Lessons from Ghana help scaling of market-building efforts
A new report by British International Investment (BII) highlights how lessons from the Ghana Investment Support Programme (GhISP) has helped inform its approach to market-building as a central part of its 2026–2030 strategy.
In just three years, GhISP has played a key role in unlocking investments to Ghanaian SMEs through its pre- and post-investment support. Fifteen technical assistance projects, designed to address investment readiness gaps, have been completed or are underway. To date, this support has been vital in unlocking six investment deals worth $9 million. In reality, this means business growth and new jobs in a range of sectors across the country.
GhISP was launched as part of BII testing a more deliberate, programme-led approach to market-building, where the focus is on identifying and addressing the underlying factors that are holding markets back. This means bringing together investment capital with tools such as technical assistance, partnerships and convening powers to catalyse wider flows of investment.
The BII report presents the experiences and lessons using this approach to unlocking investments and shaping ecosystems in Ghana, Zambia and Nepal, alongside the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA). Key results, in Ghana and other markets, include:
· Demand: Building the demand for capital by helping business become ready for investment through technical assistance, origination support and transaction advisory services.
· Supply: Increasing BII’s supply of capital and working with other development finance institutions (DFIs) and investors to tailor products and enter unfamiliar markets.
· Ecosystem: Deepening the investment ecosystem by developing a supportive environment that drives business growth and investment
Access the full report here for more insights and practical lessons for DFIs, donors and technical assistance providers.
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About GhISP
The Ghana Investment Support Programme (GhISP) is a technical assistance initiative, powered by British International Investment (BII) and supported by State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO. It aims to increase investment flows to underserved SMEs in Ghana, with a particular focus on gender, inclusion and climate investing. GhISP is designed to drive enhanced development impact while being aligned with investment strategies in Ghana. Learn more on www.ghisp.org.
NOTE TO EDITORS: For case studies on Ghanaian SMEs that have successfully secured investment, and for more information on our work with key ecosystem partners, please visit our website. For more information, please contact Tine Frank, GhISP Communications Lead, on tine_frank@dai.com.