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Economic Tools Mapping: Small Enterprise Assistance Funds

State Function: Market Engagement
Insight & Analysis: Market Building
Topic: International Development Finance
Publication Type: Economic Tools

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging and transition markets often struggle to attract capital, although SMEs typically generate countries’ largest source of employment, goods and services. Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF) provides such enterprises with financing and business assistance for positive community development. While initial focus was Central and Eastern Europe, it later concentrated on Asia and Latin America, with global funds now in early phases. This note looks behind the impressive returns and other statistics to assess SEAFs direct impact on jobs, wages and communities, and how multipliers further boost this effect.