For Finding XY, 2023 began on a brighter and rather enlightening note, across the different projects we have designed and implemented! In this newsletter, we share with you updates on the Women in Agriculture Impact Investment (WAII) Facility, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, PFAN and Feed the Future Strategic Investments Activity (SIA).
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Eddie Sembatya,
C.E.0
THE WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE IMPACT INVESTMENT (WAII) FACILITY
Finding XY has built a strong pipeline of female-led Agri SMEs looking to raise investment in debt or equity financing through the Women in Agriculture Impact Investment (WAII) Facility. The facility continues to partner with institutional and impact investors to accelerate investment in female-led Agri-SMEs. Since the facility launch in June, we have partnered with investors including, Nordic Impact Funds ,I Gravity and Asante Financial services!. We look forward to engaging with more investors to address the “gender gap” through Gender Lens Investment and a blend of development and commercial finance.
The facility has received over 120 expressions of interest, out of which 18 Agri-SMEs were selected for the first investment advisory cycle. The companies successfully are undergoing tailored investment readiness support and are now better positioned for inward investment.
In addition to .successful deal closures, the companies are steadily recording progress with regard to financial milestones, team milestones, service and programs milestones, GY Impact milestones, and environmental impact-milestones! Finding XY will soon publish an impact report detailing the measurable impact of the Women in Agriculture Impact Investment Facility in addressing the ‘gender gap’.
WAII is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future Uganda Inclusive Agricultural Markets Activity and is implemented by Finding XY.
PRIVATE FINANCING ADVISORY NETWORK (PFAN)
Finding XY is proud to be a part of the Private Financing advisory Network (PFAN). PFAN is a global network of climate and clean energy financing experts, which offers business coaching and investment facilitation to entrepreneurs developing climate and clean energy projects in emerging markets. It identifies and nurtures promising, innovative clean and renewable energy projects by bridging the gap between investors, clean energy entrepreneurs and project developers.
Under the PFAN program, Finding XY has provided business advisory services, technical assistance, mentorship, and market to companies including Solar Nation SMC limited ,a clean energy provider dealing in sourcing design, supplying, installing and serving solar systems, solar water heaters, power backup systems, as well as, electric wiring/cabling solutions. Finding XY has also vigorously screened, assessed, and verified the project documents and status, refined the company’s investment documents, and mapped out its investment plan.
THE SEEDS FOR IMPACT PROGRAM (SIP)
The Seeds for Impact (SIP) program is an initiative by Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) that seeks to address the funding gap faced by seed companies in their quest to produce seed for crops for food security, including publicly bred varieties. It offers financial and technical assistance to seed companies and supports linkages in value chains to enable access to improved seed for smallholder farmers across Africa.
Under this program, Finding XY provides services which entail sourcing for companies that are looking for investment, assessing the companies, carrying out due diligence to verify information, providing the companies with one on one investment readiness support, providing cohort-based catalytic training, preparing investor data hub that includes quality Business plans, financial Forecasts for at least 5 years.
Feed the Future Uganda Strategic Investments Activity (SIA)
The Feed the Future Uganda Strategic Investments Activity (SIA) facilitates foreign and domestic commercial investments that advance development objectives. The Activity also mobilizes financing for investments in agriculture and food security, the productive use of energy for agriculture and related industries, health, utilizing different forms of capital. This year, Finding XY was happy to be a part of the SIA leaning and reflection workshop!
Under this program, Finding XY provides professional and technical support to Dumark Enterprise Limited (DEL) in all aspects of investment readiness and transaction advisory support. Finding XY also supports the enterprise through the investment facilitation process, investment readiness and transaction advisory support to close financing deal, provides post investment support to the enterprise as well to promote reinvestment and build measurable tools the company can use to assess their social impact.