Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa
The Regional MSME Investment Fund for Sub-Saharan Africa (“REGMIFA”) is a unique social impact investment fund structured to promote the growth of Africa’s MSME sector and foster economic development through employment creation, income generation and poverty alleviation.
ACEP Senegal
Alliance de Crédit et d’Epargne pour la Production (ACEP) was established in Senegal in 1986 as a USAID project to support entrepreneurs and NGOs. Today, ACEP is a savings and credit cooperative regulated by the West African Central Bank. ACEP Senegal finances mainly women while most members are largely involved in trade and, to a lesser extent, agriculture.
Ms. Ndiaye Rokhaya
Ms. Ndiaye Rokhaya is a Senegalese entrepreneur active in the printing industry. She used to work as a business developer for a small screen-printing company in Dakar. In 2009, she decided to launch her own screen-printing business with a first loan of USD 500 from ACEP Senegal. Ms. Rokhaya initially provided printed t-shirts to clients out of her home, and with continued support from ACEP Senegal was able to buy a professional screen printer, supply larger orders, and increase her client base. Today, Ms. Rokhaya’s business employs over 20 people and offers a range of services, including industrial clothing, direct printing, digital printing and screen printing on advertising materials.
EFC Uganda
Entrepreneurs Financial Center Uganda (EFCU), created in 2011 by Développement International Desjardins, began operations in 2012. EFC operates as a Microfinance Deposit-taking Institution (MDI) after being granted the MDI license in late 2014 by the Bank of Uganda. EFCU targets the upper segment of micro-entrepreneurs in urban areas of Kampala with an average loan balance of over USD 4,600. EFC’s focus is the “missing middle”, offering market trader, home improvement and business loans, mainly to women entrepreneurs.
Mr. Mpagi Siraje
Mr. Mpagi Siraje (50 years old) has been involved in poultry farming for 20 years. His business has grown to five poultry houses, which contain a total of 30,000 egg-laying birds. Mr. Siraje initially joined Entrepreneurs Financial Center Uganda (EFCU) in January 2014 and his first loan amounted to UGX 15 million (USD 6,000). Mr Siraje’s timely repayment helped him contract two additional loans with EFCU, which enabled him to double the number of egg-laying birds and poultry houses owned by him.
Advans Ghana
Advans Ghana Savings and Loans Limited was licensed by the central bank of Ghana in October 2008. Advans Ghana started its operations in Accra and has since opened 18 branches in seven regions across the country. Its mission is to respond to the need for financial services of small businesses and other populations who have ill-adapted, limited or no access to formal financial services through providing tailored financial services in a sustainable and responsible manner.
Auntie Esther
In 2006, “Auntie Esther”, as she is known in the village where she lives and grew up, started a small shop in a container with the help of her husband. Two years later, as business grew, she had the opportunity to buy the land where her container was located and build a small shop. But it was only in 2017 that she heard about Advans through a TV advertisement. With a USD 2,000 loan from Advans, she was able to increase her stocks and diversify the products offered. The teachers from the neighboring secondary school are very good clients and she allows them to buy on credit and repay at the end of each month. She now has five full time employees and plans to start catering food and beverages for weddings.
SIPEM Madagascar
The « Société d’Investissement pour la Promotion des Entreprises à Madagascar » (SIPEM) was created in 1990 by French NGO SIDI and Malagasy business association APEM. With nearly three decades of operations, SIPEM is a trusted microfinance player in Madagascar. The bank has over 6,000 borrowers and focuses on serving the upper micro and SME segments through its 20 branches across Madagascar.
Mr. Roger Razafinaramamba
Mr. Roger Razafinaramamba is the owner of a carpenter’s shop named “Menuiserie d’Art”. He started the business more than 20 years ago, initially designing wooden toys for children. However, the company struggled to compete with cheaper imported toys from Asia. Hence, Mr. Razafinaramamba decided to focus on a different niche by producing wooden furniture for schools and homes. “Menuiserie d’Art” received in 2018 its second SME loan from SIPEM, which enabled him to buy additional stock and manage the cash flow (salary payments) because the contracts will only pay on delivery. The company has around 85 employees of the neighborhood and produces more than 2,500 desks per month.
