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IFC, BOAD and BII Invest in West Africa’s First Multi-Country Securitization to Boost MSME Financing
Proceeds from the XOF52 billion ($90.4 million) bond will help NSIA Banque Benin expand its MSME loan portfolio across Benin, Senegal, and Togo.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Mobilizing More Capital for African SME Funds: New Research Reveals Persistent Market Constraints — And a Growing Focus on Innovation
Over the past decade, African SME fund managers have experienced remarkable growth, diversifying geographically, across asset classes and in fund structures. However, according to Marianne Vidal-Marin at Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) and Julia Kho at Triple Jump, SME investing remains challenging across the continent. They share insights from a new I&P report exploring the current SME fund investment landscape in Africa — the first in a series of NextBillion articles on what makes SME finance work across emerging markets, and in Africa in particular.
- Categories
- Investing
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Wetility Secures $27.8 Million from Jaltech to Scale Solar Access for South African Homes and SMEs
The capital injection is set to support Wetility’s plans to provide solar power and battery systems to over a million homes and businesses across South Africa.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- energy access, MSMEs, scale, solar
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Bringing African Knowledge into the Probiotic Industry: The Untapped Goldmine in Nigeria’s Fermented Foods
As the health benefits of fermented, probiotic foods have become more widely known, they’ve driven a global surge of interest in foods like kimchi, miso and sauerkraut. But according to Oluwadara Alegbeleye, a microbiologist who researches food safety and sustainable food systems, Nigeria’s fermented foods have yet to transition from local staples to globally recognized probiotic solutions. She argues that this has cost Nigeria not only international recognition, but a valuable business opportunity, and explains how the country's fermented food market could evolve into a robust and viable industry.
- Categories
- Health Care
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Walmart Vriddhi Partners To Empower an Additional 100,000 MSMEs for Business Growth by 2028, Expanding Their Access to International Markets
"The program provides MSMEs with digital tools, personalized mentorship and market access to expand their reach both nationally and internationally, supporting sustainable business models and cross-border trade via Walmart Marketplace."
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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CLASP and GEAPP Expand Access to Affordable, Energy-efficient Appliances in Africa
CLASP and GEAPP scale up their innovative financing program to support more African businesses and farmers with affordable, energy-efficient appliances.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Analysis: How Small Businesses Can Navigate Global Trade In an Era of Polycrisis
With support, small businesses can compete globally and drive inclusive economic development.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Global
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Mediterrania Capital Partners Fund Reaches Final Close
Mediterrania Capital Partners has announced the final close of its fourth fund at €600 million.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- MSMEs, venture capital
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