Scaling innovative business models

With the Up-scaling programme, DEG finances investments of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that intend to scale up innovative business models with high developmental impact. The program addresses companies whose financing needs lie somewhere between microfinancing and the traditional financing by commercial banks.

Target group

Eligible are early-stage SMEs which are registered in a developing country or emerging market. These may also be local subsidiaries of German or European companies. Preference is given to investments in Africa or India.

What DEG offers

DEG provides funding of 500.000 €, which constitutes a maximum of 50% of the total investment volume. Private sponsors must contribute a substantial share of equity (at least 25%). DEG’s funds must be repaid in the event of success of the investment (depending on pre-defined financial criteria such as cash flow, revenue or profit).

Conditions for funding

The program addresses companies that fulfill the following requirements:

• The company employs an innovative and scalable business approach with a high developmental impact.
• The company is operational and a pilot phase has already been completed including proof of concept with regards to technology and business model at local level.
• The planned investment generates positive returns (as outlined by a comprehensive business plan and financial projections).
• The company shows high growth potential owing to the size of the market and the target group.
• The company has the management capacity, human resources and know-how to substantially scale their activities.

Interested companies may submit their proposals for funding through Up-scaling to DEG at any time. For this purpose please use the documents provided here.

Further information

• Up-Scaling - Overview (PDF, 145 KB)
• Up-Scaling - Form for Investment proposal (DOTX, 103 KB)
• Visit Website

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SunFunder is a solar energy finance business with a mission to provide financing for solar assets in emerging economies, including inventory, working capital, construction, and structured finance loans. SunFunder is a well-positioned financial intermediary that has been operating since 2012.  

We offer borrowers a deep solar market expertise, an efficient due diligence process and strong customer partnerships, while simultaneously providing investors with diversified, high-impact, fixed income debt offerings of emerging market solar investments.

Further Information:

• Apply
• Visit the Website

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The African Power Platform (APP) is supporting the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility, funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and with 7th Cycle Call for Proposals now accepting registrations. USD 5 million to USD 15 million in concessional loans is available at 1% or 2% loan rates, to cover up to half of the total project costs.

Eligibility:

• Country: Members of IRENA, Signatories of the Statute, or States-in-Accession, that are developing countries on the OECD “DAC List of ODA Recipients”. Preference will be given to IRENA Member countries. Download the eligible country list.
• Renewable Energy Technology: Projects should deploy “tried and tested” renewable energy: bioenergy (for example biogas, biomass and waste to energy), geothermal energy (projects beyond exploratory drilling stage), hydropower, ocean energy (including inter alia tidal, wave and ocean), solar energy, wind energy and/or hybrid technologies.
• Project Stage:
  • Projects must be beyond feasibility study stage and pre-implementation stage, but prior to tendering, procurement and execution at point of selection.
  • Projects must provide a full feasibility study including an economic analysis at the Full Project Proposal stage.
• Government Support: Applications can be submitted by governmental, semi-governmental, private or non-governmental entities but must have the support of, and must be prioritised by the government of the country where the project is to be implemented.

Key Dates:

• Application opens: 12th November 2018
• Submission deadline: 14th February 2019

Please go through full details on the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility website. If you have an eligible project and think you can do it on your own, you can apply to the fund directly.

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What we do

The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) provides long-term debt on commercial terms to private sector companies building or expanding infrastructure in Africa.

Applying for Funding

The loan review and evaluation process is carried out by EAIF’s manager, Investec Asset Management (IAM).

To apply for funding please contact us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you’re interested in making a loan application please give us as much information as possible at the earliest possible stage. The better the information provided the quicker a decision can be made.

Loan application and approvals procedures are thorough and efficient:

• Initial project evaluation by IAM infrastructure and debt finance specialists.
• Selected applications considered by EAIF New Business Committee.
• Approved in principle projects go through full due-diligence by IAM.
• IAM negotiates terms and conditions.
• Final approval rests with EAIF Credit Committee and Board.
• Leading to legal agreements and transaction closure.
• Funds transferred when all agreed conditions met.

More info:

• Applying for Funding
• Eligible Sectors
• Eligible Countries
• Loan Products and Services

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Lendahand is an online impact investing platform where socially conscious investors can invest in entrepreneurs and sustainable initiatives in emerging countries. It is our ambition to make Lendahand a world-wide initiative through which people from all over the world can provide fair and transparent financial support to entrepreneurs in emerging countries.

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ecoligo provides a fully financed solar-as-a-service solution for businesses in emerging markets. With a complete digital platform for financing and delivering solar projects, ecoligo removes the barriers that prevent such projects from being realised. Supplying businesses with affordable electricity enables them to grow and boost the local economy.

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bettervest is the world’s first crowdinvesting-platform for energy efficiency projects. Trend researcher and futurist Patrick Mijnals came up with this innovative concept in 2006. His vision was to not only use energy efficiency to provide the needed impetus for a climate-friendly economy and society, but that ordinary people should be able to invest in it. During the 2012 event “Startup-Weekend Rhein-Main”, a group of experts in various fields were presented with the opportunity to take this concept further. Over just two days this team took Mijnals’ concept and together they drew up a funding model for energy efficient projects based on the idea of public participation. The model was able to convince a jury of experts and won the team the Startup-Award.

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TRINE makes it easy for people to invest in solar energy in growing markets. Our mission is to give people a triple return on investment - earn a profit while making social and environmental impact.

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Invest in pioneering businesses that install life-changing solar systems in homes in Sub-Saharan Africa - bringing clean energy and economic opportunities to families, whilst aiming to generate a 4 - 6% annual return for investors.

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Enerwhere, a proud African Power Platform member, is excited to announce that it is about to undertake a fundraising round to fuel the growth plans.

You may remember that in 2017, Enerwhere raised more than US$1million in equity crowdfunding through Eureeca, which resulted in 150% revenue growth in 2018.

Enerwhere is the world's first distributed solar utility company, based in Dubai. A solar hybrid company providing energy as a service, we generate cleaner energy exactly where it is needed i.e. on your roof or next to your business. Enerwhere, with its data driven client-lead approach, is now firmly positioned as one of the regional leaders in cleaner energy solutions for both on and off-grid businesses.

Enerwhere is raising again on Eureeca to ensure that individual investors and not just institutional investors can benefit from its success.

We are currently in the process of gauging our network's interest in investing in the round on the global equity crowdfunding platform eureeca.com. 

Visit the below link to learn more about our raise. If you like what you see, register your interest in becoming a Enerwhere shareholder.  

Watch the recorded webinar session where Daniel Zywietz, Enerwhere's CEO & Founder, details on the investment opportunity:

Donor: ASHRA - The Israel Foreign Trade Risks Insurance Co. Ltd.

Donor Countries: Israel

Description: Contractual counter-guarantee program provides Israeli exporting companies with a partial release of pledge required by Israeli banks and replacing it with an ASHRA counter-guarantee to a bank. The program is targeted to address the operating capital needs of SMEs and assists to release cash to be used in production processes for exports.

Locations: Sub Saharan Africa

On- or Off-Grid:  Not Specified

Geography: Global

Eligibility: Companies engaged in exports and registered in Israel

More info:

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Donor: ASHRA - The Israel Foreign Trade Risks Insurance Co. Ltd.

Donor Countries: Israel

Description: Insurance policies covering political and commercial risk of non-payment and investment risk, enabling Israeli exporters to mitigate risks and raise financing from banks.

Location: Sub Saharan Africa

On- or Off-Grid: Not Specified

Geography: Developing countries

Eligibility: Companies engaged in exports and registered in Israel

More info:

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Donor: Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)

Donor Countries: United States of America

Description: Provides innovative, comprehensive, and cost-effective risk-mitigation products to cover losses to tangible assets, investment value, and earnings that result from political risks.

Locations:  Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

On- or Off-Grid: Both

Geography: OPIC eligible countries. 

Eligibility: Political risk insurance is available to U.S. investors, lenders, contractors, exporters, and NGOs. Reinsurance is available for U.S. and International insurance companies and multilateral insurers.

More info:

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Donors: United States Department of State (DOS), United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)

Donor Countries: United States of America

Description: Early-stage support (project preparation stage up to bankability) for project development activities including engineering, environmental, legal and consulting costs.

Locations: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia

On- or Off-Grid: Both

Geography: US-ACEF eligible countries, of which there are 42 in Africa.

Eligibility: Must qualify as a “Clean Energy Investment” and meet specific USTDA criteria, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

More info:

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Donors: African Development Bank (AfDB), Danish International Development Cooperation (DANIDA), Department for International Development (DFID), United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Donor Countries: Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, United Kingdom, United States of America

Description: Project preparation grants, equity investments and enabling environment grants for small-to-medium scale renewable energy & energy efficiency projects for project developers and Investors. SEFA can support the full range of project preparation activities, from early-stage pre-feasibility studies and PPP preparation up to assistance in achieving financial close.

Locations: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

On- or Off-Grid: Both

Geography: AfDB Regional Member Countries

Eligibility: Project undertaken in the Bank’s Regional Member Countries. Proposed project’s sponsor is a privately-owned or is a PPP. Proposed project, once fully prepared, will have total capital needs between USD$30-75 million

More info:

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Donors: Department for International Development (DFID), Shell Foundation

Donor Countries: Multinational, United Kingdom

Description: To support early-stage testing and scale up of innovative technologies and business models that will accelerate access to affordable, clean energy services for poor households and enterprises, especially in Africa.

Location: Other

On- or Off-Grid: Off-Grid

Geography: Unknown

Eligibility: UK enterprises

Local SMEs

More info:

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Donor: Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM)

Donor Countries: United States of America

Description: Export credit insurance to cover commercial & certain political risks for U.S. Exporters.

Locations: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Réunion, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe

On- or Off-Grid: Both

Geography: EXIM Country Limitation Schedule

Eligibility: Must have: been in business for one year, at least one person working in the firm full time, positive net worth; must export U.S.-made products and/or services provided by U.S. workers

More info:

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Donor: United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)

Donor Countries: United States of America

Description: Grants to support the piloting of U.S. technology solutions in SSA markets. USTDA partners with U.S. companies to cofund the piloting of U.S. solutions to prove out these solutions in other markets. USTDA funding cover services and analytics, not equipment.

Location: Sub Saharan Africa

On- or Off-Grid: Both

Geography: Low- and middle-income countries, with priority given to select countries in each region.

Eligibility: Technology/solution must be U.S. made and the project must represent an opportunity many times greater than the initial investment of USDTA assistance. The project must be likely to receive implementation financing, once the solution is proven.

More info:

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Donors: African Development Bank (AfDB), New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)

Donor Countries: Cote d'Ivoire, Multi-donor

Description: Multi-donor trust fund managed by the AfDB on behalf of NEPAD and supports the development of regional and continental infrastructure with grants to prepare high-quality viable trans-boundary projects in energy. Support is in the form of grants for studies and preparatory activities. Projects can include Generation, Transmission, Distribution Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency.

Location: Sub Saharan Africa

On- or Off-Grid: On-Grid

Geography: Sub Saharan Africa

Eligibility: The applicant must be a Regional Economic Community (REC), a Specialized Regional Infrastructure Development Institution (SRIDI) or a Regional Member Country (RMC) to be eligible for a NEPAD-IPPF Special Fund grant. Regional infrastructure projects proposed by private sector organizations, adopted, supported and owned by RECs, SRIDIs or RMCs are also eligible for Fund support, provided that the request is submitted by the latter.

More info:

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Donor: Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)

Donor Countries: Japan

Description: JBIC is a policy-based financial institution of Japan, and conducts lending operations. The bank is mandated with providing non-ODA finance.

Location: Sub Saharan Africa

On- or Off-Grid: Both

Geography: Sub Saharan Africa

Eligibility: JBIC Criteria

More info:

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