GroFin’s response to Covid-19

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Shell Foundation are proud of the diverse ways in which our partners have stepped up during this crisis. In its recent newsletter, SF’s long-standing partner GroFin outlined a number of initiatives they have initiated to help their SME clients during Covid-19. These initiatives include: Developed a Covid-19 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework drawing on international…

The continued investment case for mobility start-ups

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The mobility service sector has been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 crisis, with extended lockdowns preventing businesses providing transport of people and goods. A new article published on The City Fix website however, demonstrates the opportunities contained within mobility start-ups’ business pivots and highlights the increased understanding of the value of more resilient, cleaner,…

How SMV Green Solutions is addressing C-19

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SMV Green Solutions (SMV) has been an SF partner since 2015 and works to provide safe, clean and affordable sustainable mobility solutions. Through its “Project Vahini” programme – supported by the UK Government – SMV also promotes gender inclusion and has so far helped over 70 women e-rickshaw drivers become owners of their own vehicle.…

Easy Matatu supports key workers during Covid-19

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SF partner Easy Matatu, one of the earliest stage companies in our portfolio, has eagerly risen to the Covid-19 relief effort challenge. Easy Matatu is reforming the existing, informal minibus-taxis (known as “matatus”) industry by building a community of trusted matatu drivers and a fleet of clean and safe vehicles to provide first-rate transportation to…

Tusker – Providing relief facilities during Covid-19

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India-based logistics organisation Tusker joins the growing list of SF partners who are coming to people’s aid during the Covid-19 pandemic. Getting essential items to people in remote areas of India can be very challenging.  Tusker uses its logistics system to enable rural crowd-sourced freight transportation to deliver to outlying towns and villages and address…

Easy Matatu

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Key Facts Completed 1000+ trips Served 2500+ commuters Trained 50+ minibus drivers Easy Matatu is reforming the existing, informal minibus-taxis (matatu) industry by building a community of trusted matatu drivers and a fleet of clean and safe vehicles to provide first-rate transportation to the public. Piloting in Kampala, Uganda, commuters can pre-book seats on scheduled…

How can SME funds optimise to attract more capital?

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Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets are critical to driving economic growth, creating jobs and working toward the Sustainable Development Goals, contributing up to 60% of employment and 40% of national income. These SMEs face a significant financing gap, which is at risk of widening during the current Covid-19 crisis. Increasing access…

How to retain safeguarding measures during Covid-19

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Evidence has shown that safeguarding risks dramatically increase during an epidemic. During the current period of uncertainty caused by Covid-19, it is vital that our partners are mindful of these increased risks and are equipped to prevent or deal with any incidents should they arise. We are supporting all our partners in ensuring safeguarding remains…

GroFin Annual Report 2019

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SF partner GroFin in the SME sector recently released its 2019 Annual Report. In 2019, GroFin invested in 25 new businesses by deploying US$21m of growth capital to increase the number of jobs they have helped to sustain since inception to 89,450 and the Report provides an overview of the following: How GroFin uses different…

How Shell Foundation is responding to the Covid-19 crisis

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As the world adapts to a different operating environment caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, at Shell Foundation we have been working to formalise our response strategy to help our portfolio of social enterprises and institutions continue delivering energy and transport solutions to low-income consumers in Africa and Asia, and that the sector response is aligned…