Our story began with a simple yet powerful idea.

For too long, international development has been shaped by well-meaning but distant actors: governments, institutions and foundations from the developed world. Their contributions have been invaluable; yet a critical piece has been missing: the local asset owners and philanthropists.

These are individuals and organizations rooted in their communities, equipped with deep cultural knowledge and a firsthand understanding of the challenges and opportunities around them. They know how to move through complex social landscapes, build trust, and make change last. Yet their voices have been largely absent from the global conversations that shape their futures.

The cost of that absence is real. Resources are allocated without the nuances that lasting impact requires, the insight of people who work in these regions every day goes unused, and the potential for transformative change remains untapped.

ERFIP was built on a simple premise: those who understand frontier markets best must lead the conversation about their development.

It is time to rewrite this story, with the local private sector at the center.

“Our country produces enough to feed us all. Alas, for lack of organization, we are forced to beg for food aid. It’s this aid that instills in our spirits the attitude of beggars.”

Thomas Sankara