Scaling up Inclusive Business: Advancing the Knowledge and Action Agenda

This report is intended to frame key issue areas that need to be addressed to move the field of inclusive business forward – toward greater scale and effectiveness – building on the considerable momentum that already exists.

The authors have chosen to do this by documenting and analyzing 14 inclusive business models deemed to be commercially viable and scalable by the International Finance Corporation, having passed its investment due diligence process and received financing. They have compared their findings to key findings in the literature to date, and identified opportunities for more in-depth new research.

The 14 cases analyzed were selected based on availability of information for a first look into the inclusive business models in IFC’s portfolio, with the purpose of setting the stage for more in-depth research going forward. This first look provides a preliminary analysis of the drivers, results, and key elements these inclusive business models share, as well as a framing of key questions that should be asked as IFC digs deeper into its client experience for insight on how to develop commercially viable, scalable inclusive business models. It is important to note that the sample of 14 models analyzed is neither large enough nor representative enough to be statistically significant. An initial scan of IFC’s portfolio suggests that as many as 100 clients may be engaged in inclusive business (double that number if microfinance institutions are included).