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Revitalizing Off-Grid Solar: Why Africa’s PAYGo Sector is Ready for a New Dawn
Africa's off-grid solar sector, particularly pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) solar, has passed through a period of disillusionment among investors, as profitability has remained elusive. But as Chris Emmott at Acumen, Audrey Desiderato at Mirova and Bankole Cardoso at Delta40 Venture Studio argue, the sector nevertheless stands on the cusp of becoming a mature industry with real and sustainable impact. They explain why they remain optimistic about the future of PAYGo solar as impact investors, and why it's time for honest conversations and compromise from all stakeholders — including companies and their investors — about how the industry can move into the next stage of its development.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Finance, Investing, Technology
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Gender Incentives in Climate Finance: Doubling Down on Proven Approaches During Uncertain Times
With the endpoint of the SDGs just five years away, multiple factors have combined to undercut gender and climate-focused funding in several key global economies. Edward T. Jackson, Yiagadeesen Samy and Katie Turner argue that gender incentives in climate finance offer an effective solution to this dual challenge. They explore how these incentives can boost the supply of affordable, renewable energy, while improving wages and economic autonomy for women workers — and they argue that if there were ever a time to double down on this approach, it is now.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Investing
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Vidyut Secures $2.5 Million Funding from Flourish Ventures
Vidyut separates batteries from EV ownership and then offers them on a pay-per-kilometre subscription basis.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology, Transportation
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Africa’s Startup Funding Crisis Deepens as Mastercard Foundation Exits Top VC Firm
Mastercard Foundation pulls out of its $100 million commitment to African venture capital firm 54 Collective.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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SolarAfrica Secures $98 Million in Implementing the First Phase of Its 1 GW SunCentral Solar Project in South Africa
SunCentral is a large-scale solar photovoltaic plant located between Hanover and De Aer in the Northern Cape.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- energy access, renewable energy, scale, solar
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Goldman Sachs AM Launches First Biodiversity Bond Fund, Targeting Up to $500 Million
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) is launching its first biodiversity-focused bond fund, offering fixed-income investors a way to support nature conservation.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Region
- Global
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GHIB and BII Announce $50 Million Partnership to Boost Cross-Border Trade Across Africa’s Frontier Economies
"Under a Master Risk Participation Agreement (MPRA), the $50 million facility will enable GHIB to support more businesses and facilitate trade flows in the target countries."
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Analysis: China Won’t ‘Replace’ USAID in Africa
While China has spent tens of billions of dollars through trade and infrastructure project loans in Africa over the last decade, it spends significantly less on aid.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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