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Theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) association programme
The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) Association Programme is a structured entrepreneurship development initiative designed to cultivate high-impact, socially responsible entrepreneurs in South Africa. This study evaluates the programme's effectiveness by assessing its Theory of Change (ToC) and o...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Accounting and Accountability in Africa
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613258549035008 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Maponga, Innocent Nyararayi |
| author2 | Chapman, Sarah |
| author_browse | Chapman, Sarah Maponga, Innocent Nyararayi |
| author_facet | Chapman, Sarah Maponga, Innocent Nyararayi |
| author_sort | Maponga, Innocent Nyararayi |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) Association Programme is a structured entrepreneurship development initiative designed to cultivate high-impact, socially responsible entrepreneurs in South Africa. This study evaluates the programme's effectiveness by assessing its Theory of Change (ToC) and outcome evaluation findings. The research employs a qualitative evaluation design, incorporating semi-structured interviews with AGOF fellows, and expert entrepreneurship practitioners. The study examines two key dimensions: (1) Theory Evaluation, which investigates whether AGOF's ToC is empirically supported and theoretically plausible, and (2) Outcome Evaluation, which assesses whether the programme successfully facilitates the creation of sustainable enterprises and enhances access to financial assistance. Findings indicate that mentorship and financial literacy training function as mutually reinforcing mechanisms within the programme, equipping fellows with entrepreneurial resilience, strategic decision-making skills, and financial management capabilities. However, the study identifies critical limitations in AGOF's causal pathways, particularly concerning the accessibility of financial support for scaling businesses and inconsistencies in mentorship engagement. Additionally, the outcome evaluation reveals internal validity concerns, highlighting the absence of a control group and reliance on self-reported data, which may limit causal attribution. To enhance programme impact, the study recommends integrating financial literacy training with structured funding access and strengthening mentor-mentee matching processes. These findings contribute to broader discussions on entrepreneurship development in emerging economies, providing insights into how structured mentorship and financial support mechanisms can foster entrepreneurial success. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42413 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:17.409Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Accounting and Accountability in Africa |
| publisherStr | Accounting and Accountability in Africa |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42413 Theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) association programme Maponga, Innocent Nyararayi Chapman, Sarah Entrepreneurship development programme evaluation Theory of Change financial literacy mentorship South Africa success case method The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) Association Programme is a structured entrepreneurship development initiative designed to cultivate high-impact, socially responsible entrepreneurs in South Africa. This study evaluates the programme's effectiveness by assessing its Theory of Change (ToC) and outcome evaluation findings. The research employs a qualitative evaluation design, incorporating semi-structured interviews with AGOF fellows, and expert entrepreneurship practitioners. The study examines two key dimensions: (1) Theory Evaluation, which investigates whether AGOF's ToC is empirically supported and theoretically plausible, and (2) Outcome Evaluation, which assesses whether the programme successfully facilitates the creation of sustainable enterprises and enhances access to financial assistance. Findings indicate that mentorship and financial literacy training function as mutually reinforcing mechanisms within the programme, equipping fellows with entrepreneurial resilience, strategic decision-making skills, and financial management capabilities. However, the study identifies critical limitations in AGOF's causal pathways, particularly concerning the accessibility of financial support for scaling businesses and inconsistencies in mentorship engagement. Additionally, the outcome evaluation reveals internal validity concerns, highlighting the absence of a control group and reliance on self-reported data, which may limit causal attribution. To enhance programme impact, the study recommends integrating financial literacy training with structured funding access and strengthening mentor-mentee matching processes. These findings contribute to broader discussions on entrepreneurship development in emerging economies, providing insights into how structured mentorship and financial support mechanisms can foster entrepreneurial success. 2025-12-05T09:12:11Z 2025-12-05T09:12:11Z 2025 2025-12-05T08:23:16Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42413 en eng application/pdf Accounting and Accountability in Africa Faculty of Commerce University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Entrepreneurship development programme evaluation Theory of Change financial literacy mentorship South Africa success case method Maponga, Innocent Nyararayi Theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) association programme |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) association programme |
| title_full | Theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) association programme |
| title_fullStr | Theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) association programme |
| title_full_unstemmed | Theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) association programme |
| title_short | Theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) association programme |
| title_sort | theory and outcome evaluation of the allan gray orbis foundation agof association programme |
| topic | Entrepreneurship development programme evaluation Theory of Change financial literacy mentorship South Africa success case method |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42413 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mapongainnocentnyararayi theoryandoutcomeevaluationoftheallangrayorbisfoundationagofassociationprogramme |