Ascent Rift Valley Fund II
The SDG Frontier Fund has invested EUR 2 M in equity in Ascent Rift Valley Fund II, an SME Fund targeting fast-growing SMEs in Eastern Africa.
Amount
€ 2,000,000.00
Type of investment
Equity
Development impacts
- Local economic growth
- Private sector consolidation/innovation
- Promotion of ESG best practices
Beneficiary locations
Investment field
Investment Companies & Funds
Activity
SME Fund
Other investments by
SDG Frontier Fund
- African Rivers Fund III (Equity) € 1,500,000.00 (2020)
- Excelsior Capital Vietnam Private Equity Fund (Equity) € 2,000,000.00 (2020)
- South Asia Growth Fund II (Equity) € 2,000,000.00 (2020)
Ascent Rift Valley Fund II (ARVF II) is a private-equity fund that will primarily invest in fast-growing SMEs in Eastern Africa, with a focus on Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and including the possibility to invest in Tanzania, and Rwanda.
The Fund will benefit from the lessons learnt from the predecessor fund, Ascent Rift Valley Fund I (ARVFI).
Development impacts
-
Local economic growth
Provision of long-term capital to SMEs
Preferred sectors include manufacturing, healthcare, education, retail, agro-processing (primary agriculture is excluded), financial services, and other services, which are key enabling sectors for job creation, productivity and local economic growth.
-
Private sector consolidation/innovation
Local financial institutions have a limited appetite to provide flexible long-term financing to SMEs. The fund will support long-term projects and more innovative companies that would otherwise not get financed or at prohibitive interest rates;
-
Promotion of ESG best practices
The fund manager is trained, organized and dedicated to integrating ESG best practices in its investment approach.
Read impact and news about this project
News
Ascent announces first close of Ascent Rift Valley Fund II
18-05-2021
African private equity fund manager Ascent today announced the first rolling close of its Ascent Rift Valley Fund II (ARVF II) at more than USD 100 million, significantly exceeding its initial target of USD 80 million. The final close of ARVF II, with a target of USD 120 million, is expected in December 2021.
News
Repousser les frontières des investissements durables
15-12-2020
An interview with Luuk Zonneveld, An-Heleen De Greef & Eric Van
Den Bossche on the SDG Frontier Fund, published in Eventail on the 10th of December, written by Cédric Boitte. This article was published in French.
News
You'll never make the world sustainable with only public money
02-07-2020
Financial return is worth twice as much if it also helps the world move forward. The Belgian government and business world collect 50 million euros for sustainable investments in the African and Asian private sector. "Investing is better than giving," says driving force Alexander De Croo, Minister of Development Cooperation. "You will only see a return on your investment if it has really made a difference."
News
SDG Frontier Fund first closing
02-07-2020
First-of-its-kind Belgian impact fund brings together 9 private investors to support sustainable economic growth in African and Asian frontier markets.
View more of our investments in this region
Investment Companies & Funds
European Financing Partners S.A.
15,000,000.00
India, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia
22/12/2020
Debt
Financial Institutions
The Currency Exchange Fund n.v.
7,091,000.00
Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Palestinian Territories, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
05/09/2007
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
European Financing Partners S.A.
5,000,000.00
India, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia
08/12/2010
Debt
Financial Institutions
Bank of Africa Group S.A.
1,954,160.00
Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda
30/03/2011
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Agri-Vie Fund II
350,000.00
Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
23/11/2020
Subsidy
Investment Companies & Funds
Phatisa Food Fund 2
5,767,300.00
Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
29/01/2021
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
European Financing Partners S.A.
6,000.00
India, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia
21/11/2003
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Grofin East Africa Fund LLC.
2,211,000.00
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
25/01/2006
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
AgRIF Coöperatief U.A.
105,000.00
Cambodia, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal
11/09/2018
Subsidy
Investment Companies & Funds
AgRIF Coöperatief U.A.
5,438,332.50
Cambodia, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal
18/06/2015
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Zoscales Fund I
350,000.00
Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
23/11/2020
Subsidy
Investment Companies & Funds
Ascent Rift Valley Fund II
5,743,220.00
Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
23/12/2020
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
African Rivers Fund III
1,500,000.00
Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda
01/09/2020
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
African Rivers Fund III
6,113,520.00
Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda
01/09/2020
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Fairtrade Access Fund
350,000.00
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
07/04/2020
Subsidy
Investment Companies & Funds
Zoscales Fund I
21,757.30
Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
12/11/2019
Subsidy
Investment Companies & Funds
Frontier Energy II
8,151,000.00
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
21/03/2018
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
AfricInvest Financial Inclusion Vehicle
10,000,000.00
Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia
14/12/2017
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Fairtrade Access Fund
3,000,000.00
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
24/10/2019
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
African Rivers Fund
4,118,275.00
Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda
02/02/2016
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Africa Renewable Energy Fund
8,896,000.00
Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia
30/10/2014
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Beyond the Grid Solar Fund
4,175,007.50
Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
26/10/2017
Debt
Investment Companies & Funds
Agri-Vie Fund II
6,552,700.00
Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
20/01/2017
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Ethos Mezzanine Partners 3
8,868,980.00
Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
13/06/2019
Equity
Investment Companies & Funds
Zoscales Fund I
4,169,100.00
Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
18/04/2019
Equity
