NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

IFAD Surpasses the US $1 Billion Mark in Sustainable Bonds

Since June 2022, IFAD has issued twelve sustainable bonds through private placements to pension funds, asset managers and central banks from five countries in Europea, Africa and Asia in four currencies (US$, EUR, SEK and AUD).

Source

IFAD (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Agriculture

Region

Global

Tags

development finance, employment, impact bonds, MSMEs, SDGs, smallholder farmers, sustainable finance

BII Commits $20 Million to Acumen’s Hardest-to-Reach Initiative

The platform aims to expand access to affordable, reliable energy in underserved African markets.

Source

Africa Private Equity News (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, energy access, global development, lending, off-grid energy, renewable energy, rural development, solar

Viewpoint: Ghana’s “Mission 300” Energy Pledge: Ambitious Words, but Oversight Must Deliver Action

"For such a pledge to succeed, we must demand transparency, accountability, and protection of Ghana’s long-term interests."

Source

B&FT Online (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, employment, energy access, global development, scale

Cambodia’s ATEC Raises $15.5 Million in Funding Round Co-Led by Lightrock and TRIREC

The rollout will focus on Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malawi, and Nepal, entrenching ATEC’s presence in Asia and Africa.

Source

TNGlobal (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Investing, Technology

Region

South Asia

Tags

clean cooking, climate change, climate health, decarbonization, development finance, energy access, global development

Jacqueline Novogratz and Acumen Raise $300 Million For Off-Grid Solar In Africa

Backers include Green Climate Fund, IFC, Shinhan Bank, Nordic Development Fund and Soros Economic Development Fund.

Source

Forbes (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Social Enterprise

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

business development, climate change, development finance, energy access, global development, impact investing, off-grid energy, startups, sustainable finance

IFC Seeks $300 Million to Fund Electricity Mini-Grids in Africa

The International Finance Corp. is setting up an entity aimed at lowering the cost of mini grids in Africa, to accelerate plans to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

Source

Mint (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Finance, Technology

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, energy access, off-grid energy, SDGs

MOPO Secures £5 Million Investment From Norfund to Expand Clean Energy Access Across Africa

MOPO operates a pay-per-use battery rental system that delivers clean and dependable energy to households and businesses through solar charging hubs managed by local agents.

Source

Innovation Village (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Energy, Investing

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Tags

development finance, energy access, innovation, off-grid energy, PAYGO finance, renewable energy, solar

‘Moonshot’ Education Finance Facility Aims to Turn $1 Into $7 in LMICs

The International Finance Facility for Education is finally up and running — and it’s “a smart aid approach,” according to its first CEO, Karthik Krishnan.

Source

Devex (link opens in a new window)

Categories

Education, Investing

Region

Global

Tags

development finance, global development, SDGs, skill development