Apex Consulting (Apex)

International investment and investment promotion is a cornerstone of international development. With so many international donors and funders, it can be hard to maintain an overview of international investment. The UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has an annual investment report, which provides an overview, including a breakdown by region and country, key learnings, and findings from each year, as well as historical trends for key indicators. If you are interested in learning more about the world investment report, you can find it here: https://lnkd.in/dpmwrK58   #internationaldevelopment #internationalinvestment #UNCTAD #globaldevelopment #worldinvestmentreport

The "Toolkit for Value Chain Analysis and Market Development Integrating Climate Resilience and Gender Responsiveness" by FAO and UNDP helps countries enhance climate resilience and reduce gender inequalities in agriculture. Aligned with the IPCC’s 2018 report, it emphasizes agriculture's crucial role in limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The toolkit guides investment prioritization for market development and supports adaptation planning, risk assessment, and market opportunity identification. It aims to aid policymakers and project developers in engaging stakeholders and designing effective interventions, emphasizing climate-resilient and gender-responsive approaches to managing agricultural value chains. You can find the toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/gCdJuxyd #toolkit #valuechain #valuechainalaysis #climateresilience #internationaldevelopment #UNDP #FAO #Apexconsulting

This week, Apex Consulting was contracted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to conduct the mapping and screening of agribusiness and services companies and sector deep dives in South Sudan. Over the next 7 months, Apex will source potential business opportunities in South Sudan to strengthen the IFC pipeline and identify top candidates for the local champions initiative (LCI), as well as support the identification of two promising sectors/sub-sectors to conduct sector deep dives to provide a better understanding of the opportunities.   #IFC #Apexconsulting #internationaldevelopment #SouthSudan #mappingandscreening #sectordeepdives #business #strengthenbusiness #LCI

Digital sector interventions can be a game changer for many developing countries, allowing them to access more business opportunities and streamlining administrative processes, amongst many other things. However, access to digital sector interventions is often unequal, putting women at an even greater disadvantage. To combat this, the WBG has developed the “Engendering ICT Toolkit” with the goal to identify specific barriers/opportunities against each ICT intervention to empower women. The toolkit is intended to serve as a ‘ready reckoner’ for task team leaders to design and implement ICT project plans that promote women’s inclusion by looking into ICT intervention, gender analysis, and actions and M&E. You can find the toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/eeb28Wdw #WBG #toolkit #Apexconsulting #internationaldevelopment #ICTtoolkit #digitalsector #empowerwomen

Natural resources and the effective management thereof can significantly accelerate the development of a country. However, keeping the revenues from natural resource extraction within one’s country has proven a challenge for a number of countries throughout the world. One of the core organizations that promote the open and accountable management of oil, gas, and mineral resources is the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). In April of this year, EITI launched the 2023 EITI progress report. This flagship report highlights innovations and developments driving progress across EITI’s six strategic priorities. You can find out more about this report here: https://lnkd.in/gPzwHFyU   #internationaldevelopment #naturalresources #EITI #consulting #development #EITIprogressreport #apexconsulting

The development and improvement of public sector capacity comes with several challenges for any state. These challenges are exacerbated for small island developing states (SIDS) . Given the fast pace of global socio-economic development, more tailored, focused, and localized efforts to strengthen public sector capacity in SIDS is increasingly important. SIDS have unique vulnerabilities, rich histories and contexts, and strengths that can be harnessed for sustainable development. Development partners need to adapt how they provide capacity-strengthening support, taking individual SIDS’ circumstances and needs into account to better help them achieve their ambitions. As part of the OECD working papers on public governance, they have recently published a report on “Improving public sector capacity-strengthening support for small island developing states,” which summarizes perspectives from SIDS on their current experiences. You can find the report here: https://lnkd.in/gRiuEhsZ   #OECD #OECDworkingpapers #publicgovernance #publicsector #islandstates #report #consulting #Apexconsulting 

Apex is currently working on developing and preparing a detailed pilot implementation plan for Off-Grid Solar Pay As You Go (PAYG), which is a technology and business model that overcomes upfront affordability barriers by enabling end-users to pay for off-grid solar systems on credit over time. The project (YEEAP), funded by the World Bank, is being implemented by UNOPS in collaboration with local entities, including microfinance institutions, solar equipment suppliers, and technical service providers. It engaged eligible, regulated Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) to help add small-scale energy products to their portfolios. #offgridsolar #payasyougo #microfinance #UNOPS #Apexconsulting #consulting #worldbankgroup

International development and international health go hand in hand. In order for international development programs and initiatives to be effective, international health programs are a pre-requisite. On May 02, the International Development Innovation Alliance and the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the renewal of their collaboration on the scale-up of health innovations. “This partnership demonstrates a convergence of diverse expertise, pooling resources to bolster governmental efforts to scale-up innovative solutions, leveraging each other's strengths. As a Member State organization, WHO can help governments identify public health demand in countries, while IDIA’s unique network of innovation funders supplies a pipeline of demonstrated, impactful innovations,” says Jeremy Farrar, Chief Scientist at WHO. You can learn more about this collaboration here: https://lnkd.in/gMa5KkDs   #internationaldevelopment #internationalhealth #WHO #internationaldevelopmentinnovationalliance #collaboration #apexconsulting

Apex team is currently administering a survey to gauge beneficiary satisfaction for the Yemen Emergency Lifeline Connectivity Project (YELCP). This initiative encompasses activities such as road rehabilitation, maintenance facilitated by Micro Enterprises, capacity building assistance for public organizations, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation efforts. #baselinesurvey #Yemenconnectivityproject #Yemenemergencylifeline

Many low-income nations are having to spend more on interest payments than vital sustainability goals. Between 2020 and 2023 there were 18 sovereign defaults in 10 developing countries – more than in the previous two decades. Others are either in debt distress or close to it. A recent United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) study found that low-income countries are spending far more on debt repayments to creditors than on social assistance or healthcare. Betsy Reed from the Guardian US wrote this insightful piece as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund hold their annual spring meetings in Washington this week.  https://lnkd.in/dskCvA5j #sustainabilitygoals #sovereign defaults #UNDP #InternationalDevelopmentAssociation