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WDI Partners with Villgro Africa and Haskè Ventures to Scale R&D Impact Voucher Model Across Seven African Countries
R&D impact vouchers connect small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) with public research organizations through affiliated researchers, enabling businesses that might otherwise lack resources to access cutting-edge scientific expertise while providing African researchers with access to SMEs that they normally would not be exposed to.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: World Bank Group Approves Financing to Boost Credit Access for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Job Creation in El Salvador
The project will facilitate complementary private capital mobilization, building on the support that the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group's private sector arm, drives in the areas of financial inclusion and productive expansion for formal job creation.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Latin America
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African Development Bank Group Invests $15 Million in SPE PEF III to Support Growth-Stage Businesses in Africa
SPE Capital is an investment fund management company active in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, with more than $600 million deployed, primarily in development capital across healthcare, education, business services and manufacturing.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care, Investing
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- development finance, MSMEs, startups
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Kenya’s 4G Capital Secures $2 Million Funding to Expand Financial Inclusion Across East Africa
Founded in 2013, 4G Capital blends human customer service with advanced digital technology to deliver small working capital loans and customised business training to micro enterprises that are excluded from the formal financial system.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- financial inclusion, fintech, innovation, lending, MSMEs, scale, startups
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Three Questions for Five African Businesses: Insights from Sankalp Africa Summit’s ‘Enterprise Showcase’
The recent Sankalp Africa Summit featured an “Enterprise Showcase” where up-and-coming African businesses shared information about their work and missions. NextBillion interviewed five of these entrepreneurs and company representatives, asking each of them three questions: What are the main challenges you’re facing in running your business? What kind of support would help you overcome these challenges? And what’s one thing you wish funders understood about your business needs? Their responses reveal some of the innovative approaches and key issues that are emerging in Africa’s vibrant ecosystem of small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Social Enterprise, Transportation, WASH
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South Africa’s Hlayisani Capital Launches 2nd Fund with Initial $29.9 Million in Commitments
It offers strategic support and capital to high-growth, highly scalable SMEs with a proven track record, and specialises in growing these SMEs into large, successful enterprises that operate across multiple territories, create jobs and generate export revenue domestically.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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ResponsAbility Commits USD $21.5 Million to CDB to Scale Green Lending in Sri Lanka
The transaction strengthens responsAbility’s footprint in South Asia and the Sri Lankan market, supporting CDB in expanding SME lending, advancing gender-focused financing, and scaling investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Press Release: Fasanara and IFC Launch New Strategy to Expand Access to Finance for MSMEs in Emerging Markets
The initiative will channel more affordable, flexible financing to MSMEs by supporting fintech lenders that serve these businesses.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Global
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