News and insights

African private equity fund manager Ascent today announced the first rolling close of its Ascent Rift Valley Fund II (ARVF II) at more than USD 100 million, significantly exceeding its initial target of USD 80 million. The final close of ARVF II, with a target of USD 120 million, is expected in December 2021.

IFC, BIO, SANAD, and Symbiotics announced a loan to KCB Bank Kenya Ltd to help the bank increase lending for climate-friendly projects and to smaller businesses, especially those owned by women.

CDC Group, Norfund, Finnfund, FinDev Canada and BIO jointly commit $82 million to Phatisa’s second food fund, a Sub-Saharan African fund aiming to create over 2,000 jobs in food and agriculture and to increase agricultural output by 3m tonnes.

An interview with Luuk Zonneveld, An-Heleen De Greef & Eric Van den Bosch on the SDG Frontier Fund, published in L'Eventail on the 10th of December 2020, written by Cédric Boitte.

This article was published in French.

In July it was announced that Feronia was facing bankruptcy and was to undergo a financial restructuring in order to secure the long-term future of PHC, its palm oil business located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On November 23rd, 2020, the formal restructuring agreement between the company and its lenders was signed.

European DFIs announce new initiatives on climate action and inclusive finance for the African private sector in a bid to align capital flows with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on Climate.

The Climate Finance Leadership Initiative (CFLI), the Association of European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI) and the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF), are working to identify discrete hurdles to climate finance in emerging markets; support public-private dialogue around those challenges; and highlight ways for the financial sector to help strengthen investment conditions.

This collaborative working paper — called “Private Sector Considerations for Policymakers” — was drafted with the input of experienced lenders and investors. We are now inviting comments from diverse stakeholders across business, government, and civil society to ensure that this document accurately reflects the most critical considerations for attracting private climate finance in emerging markets.

EIB and EDFI members expand existing - European Financing Partners (EFP) - financing scheme to reduce the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on private sector companies in developing countries.

EDFI group outlines shared commitments to phase out fossil fuels and mobilise private sector climate finance, aligning with Paris Agreement and high disclosure standards.