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…

Amiran

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KEY FACTS Part of Balton CP group with operating entities across eight African countries in east, west and southern Africa Track record of over 50 years innovating in the Kenyan agriculture sector Piloted 100+ credit sales to small scale farmers and SME agribusinesses in 2019-2020 Amiran brings to Kenya the products of leading and innovative…

Testing a new approach to credit for productive use Ag assets

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In 2019 Shell Foundation and the UK Government provided funding and support to Amiran, a leading East African agricultural distributor, so that they could test a new approach to providing appropriate credit to agricultural Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya. Agricultural SMEs across Kenya are unable to obtain the financing they need to invest in their…

Accelerating access to local currency debt finance for SHS businesses in Uganda

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It is estimated that US$800 million in debt will need to be invested in solar home system (SHS) businesses in Uganda to achieve universal energy access (SDG7). For the long-term sustainability of the off-grid solar sector, there is a need for local banks and financial institutions to recognise this opportunity and play a central role in…

SF portfolio CEO named on working group for Indian Social Stock Exchange

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Vineet Rai, founder and CEO of long-term SF portfolio partner Aavishkaar, has been appointed to a working group advising on the creation of an Indian Social Stock Exchange (SSE) and help channel funding into social enterprises. Vineet will join a 15-member panel and represent India’s private equity and venture capital industry. The panel also includes…

Productive use of off-grid energy: The business case in Uganda’s dairy value chain

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Off-grid energy solutions continue to take hold in Uganda, though 30% of the population is still expected to lack access to electricity by 2030. Affordability remains a challenge to the uptake of off-grid energy. Increased ‘productive use’ of energy has the potential to increase productivity and income, thereby driving further uptake in off-grid energy. These…

Lendable reaches $30m in disbursements

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SF partner and fintech finance company Lendable has recently hit $30m in money disbursed to non-bank lending companies across frontier markets. Lendable’s financing has supported the growth of SMEs and productive asset, consumer and PAYG solar finance companies across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana since 2016. Through these investments, Lendable has financed over 200,000 individual…

GroFin report shows continued impact for 2018

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GroFin’s Impact Report 2019 demonstrates the impact investment fund managers’ continued success supporting SGBs (Small and Growing Businesses) serving low-income communities in Africa and the Middle East. Shell Foundation partnered with GroFin in 2004 to co-create an innovative integrated solution business model that catalysed SGBs, who represent a significant source of employment and economic growth…

GroFin honoured by awards in Ghana and Nigeria

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SF partner and pioneering private development finance institution GroFin, has won a Gold Award in the Financial Services (SME Development) category Ghana-Africa Business Awards after winning the same award in 2015.  The award was given in recognition of GroFin’s outstanding contribution to the development of Ghana. As well as this, GroFin won the Outstanding Healthcare…

Harnessing technology for SME finance

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By GroFin Managers, 24 June 2019 From mobile money to blockchain and data analytics, fintech is not only disrupting the way corporate financial institutions operate, it also presents far-reaching opportunities for social enterprises and development finance institutions to strengthen their impact and efficiency. Shell Foundation (SF) supports innovators to test new technology and enterprise models…