What We Do

We map who is doing what, where the gaps are, which programs work, which do not, and what donors and governments need to know before designing their next intervention. Our methodology combines stakeholder interviews, network mapping, secondary data synthesis, and structured validation with ecosystem actors. Outputs are written for decision-makers, not for archives.

Typical deliverables

• Ecosystem landscape reports (innovation hubs, MSMEs, women-led enterprises, youth-led ventures, sector-specific value chains)

• Stakeholder mapping and network analysis

• Diagnostic studies for new programs (situational analysis, problem framing, opportunity assessment)

• Pre-design intelligence briefs for donors evaluating new investment areas

We translate strategic priorities into implementable program designs — with defensible logic models, results frameworks, governance structures, and phased roadmaps. We have particular depth in designing programs targeting youth and women, who together account for the majority of donor budget in Somalia and require methodology built specifically for their realities. Our design process draws on human-centered design and systems thinking traditions, applied to fragile-state contexts.

Typical deliverables

• Theory of Change and results frameworks

• Multi-year strategic plans for institutions, hubs, and government units

• Innovation challenge architecture and stage-gate methodologies

• Curriculum design for entrepreneurship and capacity-building programs

• Implementation roadmaps with budgets, milestones, and risk frameworks

We design grant facilities, challenge funds, revolving funds, and blended-finance vehicles for use in fragile-state contexts — and we coach ventures preparing to receive that capital. This work draws on direct operational experience designing and running funds in Somalia, including pilots that experimented with equity-taking, diaspora crowdfunding, and co-financing requirements. We bring honest, system-aware perspectives on what works, what doesn't, and why.

Typical deliverables

• Fund mechanism design (grant, repayable grant, equity, revenue share, blended)

• Eligibility frameworks, selection methodologies, and stage-gate processes

• Fund governance structures and implementing partner protocols

• Investment readiness coaching for ventures preparing for due diligence

• Capacity transfer to in-house fund management teams

We support active programs to track what is working, document what is not, and feed evidence back into adaptive management. Our MEL work is designed to be useful in real time — not only to satisfy reporting requirements but to improve decisions while programs are still in flight.

Typical deliverables

• Stage-gate assessments and cohort evaluations for innovation challenges and incubation programs

• Mid-term reviews and end-line evaluations

• Learning briefs, synthesis products, and human-interest documentation for donor portfolios

• KPI design, dashboards, and decision frameworks for implementing partners

• Coaching and capacity transfer to in-house MEL teams