Development finance

The Norwegian DFI will invest approximately €11.5m in the second social bond issuance from PEPT, helping to finance up to 400,000 new grid connections for low income households and small businesses.

The financing aims to boost access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in northern Nigeria and those led by women nationwide.

The EU-backed initiative will support digital infrastructure and services across emerging markets, aiming to accelerate connectivity and economic development.

The loan will enable the Wagagai farm, recently acquired by Selecta one, to develop its business and maintain its role as a hub for social initiatives.

A new report from  UK-backed programme MOBILIST highlights the growing number of successful securitisation initiatives allowing development institutions to unlock more of their capital without putting their AAA ratings at risk.

British International Investment has partnered with FirstRand to launch the facility, which aims to accelerate transition finance projects across Africa to respond to the challenges of climate change.

In a world of political and policy headwinds, development finance institutions are aiming to mobilise private capital and innovate to build impact, said speakers at the Impact Investor conference.

Afrigeen Debt Impact Fund has invested €15m through a senior secured financing facility for SolarX, a solar solutions developer and operator for commercial and industrial customers in West Africa.

The fund aims to help close the estimated annual $280bn climate adaptation gap and benefit 19million people living in emerging and developing countries, including least developed countries and small island developing states.

The Amethis Europe Expansion Fund aims to support European small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to expand into Africa, as well as Europe and the Middle East. The fund has been backed by the EIB, Bpifrance and COFIDES.