Key facts
- Implementing Partner:
IFC
- Guarantee volume:
up to €58 million
- Global Gateway areas of partnership:
Multisectoral - Climate and Energy, Digital, Education and Research, Health
- Sectors:
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
- Geographical focus:
Sub-Saharan Africa and the European Neighbourhood
- Type of support provided:
Financing, Technical assistance
- Types of investments:
guarantees and loans
- Investment period:
open for investments until December 2024
- Technical assistance:
up to €4 million
Description
The programme provides risk-sharing facilities along with advisory services to improve the availability of loans, guarantees and other financing products relevant for small businesses. It especially targets businesses in agriculture, education, health, engaged in climate change activities, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including those led by women. This helps business owners in low-income, fragile and conflict-affected countries to access finance, grow and expand their businesses.
To this end, IFC shares with local banks and financial institutions who meet the pre-defined eligibility criteria, the risk of providing loans, guarantees and other financial assistance to small businesses. This enables participating financial institutions to lend to MSMEs, which are otherwise considered too risky. Also, operational and technical support to eligible local banks and financial institutions helps them to better serve small business owners, diversify and increase the availability of loan products offered.
How can businesses and investors get involved?
If you are a business representative or an investor with an interest in this guarantee program, we recommend getting in touch directly with IFC.
Contact: awilliams2
ifc [dot] org (awilliams2[at]ifc[dot]org)
About IFC
IFC – a member of the World Bank Group - is an experienced supranational organization providing financing and financial services primarily to the private sector in developing countries that are members of IFC. It combines the characteristics of a multilateral development bank with those of a private financial institution. Across sectors and regions, including fragile and conflict-affected economies, IFC seeks to promote inclusive economic growth, gender equality, environmental and social sustainability, and climate adaptation and mitigation.