Guide for mapping the entrepreneurial ecosystem

This guide leads the reader through the process of observing, analysing and visualising the entrepreneurial ecosystem – meaning the entrepreneurs’ environment including the surrounding institutions, actors and prevailing culture – a process referred to as ‘mapping’. Such mapping enables the exploration of gaps and constraints and facilitates decisions on measures that are most relevant to improve the entrepreneurial environment in a given context. It offers a practical and pragmatic approach that can produce results in a short period of time – ideally within three to four weeks. With this information at hand, effective interventions can be designed to stimulate entrepreneurship.

The guide aims to be a practical toolkit. It therefore builds upon and combines existing instruments and approaches, such as the business environment and investment climate analysis or the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs’ (ANDE) Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Diagnostic Toolkit’ and takes into account relevant tools from the GIZ management model Capacity WORKS. It acknowledges new trends in research, such as the focus on behavioural insights and culture as influencing factors for entrepreneurial activity.