Overview of EFSD and EFSD+ Guarantees

This €750 million guarantee with the European Investment Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation aims to strengthen health systems and to improve access to health technologies. Private investors have the chance to confidently invest into health projects which promote universal health coverage.

The programme targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as groups with limited or no access to finance, particularly start-ups, women-led businesses and businesses led by young people. The goal is to address some of the root causes of migration.

Finnfund’s Africa Connected aims to mobilise investments into digital infrastructure providers and digital platform businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa. Benefits include increased employment, efficiency and productivity, as well as contributions to closing the digital and gender divide.

The initiative with KfW will increase economic resilience in Africa by enhancing access to long-term financing in local currency for African businesses which is crucial for promoting development in key sectors such as affordable housing, renewable energy, agriculture, health and education.

AgreenFi aims to mitigate the high risks in lending to MSMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa and the EU Neighbourhood. It facilitates access to finance and/or makes borrowing money more affordable for small businesses operating in agriculture, located in rural areas.

The Facility will address market failures in climate adaptation and mitigation by boosting investment in agriculture, forestry and ecological systems projects. It will strengthen local MSMEs and improve resilience of vulnerable ecosystems and groups such as women, youth and rural entrepreneurs.

The CITYRIZ guarantee with Agence Française de Développement will enable local governments in Sub-Saharan Africa to undertake investments in sustainable public infrastructures and urban planning, essential for social basic services and local development.

The programme supports investors to scale up equity investments in forestry and regenerative agribusiness companies in carbon sink projects across the globe. Carbon sinks absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and are essential in global efforts to curb global warming and mitigate climate change.

The EU Market Creation Facility supports The Currency Exchange Fund (TCX) in its effort to shield international lenders and their local borrowers in emerging and frontier markets from exchange rate volatility.