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KCB Bank Kenya and European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) Sign US$100 Million Facility to Expand SME Financing
Under the framework, 35 per cent of the facility will be directed towards women and youth-led enterprises, while 30 per cent will finance eligible green investments, enabling businesses to adopt climate-smart technologies and sustainable business practices.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Finance, Investing, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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When ‘Patient Capital’ isn’t Patient Enough: How Mismatched Funder Timelines in PAYGo Solar are Holding Back Energy Access in Africa
The energy access conversation in Africa is usually framed around deployment, with success defined by connection targets, cost reduction and rural reach. But Kolawole Osinowo at the FATE Institute argues that these goals don't address a binding constraint for companies working at the last mile: the time it takes for households to repay the solar assets they bought via PAYGo financing. As he explains, the PAYGo model spreads out payments for the benefit of the consumer, but it adds the cost of waiting to the provider’s balance sheet — and that cost later spreads to the company’s investors. And though much of the capital that supports energy access presents itself as patient, willing to wait for these PAYGo assets to be repaid, in practice, these investors often behave otherwise. He discusses the impacts of this mismatch, and explores how capital can be structured for better alignment with PAYGo timelines.
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Taking First-Loss Guarantees Further: Four Problems That Keep Social Enterprises Stuck, and How Entrepreneurship Support Organizations Can Address Them
Grants and equity dominate the conversation in impact finance, but according to Srinivas Ramanujam at Villgro, debt is often the most practical tool for social enterprises that are too large for a grant, but too small and early-stage for most equity investors. And since lenders face real and perceived risks around these companies' creditworthiness, first-loss guarantees can help make debt capital more accessible. However, he explains that a guarantee alone is not a silver bullet, and that the harder work involves solving the problems that keep enterprises stuck. He explores how Villgro has addressed four of these key challenges, highlighting takeaways for entrepreneurship support organizations and other intermediaries.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Philippines Taps AI to unlock Bank Loans for Small Businesses
The agreement aims to strengthen creditworthiness, boost productivity, and streamline loan application processes for local entrepreneurs.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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OPEC Fund Provides $50 Million Loan to Vietnam’s SeABank for Small Business and Climate Financing
In a statement on Monday, SeABank said the loan can help it increase lending to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which account for around half of employment in Vietnam but continue to face a significant financing gap.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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Social Finance First: Standard Bank Pioneers $29 Million Helios Towers Facility
Standard Bank has launched its first social documentary credit facility, providing Helios Towers with a $29m trade finance solution structured under the Loan Market Association's social loan principles.
- Categories
- Telecommunications
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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South Africa Fintech Bridgement Raises $20 Million as Banks Back AI-Powered Business Lending
The RMB and Standard Bank funding enables Bridgement to expand its direct lending to SMEs and strengthen its position as a leading online business lender in South Africa.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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ADB, HDBank Sign $100 Million Loan to Expand Access to Finance for MSMEs, Women-Owned Businesses in Viet Nam
The financing will support HDBank’s medium- to long-term lending, with at least 40% of ADB’s financing directed to WMSMEs to provide more opportunities for women business owners. Proceeds will be on-lent to eligible MSMEs in line with HDBank’s sustainable finance framework, expanding support for underserved segments.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
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