The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund provides grants and interest free loans to businesses who wish to implement innovative, commercial viable, high impact projects in Africa.
The AECF supports businesses working in agriculture, financial services, renewable energy and technologies for adapting to climate change. We also support initiatives in media and information services where they relate to these sectors.
Applications are assessed during competitive rounds which each have their own entry criteria. Winners can receive up to US $ 1.5 million.
The competition is open to companies from anywhere in the world provided the business idea is implemented in Africa.
The AECF is a special partnership initiative of AGRA, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
Why is this challenge fund different?
It focuses exclusively on supporting the private sector
It provides an open and transparent "competition" for donor funds
It is based in, and run from, Africa
It is focused on funding practical projects that are both commercially viable and will have a broad developmental impact on the rural poor
It is structured and governed along private sector principles with strong and sustained business engagement to ensure a flexible, responsive, results-orientated approach that the private sector can understand
It leverages private sector and donor money to help fund successful projects and enterprises
It is able to support cross-border, regional and pan-continental projects, as well as national ones
