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Where’s the Capital for Home-Grown Companies? Why Energy Access Investments in Kenya Need to Go Local
So far this year, 75% of global investment commitments in off-grid solar technology have gone to just three companies — a troubling trend since 2012. And as Kevin Johnstone at the International Institute for Environment and Development points out, many of the founders of the biggest solar companies are North American or European. Focusing on Kenya, he explores why the energy access sector needs more businesses founded, managed and run by local entrepreneurs, and what needs to be done to align investors and capital markets with Kenyan investment opportunities.
- Categories
- Energy, Entrepreneurship, Investing
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Press Release: IIX Accelerates Gender Bond Issuances With Pricing of Women’s Livelihood Bond 3
Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) has successfully priced the US$27.7 million Women’s Livelihood BondTM 3 (WLB3), the third bond in the award-winning Women’s Livelihood BondTM Series (WLB Series). Advancing a total of 13 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the WLB3 complies with the International Capital Markets Association (ICMA) Social Bond Principles and will support 180,000 underserved women and women entrepreneurs in the Asia Pacific region to respond, to recover from, and to build resilience in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The WLB3 is also the maiden investment of IIX’s Women’s Catalyst Fund, a next generation gender lens vehicle designed to accelerate innovative financial instruments for women.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing
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Lack of Capital is Just the Beginning: Why Roof-Top Solar is Facing Greater Challenges Than Many People Think
The solar energy sector is dynamic and growing – but as Rik Teeuwen at Footlight International points out, it's also unsettled, as off-grid solar players navigate challenges ranging from lack of finance to inconsistent regulation. In light of those issues, he pushes back on the argument, expressed by candi solar CEO Philippe Flamand on NextBillion earlier this year, that rooftop solar is a “no-brainer” for micro, small and medium enterprises. The truth, he says, is far more nuanced.
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African Development Bank Launches $50 Million Facility to Support Energy Businesses in Africa
The African Development Bank (AfDB) board of directors has approved a $20 million concessional investment from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to establish the COVID-19 Off-Grid Recovery Platform (CRP).
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Energy, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: Heifer International and SEAF Announce Agreement to Expand Impact Investing Globally
Partnership will enable Heifer International to leverage SEAF's global networks, experience and offices to increase access to capital for local farmers and food producers around the world.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Investing
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Viewpoint: Beyond Grants and Impact Investments, There’s a Growing Interest in Africa
As at 2014, the UNDP estimated that at least $8 billion had come into Africa via impact investment. Yet, there’s still a huge gap of $100 billion annually needed to support Africa’s much needed growth.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: DFC Announces Direct Equity Request for Applications
DFC seeks applications to invest in early, growth-stage companies committed to developmental impact
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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UNICEF and Microsoft Launch Improved, Scalable Technology to Protect Vulnerable Children and Women Amid Rise in Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Due to COVID-19
Primero, an innovative online and offline application, empowers social workers to help more children.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa