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To Truly Innovate, WASH Funders Need to Get Their Hands Dirty: Key Learnings from Five Years of Pioneering Impact-Linked Finance in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
The water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector faces a funding gap of around US $138 billion per year if it hopes to reach SDG 6’s goal of universal WASH access by 2030. According to Arnaud Alt and Annemarie Mastenbroek at Aqua for All, and Christina Moehrle, to address this shortfall, funders need to develop more hands-on financing approaches, working closely with entrepreneurs and organizations to better understand their context, challenges and needs. They explain why Impact-Linked Finance (ILF) represents one such approach, and share two key lessons from Aqua for All's "ILF for WASH" program.
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Verdant Capital Expands Investment in LOLC Africa to $13.5 Million, Boosting MSME Financing Across the Continent
"Recognised as one of the world’s leading microfinance groups, LOLC targets customers at the “bottom of the pyramid” by improving access to financial services and increasing customer deposits across underserved communities."
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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New Fund Sabou Capital to Invest up to $1.5 Million in 25 African SMEs
The fund expects a modest 2-3x return on investment—closer to the 3- 5x range typical of private equity—compared to the high-risk 10x expectations of venture capital.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Technology, Transportation
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Deetken Impact’s Ilu Women’s Empowerment Fund Awarded $750K Grant to Advance Gender-Responsive Climate Finance Initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean
The grant will support a combination of catalytic investment capital and technical assistance to unlock resources and knowledge at the intersection of climate action, gender equality, and health.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Latin America
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Navigating the Financing Paradox for WSMEs: Workable Solutions for Increasing Financial Inclusion Among Women-Owned or -Led Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
In Africa, an estimated $42 billion financing gap exists for small and medium-sized enterprises owned or led by women (WSMEs). According to Nathalie Gogue-Ebo, Crystal Mugimba, Millie Maina and Shiemaa Ahmed at Open Capital, this gap has persisted despite the fact that women own the majority of the continent’s SMEs, and that globally, they default on their loans at a rate 53% lower than men. They explore the main roadblocks facing African WSMEs, and share some solutions that can ensure that these women entrepreneurs have access to the capital they need to thrive.
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IsDB Joins Efforts With WHO and Development Partners to Promote Health Impact Investment
The US$ 10 million grant from IsDB will specifically support the technical assistance that WHO provides to countries around the world.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care
- Region
- Global
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AFDB Approves $100 Million for Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank in Nigeria
The newly approved bank will provide assistance to young entrepreneurs through technical support, business incubation, quasi-equity, and debt.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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BII and FMO Join Forces With the UK Government to Boost Finance for Agribusinesses
The facility addresses the lack of access to finance for agribusinesses in developing countries and increases support for successful, inclusive agribusinesses.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Global
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