NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Kenya’s SunCulture Raises USD $5 Million to Scale Solar-Powered Irrigation in Africa

SunCulture offers solar-powered irrigation pumps, providing smallholder farmers with a sustainable and affordable alternative to diesel or manual systems.

Source

WeeTracker (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture, Energy, Investing, Social Enterprise, WASH

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

decarbonization, food security, impact investing, smallholder farmers, solar, water

Afreximbank and Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) Forge Strategic Partnership to Unlock US $1 Billion in Investments

In addition to financing, the JPPF also incorporates a robust capacity-building programme aimed at enhancing the project preparation skills of ShafDB staff, etc.

Source

Afreximbank (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, housing, infrastructure, partnerships, skill development, urban development

Aavishkaar Capital’s Global Supply Chain Support Fund (GSCSF) Supports the Horizon Group Africa with USD $5 Million Loan to Scale Operations

This is the 8th overall investment by GSC Support Fund across the Global South and the fourth investment in Africa.

Source

ThisDay (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

business development, development finance, impact investing, scale, supply chains

South Africa Opens Freight Rail Network to Private Firms

Transnet, which runs the country's freight rail and port services, has faced equipment shortages and maintenance backlogs worsened by widespread cable theft and vandalism, prompting the government to seek private sector involvement.

Source

Reuters (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

business development, infrastructure, transportation

Africa50, AfDB, and AfCFTA to Bridge Infrastructure Gaps and Drive Digital Transformation

The new partnership between the three institutions aims to dramatically increase this figure by addressing the infrastructure gaps that currently constrain trade flows across African borders.

Source

TechAfrica News (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Finance, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, digital inclusion, infrastructure, international trade

Nigeria’s Koolboks Raises $11 Million to Scale Solar-Powered Refrigeration Across Africa

The company designs solar-powered refrigeration units that pair ice-battery thermal storage with IoT telemetry.

Source

TechBuild Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

climate health, impact measurement, innovation, Internet of Things, off-grid energy, PAYGO finance, results-based financing, scale, solar, startups

Ghana’s Complete Farmer Secures $5 Million Funding From Symbiotics to Strengthen Smallholder Farming

Swiss impact investor Symbiotics has provided a USD 5 million debt facility to Complete Farmer, the Ghanaian agritech startup focused on strengthening agricultural value chains in West Africa.

Source

Empower Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

agtech, development finance, food security, MSMEs, smallholder farmers, startups, supply chains

DEG Provides $50 Million Loan to Tanzania’s CRDB Bank to Boost Small Business Financing and Support Women and Youth Entrepreneurs

This financing will help address a significant gap in access to formal financing for small enterprises, which are vital to the Tanzanian economy.

Source

Tech in Africa (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, lending, MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs, youth