NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Background and Rationale
Entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), funders, investors, and other ecosystem stakeholders across Africa are collecting vast amounts of data on the entrepreneurs they support. However, much of this data – often generated through Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) processes – is siloed, inconsistent, underutilized, or limited access. As a result, data fragmentation has emerged as a significant challenge, limiting collaboration, learning, and evidence-based decision-making across the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa.

A recent study by ANDE, Bridge for Billions, under the Strengthening Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Africa initiative, found that impact measurement is the second most critical challenge for ESOs in Africa. This stems from a lack of digital M&E tools and limited internal expertise in data collection and analysis, which impedes their ability to report meaningful outcomes to funders or adapt strategies in real time. Similarly, WDI and Villgro Africa’s ongoing research into the future of ESOs also highlighted the need to focus & strengthen impact measurement systems within ESOs as one of critical unmet needs.

To begin addressing this long standing issue, Villgro Africa, Swisscontact, and the William Davidson Institute (WDI) at the University of Michigan set out to unpack the dynamics behind a fundamental question: Why do different ecosystem stakeholders collect data in the first place? This included mapping stakeholder motivations, power dynamics, and levels of control over data practices. Their collaborative effort informed a session at the ANDE Metrics Conference in Nairobi in May 2025, co-led by the three organizations, which aimed to deepen understanding of the data fragmentation challenge from multiple stakeholder perspectives.It provided a space for ecosystem actors – including ESOs, entrepreneurs, funders, and investors – to self-assess and reflect on their roles in either perpetuating or addressing data fragmentation.

Building on that momentum, the ANDE Africa Chapters (comprising its East, West, and Southern Africa chapters) will host a multistakeholder webinar on September 4, 2025, in collaboration with Villgro Africa, and the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan. The goal is to deepen ecosystem-wide understanding and chart collective next steps toward aligning data incentives, fostering collaboration, and strengthening trust across the ecosystem.

Session Objectives
Expand cross-regional and sectoral understanding of the data fragmentation challenge by incorporating new voices, underrepresented perspectives, and comparative experiences across the African continent.

Explore how different ecosystem stakeholders – ESOs, funders, investors, and entrepreneurs – can collaboratively address the persistent challenge of data fragmentation.Present refined insights and updates to the 4‑box stakeholder framework, incorporating feedback from the ANDE Metrics Conference.Gauge interest in coordinated action to develop more equitable and inclusive data standards, and co-create actionable ideas for shared metrics, collaborative data systems, or pilot initiatives that reduce fragmentation across the ecosystem.