AECF is pleased to publish its 2019 Annual Report which sets out the achievements across its two flagship programmes – agribusiness, and renewable energy and adaptation to climate technologies (REACT) – and the further work that lies ahead in supporting pro-poor businesses to reach under-served communities in Africa with essential services, products, and jobs.

AECF's Chief Executive Officer Victoria Sabula said:

“By the end of 2019, we had exceeded our ten-year impact target of reaching 25 million lives with 27.7 million lives reached. This translates to 1.6 million households directly benefiting from the services, jobs, and increased incomes created by the private sector companies supported by AECF. And with 80% of our investees being small businesses, it truly shows the power of supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).”

Looking ahead, our goal will be to continue delivering the high-impact work for which we are best known – providing catalytic funding and support to early and growth-stage companies in agriculture, clean energy access, and climate technologies to reach households with essential products and services. We will focus on expanding further into fragile contexts and pursuing our commitment of investing in women-led, women-focused businesses in rural and low-income communities.

AECF remains grateful for its resource partners and their trust in market-based approaches, which has contributed to its success of creating an impact on Africa’s poor and marginalised communities.