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Apr 2021
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Norsk Solar and Finnfund Establish Unique Financing Platform for Impact Investing In Developing Countries
April, 30 2021
Global - Norsk Solar AS, a fully integrated independent solar power producer focusing on emerging markets and corporate and industrial (C&I) in addition to utility-scale solar projects, today announce the establishment of a joint Investment Company with Finnfund, a development financier and impact investor ...
How Fintech Can Help Break The Health Poverty Trap
April, 29 2021
Global - Healthcare costs drive 65 mil people across Asia into extreme poverty every year. Bringing together Fintech and healthcare will make it easier to choose, save for, and pay for high-quality health services ...
Cambodia: Microfinance Body Calls for More Lending
April, 28 2021
Cambodia - Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) on April 27 urged its members to release more credit to customers as the spread of Covid-19, exacerbated by the February 20 community transmission is having a huge impact on all businesses, especially in Phnom Penh and Takmao town ...
Off-Grid Market Development Fund Offers Results-Based Financing for Solar Access in Madagascar
April, 28 2021
Madagascar - The Antananarivo-based $40 million fund, backed by the World Bank and government of Madagascar, incentivizes solar distributors to test models to improve affordability for customers, like pay-as-you-go and equipment rentals ...
India: CDC Group to Invest Rs 250 CR in Fourth Partner Energy
April, 28 2021
India - CDC Group, the UK's development finance institution (DFI) and impact investor, on Wednesday announced Rs 250 crore investment into Fourth Partner Energy, India's leading solar energy company for commercial and industrial businesses ...
IFC to Provide $20 Million Debt Finance to Nigerian Off-Grid Power Firm
April, 27 2021
Nigeria - The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has announced that it plans to provide $20 million to Nigerian off-grid power service provider, Daybreak Power Solutions, a subsidiary of Daystar Power Group ...
Brazil’s Positive Ventures Closes on $10m Fund for Impact Investing
April, 27 2021
Brazil - Positive Ventures has raised the capital from an impressive list of LPs, including investor Luis Stuhlberger, founding partner of Verde Asset Management and Teresa and Cândido Bracher, who was the chairman of Itaú-Unibanco, Brazil’s largest bank ...
M. Bloomberg and D. Salomon: Mobilize the Market to Fight Global Warming
April, 27 2021
Global - Together, Bloomberg LP, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Goldman Sachs will help launch an innovation fund that will deploy capital to energy transition projects across developing markets, with a special focus on South and Southeast Asia ...
Matt Damon and Gary White: Invest in Women to Solve the Water and Sanitation Crisis
April, 27 2021
Global - Twelve years ago, we set out to prove the value of investing in access to safe water and toilets for people at the base of the economic pyramid. Now, with the lessons of a global pandemic well embedded in our consciousness, it’s clearer than ever that the water and sanitation crisis simply has to be solved—by our generation of investors, right now ...
$30m IFC Loan to Help Bangladesh Cos Stay Afloat Amid COVID
April, 27 2021
Bangladesh - With the financing, Brac Bank is expected to extend loans to its SME and corporate customers, supporting businesses that are now coping with a new wave of Covid-19 in Bangladesh ...
Unlocking Financing for Investment into Education
April, 26 2021
Global - The precarious economic outlook for emerging markets is also building hesitation within new investors to financing education opportunities targeting underserved communities. Alternative financing approaches like blended finance are offering a pathway to attract investors and engage private capital on market terms ...
DFC Achieves First Close of $100 Million Loan to WaterEquity’s Global Access Fund to Improve Access to Water and Sanitation
April, 23 2021
Global - U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) funded the first $25 million tranche of DFC’s $100 million loan to WaterEquity’s Global Access Fund, a $150 million impact investment vehicle targeting inclusive financial institutions in emerging markets to scale up water and sanitation microloan portfolios ...
ADB, CD Finance Sign 40 Mln USD Loan for Chinese Rural Development
April, 23 2021
China - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and CD Finance Management Co., Ltd. (CD Finance), a Chinese rural microfinance service provider, signed a loan deal Friday in yuan equivalent to 40 million U.S. dollars to support China's rural development ...
U.S. to Double Public Climate Finance to Developing Countries by 2024
April, 23 2021
Global - The United States said on Thursday it would boost public climate finance to help poor countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate, doubling funding by 2024 from high average levels hit during the Obama administration ...
EBRD, Other Lenders Back 200-MW Solar Plant in Egypt
April, 22 2021
Egypt - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), together with partners, is providing a USD-114-million (EUR 94.8m) financing package for a 200-MW solar project in Egypt ...
Switzerland: Symbiotics Launches Tameo, an Independent Spin-off Focusing on Enhancing Impact Funds with Support Services
April, 22 2021
Switzerland - The creation of Tameo coincides with the acceleration and mainstreaming of the impact investing niche, with strong demand by current and new impact funds for better transparency, comparability, pricing, liquidity or impact measurement, as well as deal-flow to enhance their growth and deployment. ...
Beyond Capital Fund Advances Commitment to Sustainable Waste Management Solutions with Investment in India's Hasiru Dala Innovations
April, 22 2021
India - Beyond Capital, an impact investment fund that invests in companies seeking solutions to improve the lives of people at the bottom of the economic pyramid in India and East Africa, is pleased to announce its recent investment in Hasiru Dala Innovations ...
Uploan Secures US $15m from Lendable to Expand Its Payroll Financial Services beyond Philippines
April, 21 2021
Philippines - Uploan, a Philippines-based fintech company providing payroll financial services, has raised a senior secured loan of up to US$15 million from debt financer Lendable ...
India: Solar Rooftop Firm Raises INR 18 Crore
April, 21 2021
India - Solar rooftop solutions provider Freyr Energy on Wednesday said it has raised INR 18 crore from Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures, Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia and C4D Partners ...
Tribal Credit Raises $34.3 Million to Fuel Mexican Growth and Support SMEs in Emerging Markets
April, 21 2021
Mexico - Tribal Credit, a payment fintech specially designed for small and medium-sized businesses in emerging markets, announced today closing a combined Series A and debt round of $34.3 million ...
TriLinc Global Impact Fund Makes Impact Investments in Southeast Asia and Latin America
April, 20 2021
Southeast Asia and Latin America - TriLinc Global Impact Fund, LLC (“TriLinc Global Impact Fund” or “TGIF”) announced today that it recently approved $16,372,136 in term loan and trade finance transactions in Southeast Asia and Latin America. The transaction details are summarized below ...
Southeast Asia: ADB Teams with Habitat for Humanity to Help MFIs Deliver Housing Loans
April, 19 2021
Southeast Asia - ADB will help MFIs obtain financing for these purposes from commercial banks of up to $30 million in the first phase. Habitat for Humanity will build the MFIs' capacity to design, pilot-test, and roll out the loans, with technical assistance from ADB ...
India: Northern Arc Raises Rs 40 Cr Debt from Kotak Mahindra Bank to Help Small Businesses
April, 19 2021
India - To support small businesses and households hit by the pandemic, digital debt platform Northern Arc Capital has raised Rs 40 crore debt from Kotak Mahindra Bank. The debt is backed and partly guaranteed by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation, it said ...
F. Bourguignon, P. Jacquet and D. Revoltella: Investing In ‘Deep Dives’ to Measure Development Impact
April, 19 2021
Global - Impact measurement has received increasing attention from private investors, notably focusing on the nature of reporting, the choice of indicators, and the need to harmonize measurement practices and approaches ...
India: French Agency Proparco Makes a Loan for Indusind Bank’s Microfinance Division
April, 19 2021
India - French development agency Proparco made a $75 million (about Rs 560 crore) loan to mid-sized private-sector lender IndusInd Bank for its microfinance division ...
A. Sharma, President-Designate of the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference: We Must Help Poorer Countries Tackle Climate Change
April, 18 2021
Global - We have begun to address some of the barriers that developing countries face when it comes to climate action. Developed countries now need to get to work, honour the commitments they have made and dig deep into their pockets to ensure these funds are available ...
EBRD and GCF Expand Green Finance in Armenia with $6m Package
April, 14 2021
Armenia - The financing is being provided to Inecobank under the EBRD’s Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) for lending to local enterprises for investment in climate-change mitigation and adaptation technologies and services ...
S. K. Kumaraswamy, CGAP: Does PAYGo Solar Improve Women’s Lives? A Look at the Evidence
April, 14 2021
Global - While there are some indications that the PAYGo model is well suited to women’s energy and financial needs and could potentially have a positive impact on their lives, it’s clear that more rigorous research will be needed to better understand the impacts ...
Ugandan Fintech Numida Secures $2.3 Million
April, 14 2021
Uganda - Uganda-based fintech startup Numida has secured $2.3-million in a seed funding round led by MFS Africa with participation from DRK Foundation, Equilibria Capital, and Segal Family Foundation alongside angel investors ...
UN Seeks Investors for Projects to Meet 2030 Sustainable Goals
April, 14 2021
Global - Some of the world’s largest financial institutions are teaming up with the United Nations to connect investors with projects that help achieve the body’s sustainable development goals by 2030 ...
B. Samson, F. Howard and K. Hornberger, Dalberg: Climate-Positive Agriculture - How Investors Can Support Smallholder Farmers While Also Regenerating the Environment
April, 14 2021
Global - Investors should look to new types of investments in regenerative agriculture and circular economy practices to recycle and reduce waste while lowering emissions. Investments in new innovations can meet agriculture needs while reducing waste and emissions ...
IFC, Banco Daycoval Support Smaller Businesses, Including Those Owned by Women, in Brazil
April, 13 2021
Brazil - IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is spearheading a $400 million financing package that will help smaller businesses, including those run by women, weather the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic ...
IFC Supports Inclusive Growth by Boosting SME Access to Finance in Southeast and Central Europe
April, 13 2021
Central & Eastern Europe - IFC has invested €20 million in the Evolving Europe Principal Investments Fund I, managed by Integral Venture Partners. ...
Creation Investments to Invest Rs 90 Crore in Three NBFCs in India
April, 12 2021
India - These investments are from the first tranche of a $100 million India-focused debt fund launched by Creation earlier this year ...
Bangladesh Launches First Green Bond
April, 12 2021
Bangladesh - With the World Bank celebrating the success of a solar home system installation program which has provided electricity to an estimated 20 million people, an NGO has floated a near $12 million environmental investment which could drive further PV capacity ...
Nigerian Fintech Appzone Raises $10m for Expansion and Proprietary Technology
April, 12 2021
Nigeria - Typically, African financial institutions rely on using foreign technology solutions to solve their problems. But issues around pricing, flexibility to innovate, and a lack of local tech support always come up. This is where Appzone has found its sweet spot ...
South Africa: MTN Targets Valuation of at Least $5bn for Mobile Money Arm
April, 12 2021
South Africa - South Africa’s MTN, the continent’s biggest mobile phone company by subscribers, is looking to value its mobile money arm at more than $5bn as it prepares to sell or list a minority stake to draw global investors enticed by fast-growing fintech assets ...
India: Northern Arc Capital Raises $25 Million Debt from FMO
April, 09 2021
India - Microfinance borrowers in both urban and rural areas will be key beneficiaries of FMO’s investment, the debt financing platform said in a press release ...
Big Brands Join $1-Billion Forest Conservation Push for SE Asia
April, 09 2021
South-East Asia - The Rimba Collective, developed by Lestari Capital, a Singapore-based impact investment firm, will fund projects that protect and restore more than 500,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) of tropical forests in Indonesia and the region ...
UK: Investment Consultants Endorse Impact Investing Principles for Pensions
April, 08 2021
Global - Released in November last year, the principles are a set of guidelines on how to initiate, implement, review and measure an impact strategy ...
India: Avanti Finance Raises $26 Mn in Series A and Debt Funding Round Co-Led by Oikocredit and Nomura
April, 08 2021
India - The platform will use the funds to strengthen its platform and expand its presence to accelerate livelihood’s purpose credit and other financial products to the next 100 million unserved and underserved households in India ...
Bangladesh: Brac Receives $50m Investment from Dutch Development Bank FMO
April, 08 2021
Bangladesh - The five-year facility will be fully earmarked to the financing of the NGO's microfinance portfolio, said Tushar Bhowmik, CFO of Brac, in a press release issued by Brac on Wednesday ...
DEG Commits to Brazilian Impact Fund with USD150m Target
April, 07 2021
Brazil - Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) is one of the investors in the Vinci Impact and Return Fund IV, contributing up to USD11.8 million to the impact fund, which has a USD150 million target ...
DLM Capital Group to Tap Into Nigeria’s Fintech Opportunity, Acquires MFB License
April, 07 2021
Nigeria - Leading developmental investment bank, DLM Capital Group, has today announced its plans to expand into Nigeria’s million-dollar fintech sector following its acquisition of Links Microfinance Bank ...
India: Northern Arc Investments Announces IFMR FImpact Investment Fund Closure
April, 07 2021
India - Northern Arc Investments on Tuesday announced the successful maturity and closure of IFMR FImpact Investment Fund, the first fund from its investment platform, and the very first private credit fund from India focused on the microfinance sector ...
Cambodia: ABC, CMA Set Out Six Debt Relief Measures
April, 07 2021
Cambodia - The Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) on April 7 ordered members to adopt six measures of financial relief in light of the economic fallout and depressed incomes caused by the February 20 community transmission of Covid-19 ...
Africa: Baobab+ Raises €4m to Distribute Its Solar Kits in Two Countries
April, 07 2021
Sub-Saharan Africa - Solar home systems provider Baobab+ has just completed two rounds of financing for its expansion in Senegal and Ivory Coast. As part of these transactions, the French company has secured €4 million from two investors ...
Kiva Capital Management Announces Final Close of Kiva Refugee Investment Fund to Scale Lending to Fragile Communities Globally
April, 07 2021
Global - Kiva Capital Management, the impact-first fund management subsidiary of non-profit Kiva.org, announced today the successful final close of the Kiva Refugee Investment Fund, LLC, a $32.5 million facility to scale lending to fragile communities globally ...
Ribbit Capital Leads $26.7M Round for Brazilian Fintech Cora
April, 05 2021
Brazil - Cora, a São Paulo-based technology-enabled lender to small and-medium-sized businesses, has raised $26.7 million in a Series A round led by Silicon Valley VC firm Ribbit Capital ...
Dutch Development Bank FMO to Invest $137 Mn in India’s Green Growth Equity Fund
April, 02 2021
India - Dutch development bank FMO will invest $137 million (about ₹1,000 crore) in India’s Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF), managed by EverSource Capital, while the fund aims to raise a total of $940 million ...
Mastercard’s Airtel Investment Spotlights Africa’s Mobile Money Boom
April, 01 2021
Africa - The mobile payments surge is global in scope, touching all regions and countries. That’s especially apparent in Africa, where as reported Thursday (April 1), Airtel Africa is getting a $100 million investment from Mastercard that valued the platform at roughly $2.7 billion, and which would give Mastercard a 3.7 percent stake in the firm ...
Uganda’s Tugende Closes a $3.6M Series A Extension to Meet Asset Finance Demand
April, 01 2021
Uganda - Tugende has also raised $20 million in debt capital to grow its portfolio. Among its debt partners are Partners Group Impact Investments, Symbiotics, US International Development Finance Corporation, Frankfurt School Financial Services, Global Social Impact Fund, Yunus Social Business, and Oikocredit ...
Root Capital Secures $35 Million from DFC to Expand Lending to Rural Agribusinesses
April, 01 2021
Global - The U.S. International Development Corporation, formerly known as OPIC, is investing $35 million in the Cambridge, Mass.-based social lender to finance smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. ...

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