audit and Nominating Committee member / Florida, USA
John Schroeder
British Columbia, Canada
Joyce Bontrager Lehman
New Hampshire, USA
Karin Krahn
Alberta, Canada
Marianne Unruh
Audit Committee member / California, USA
Myrl Nofziger
Audit Committee member / Indiana, USA
Pat Vendrely
Executive member and Nominating Committee Chair / Indiana, USA
Peter Dueck
Executive and Nominating Committee member / Manitoba, Canada
Rick Martin
Finance Committee member / Ontario, Canada
Verda Beachey
Florida, USA
Yvonne Sieber
Nominating Committee member / Kansas, USA
MEDA's expertise includes a full range of economic development tools: financial services, improved technology, business training, better access to markets and equity investment. Our work most often focuses on women, youth and people living in poverty in rural areas.
We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to earn a livelihood and that unleashing entrepreneurship is a powerful way to alleviate poverty.
Areas of Expertise
Market Systems
Since our inception over 65 years ago, MEDA has worked with small entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises and large firms to improve livelihoods and wellbeing by building and strengthening business foundations and contracts. We design solutions that can be duplicated and scaled, enabling entrepreneurs to reach local and global markets and grow their business. We promote innovative business models, promote relationships with new suppliers and new distributors, identify new products, markets and channels to market, leverage targeted subsidies and encourage the participation of underserved populations. We also address market network challenges such as policies, environmental practices and gender inequalities that hinder growth of all businesses.
Read MoreInvestment
MEDA is a recognized leader in the area of blended finance. Small and medium enterprises – the engines that drive economic growth in developing markets – need investment capital to flourish. “Blended finance” – leveraging public and philanthropic funding to attract private capital – is critical to enterprise growth and benefits women, youth, and vulnerable populations. MEDA provides assistance to enhance the impact of investments and help entrepreneurs build profitable businesses serving poorer customers, reducing investor risk. It can include challenge grants, mentoring, training and development of a network of organizations involved in the delivery of a product or service (ecosystem). Our commitment to gender lens investing considers benefits to women while investing for a financial return.
Read MoreGender Equality and Social Inclusion
MEDA is on the forefront of empowering women and youth as drivers of economic and social change. We aim to reduce social and systemic barriers to their ability to earn a dignified livelihood by starting and running a business.This includes facilitating access to markets and financial services and providing information on how to start or grow a business so they can help themselves and their families. We work with diverse partners, particularly in the private sector, to link these vulnerable and sometimes isolated people-groups to associations and other organizations where they can meet and learn from other entrepreneurs, build skills and share ideas.
Read MoreFinancial Services
Since the 1980’s MEDA has pioneered solutions to ensure more people have access to banking and insurance, playing a critical role in the development of rural financial institutions in Tajikistan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Haiti, Jamaica, Mozambique and Nicaragua. In the last 10 years, we have provided technical assistance to over 40 microfinance institutions and banks in 22 countries, encouraging the development of products focused on underserved women and men. Poor and struggling households can upgrade or expand their business activities to better provide for their families. We also specialize in technology for financial transactions, community-based savings and lending, and support services for micro to medium-sized enterprises.
Read MoreGift Planning with MEDA
| gifts that give back – gifts that benefit MEDA clients and your family |
Become a Legacy Partner … By making a planned charitable gift.
What are your goals for the present and future? Some of them may be big, while others are small. Yet if you are like most of us, you are looking for some important basics:
These can include:
- Security for you and your family
- Tax considerations
- Income for life
It is possible to achieve all of these goals with some planning.
Please follow the links at left for learn more about the many benefits of gift plans for US and Canadian residents.
Charitable Bequest
| make a gift to MEDA in your will |
 A charitable bequest is a gift that anyone can arrange at any life stage. If you have children or own property, you need to have a plan for the future. We hope you’ll include MEDA. A charitable bequest is still the easiest way for you to help our mission.
Your attorney can include language in your will or trust directing that a gift be made to MEDA. Your estate will benefit from an estate tax charitable deduction and you will have peace of mind knowing that you have helped create business solutions to poverty. |
Charitable Gift Annuity
| create a lifetime income for yourself |
 There are a few things in life we can do for ourselves that also benefit others. A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is one of them. A CGA is a simple contract between you and MEDA, where you agree to donate a sum of money, stock, or other appreciated assets to MEDA. In return, we agree to pay you a fixed percentage of that amount every year for as long as you live.
There is a solution – a plan that provides you with fixed payments for life. You may avoid capital gains tax and leave a lasting gift to MEDA. |
Make a gift…
| grow your assets |
| Did you know there is a way to make a gift to MEDA and receive income that could grow over your lifetime? A charitable remainder trust is an arrangement funded with your cash or appreciated assets. The most common trust will pay you income each year based on a percentage of the trust assets.
Your income has the potential to increase over time with growth in the trust. This means more income for you and more remaining assets to help MEDA in the future. To view an illustration of the benefits of a charitable trust, call us today! |
Make a gift now…
| receive income later in life |
You may not be ready yet for retirement, but if you are thinking about the future, a deferred charitable gift annuity is one way for you to make a gift now for income in the future.
When you make a gift of your cash or an appreciated asset (like stock) to MEDA today, we will promise to begin paying you income at a future date. This income will be fixed, meaning it will never change and will be paid to you at a rate based on your age and the payout date you select.
Creating business solutions to poverty
MEDA - Mennonite Economic Development Associates - is an international economic development organization whose mission is to create business solutions to poverty. Founded in 1953 by a group of Mennonite entrepreneurs, we partner with people living in poverty to start or grow small and medium-sized businesses in developing regions around the world.
We work alongside our partners and clients, funded by both private and institutional donors, to help:
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- Alleviate poverty
- Support sustainable business growth and livelihoods
- Women move into more valued and equitable roles in their economies
- Businesses and small entrepreneurs gain access to financial services including investment, adopt clean technologies/climate-smart approaches, and minimize their environmental footprint
- Improve local economies
We alleviate poverty by creating sustainable livelihoods for women and men, measured by income, improved processes, increased knowledge and the creation of more jobs.
Our methods have been proven time after time over our 65 years of experience. We've worked in 62 countries helping 103 million families, creating jobs for people, improved access to suppliers and customers resulting in broad impact on entire industries such as agriculture, tourism and food processing.
We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to earn a livelihood and that unleashing entrepreneurship is a powerful way to alleviate poverty.
Our Approach
MEDA's economic development is accomplished with two key resources: investment and advisory services for our clients. Our work is not done until it is proven to be sustainable, replicable, scalable and measurable. We also apply a gender lens approach to investment. To achieve this, all the work that we do is approached through two important lenses: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Environment and Climate Change
At MEDA, measurement matters. We don’t wait until the end of our projects to evaluate success. From the moment a project begins, we gather data to understand whether our activities are achieving the results we expected, what we can learn, and which approaches need to be refined to help our clients reach their true potential. We share our learnings with our partners and have a comprehensive Monitoring and Impact Measurement system integrated into every project.
Expertise
While the focus of gender equality and environment and climate is embedded into the core of each of our projects, MEDA's expertise includes a full range of economic development tools: financial services, improved technology, business training, better access to markets and investment. Learn more
Our Values, Mission, and Vision
- We seek to create, sustain and innovate.
- We treat clients, colleagues and partners with respect and dignity.
- We promote justice for the poor by helping them develop entrepreneurial skills and seize economic opportunity.
- We value partnerships with the poor and others regardless of gender, race, class, ethnicity, nationality or religion.
- We carefully manage human, financial and environmental resources by emphasizing accountability, discipline and sustainability.
Our Mission
As an association of Christians, faithful in daily work and committed to sharing abilities and resources, MEDA creates business solutions to poverty.
CloseOur Vision
That all people may experience God’s love and unleash their potential to earn a livelihood, provide for families and enrich their communities.
CloseIf you would like to donate to MEDA through your bank, you may do so using the MEDA banking information below. Donors will receive a German donation certificate by mail, which is valid in other EU countries. Contact our office at the information below to arrange easy monthly donations.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at +49 2622-906184 or email Titus at thorsch@meda.org .
Bank account for Europe:
Bank name: VR-Bank Neuwied-Linz
BIC/SWIFT: GENODED1NWD
IBAN: DE 60 57460117 0001151281
Within Germany:
BLZ: 57460117
Konto: 1151281
In Germany/Deutschland:
Steuernummer: 32/670/5012/7
Freistellungsbescheid vom 11. April 2011
www.finanzamt-neuwied.fin-rlp.de
Your gift enables MEDA to bring hope, opportunity and economic well-being to millions of people around the world.
Canadian Residents click here to donate
Your gift enables MEDA to bring hope, opportunity and economic well-being to millions of people around the world.
US Residents click here to donate
MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) is an association of compassionate women and men who invest in people living in poverty around the world so they can unleash their potential to earn a livelihood to provide for their families and enrich their communities.
MEDA gratefully acknowledges the support of these key donors:
International Government / Agencies
Major Foundations
Development Banks
Join us. Be one of the 100 heroes, trekking 100 km, raising $50,000.
Join us in trekking 100 km of the Bruce trail from July 18th to July 21st to help women and youth in Nigeria!
Fundraising Requirements: We are asking each person to commit to a minimum fundraising goal of $100 per day to support the MEDA Nigeria WAY program.
Responsibilities: Each person is responsible for obtaining their own accommodation, travel, food, water and trekking equipment and supplies for the week long 100 km trek. Once you sign up, our committee will provide additional information and a checklist to assist with your planning.
Important trek information
Join us. Be one of the 100 heroes, trekking 100 km, raising $50,000.
Women Walking to GROW - Event Calendar
July 2019 |
Starting |
Trail |
Km |
IROQUOIA SECTION |
|
18 THURSDAY |
0 |
24.4 |
24.4 km |
Felkers Falls to Sherman Falls |
|
19 FRIDAY |
24.4 |
49.8 |
25.4 km |
Sherman Falls to Smokey Hollow Waterfall on Waterdown Road |
|
20 SATURDAY |
49.8 |
71.9 |
22.1 km |
Join us for a 1-day walk and celebration |
|
21 SUNDAY |
71.9 |
98.6 |
26.7 km |
Smokey Hollow Waterfall on Waterdown Road to Kilbride Park, Burlington |
|
TOTAL DISTANCE TREKKED: 98.6 |
Join us. Be one of the 100 heroes, trekking 100 km, raising $50,000.Send a message of support to a participant or inquire about Women Walking to GROW using the form below:
Join us. Be one of the 100 heroes, trekking 100 km, raising $50,000.Detailed information about the trail can be found online at http://brucetrail.org/pages/trail
*Guidelines for using the trail can be found here: http://brucetrail.org/pages/trail/using-the-trail
INFRONT: Impact Investing in Frontier Markets |
INFRONT is working throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America to expand the ability of SMEs to access investment capital, adopt and implement enlightened business practices, and accurately measure social impact.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a pivotal role in driving economic growth in emerging economies, however they face significant challenges to improving their businesses.
Led by MEDA, and in partnership with Sarona Asset Management and the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, INFRONT is comprised of two key components:
- Investment: The Sarona Frontier Markets Fund 2 LP (SFMF 2 LP), a fund of $150 million, is investing in up to 18 local funds for onward investment in approximately 130 SMEs that have potential for high development impact. Investors include OPIC, MEDA, Sarona, and private investors, spurred by an innovative and catalytic $15 million contribution from Global Affairs Canada.
- Technical Assistance Facility. The technical assistance facility is made up of three components:
- Sustainability Innovation Grant Fund. This fund provides economic incentives for at least 30 SMEs to improve the sustainability of their operations, with a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies and practices.
- Global Fund Manager Mentorship Program. This program will match 20 experienced North America private equity managers as mentors with fund managers in frontier and emerging markets.
- Impact Measurement. Building on existing social performance platforms, MEDA is developing an Enhanced Monitoring and Evaluation System (EMES) to support more rigourous impact measurement.
For more information, take a look at our resources (eg. case studies), videos, or contact Majid Mirza (mmirza@meda.org).
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