Foundational Support Programme
The Foundational Support Programme is one of the technical assistance tracks available for impact-driven WASH enterprises, as part of the Impact-Linked Fund for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (ILF for WASH). The programme is supported by the Social Finance Academy, an initiative by Roots of Impact.
The programme aims to transfer knowledge and skills from certified service providers to WASH enterprises in two areas: impact measurement and management (IMM) and impact investment readiness (IIR). At the same time, the goal is to embed these areas into the specific business model of the selected enterprises.
Eligible WASH enterprises partner with a certified service provider (an organisation that has successfully completed the Train-the-Trainer Programme). Together, they submit a joint technical assistance proposal that must be based on a needs’ assessment conducted during the application period.
Enterprises participating in the Foundational Support Programme receive funding to get tailored training and support. The focus of this Foundational Support lies on developing an impact measurement and management system and a targeted fundraising strategy. This will help the participating enterprises to demonstrate impact, and to work towards or enhance investment readiness.
Key features
- Target group: Impact-driven WASH enterprises with no prior or very limited IMM and/or IIR experience. Only WASH enterprises with a certified service provider that have successfully completed the Train-the-Trainer Programme are eligible to deliver tailored support services as part of the Foundational Support Programme.
- Duration: The standard programme takes approximately six months.
- Status: Eligible enterprises can participate in the Foundational Support Programme by invitation only.
Participant quotes
Here are a few participant quotes from the Foundational Support Programme:
General:
“We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the learning exercise and this leaves our organisation at a better place to serve our customers. I highly recommend this programme to any other impact driven business in the WASH Space”
Impact Measurement and Management
“We were able to improve our impact models for a pitch deck, for investor and customer reports, and to improve our marketing strategy.”
“It has enabled us to develop key tools which will help us in structuring our impact reports”
“The IMM programme has enabled us to strategically communicate our products to key stakeholders”
“We are now able to identify our customers with clarity and understand what our products do to change their lives”
Investment Readiness track:
“We now have an idea about our value and can share good info with potential impact investors.”
“The IR programme has helped us to develop our team with tools that are very relevant in communicating our business performance and seeking for funding. We are currently updating our Investor data bank which is very relevant to us, also the exposure to an Investor hitlist was very important to us.”
“We have a bankable financial model and the know-how to negotiate with investors. We have acquired a lot of financial terms.”
More on technical assistance
We offer three additional technical assistance tracks as part of ILF for WASH:
- ILF for WASH Bootcamp for water and sanitation enterprises.
- Technical assistance alongside Impact-Linked Finance for water and sanitation enterprises.
- Train-the-Trainer Programme for service providers.