devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
FCS Viva Fresh Kosovo The proposed investment is a senior secured corporate loan to Viva Fresh sh.p.k (the Company or Viva Fresh) that will be used to fund the Companys medium-term retail expansion plan. Founded in 2002, the Company is the largest food and non-food physical retailer in the Republic of Kosovo having a diversified portfolio of fast-moving consumer goods, fresh foods, fashion, footwear, and home goods categories. At the end of September 2019, the store network operating under the Viva Fresh Store banner comprised 63 units, of which one in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. The Project is expected to have a positive development impact, the most significant expected Project-level impact is derived from: (i) economy-wide, employment and supply chain development effects through the expansion of the Company retail network and; (ii) stakeholder effects through improve access of local lower and middle-income consumers to a more affordable and diverse selection of high-quality food products. Beyond the Project, IFC investment will help companies along the supply chain in the Republic of Kosovo to integrate into domestic supply chain.
KRK agri  Project The proposed investment is an IFC senior debt investment of up to EUR6.0 million, with a Blended Finance contribution from the Private Sector Window (PSW) of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to Kreditimi Rural I Kosoves LLC (KRK, or the Organization). The proposed investment will help to boost the Organizations micro and small enterprises portfolio, with at least 50 percent of the proceeds to be used for lending to agribusiness borrowers including farmers. The project fits IFCs and GAFSPs strategy by directly supporting investment in micro and small enterprises and agribusiness in Kosovo.      Established as an NGO credit fund in 2000, by the Central Bank of Kosovo, and converted to a Limited Liability Company in 2004, KRK is the third largest MFI with a market share of 21 percent in Kosovo.  It is headquartered in Pristina and an existing IFC client since 2015. Significant expected developmental impact will be derived from increased access to finance to microenterprises, with a focus on agri-businesses and small farmers. Despite its contribution to the country's GDP (10.5 percent of GDP as of 2016 and 12.9 percent in 2017) and employment (29.8 percent), Kosovo's agricultural sector remains underserved by banks, due to an unfavorable production structure and high costs of assessing multiple small farmers. As a result, Agrifinancing is becoming the main domain of the MFls with at least 25 percent of loans from MFIs going to agriculture over the past 6 years. IFC's support on this project will help KRK to further strengthen its impact in this sector. The expected impact of the co-investment with GAFSP is also critical as it will help to properly price the project, making funding affordable, and consequently, on-lending to microentrepreneurs and end-users in Kosovo. Furthermore, it is anticipated that from this project there will be increased inclusiveness in the micro finance market via demonstration and replication channels
AFK AGRI MSE 2-KOSOVO The proposed investment is an IFC senior debt investment of up to EUR6 million to the Agency for Finance in Kosovo (AFK or the Organization), a leading microfinance institution in Kosovo. The investment will be shared equally between IFCs own account and concessional financing provided by the Global Agriculture & Food Security Program (GAFSP). The proceeds from the proposed investment will be used for on-lending to individual entrepreneurs and micro-businesses in Kosovo, including smallholder farmers, microenterprises, women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs operating in the agriculture sector and underserved rural areas. The project fits IFCs and GAFSPs strategy by directly supporting investment in micro and small enterprises and agribusiness in Kosovo. The project is expected to provide increased access to finance for underserved microenterprises and individual entrepreneurs in Kosovo, including smallholder farmers, women-owned small-businesses, and entrepreneurs operating in the agriculture sector and underserved rural areas. The MSME finance gap is estimated at US$342.3 million representing roughly 5.4 percent of GDP, of which the microfinance gap is US$4.3 million. In addition, approximately 28.4 percent of microenterprises are either fully or partially constrained and female micro-borrowers are more constrained. The Project is expected to support the growth of the Organizations loan portfolio, thereby boosting economic activity in the microfinance sector including Agri-MSMEs and those led by women.
TEB Kosovo Sub TEB Sh. A became operational on Jan 2, 2008. The Bank operates through 18 branches employing 320 people with a market share of approximately 7% (4th ranking in Kosovo) with total assets and loans, respectively, amounting to around EUR130 million and  EUR87 million as of March 2010.

Proposed investment, which would be used to support the growing loan portfolio towards medium and small enterprises, is a subordinated loan of up to EUR 7 million to the Bank to be counted towards its Tier II capital in line with local banking regulations.  Proposed maturity is up to 10 years with a prepayment option after the first 5 years. IFC's main role lies in facilitating the development of Kosovo's financial sector through introducing a subordinated loan in the form of Tier II capital. This would help diversify the funding base of the Bank and set as a benchmark for others to raise funding in the form of Tier II capital which is highly effective to increase lending as it leverages the balance sheet. Furthermore, by sharing IFC's global knowledge and expertise in the financial markets, IFC would help TEB Sh. A to strengthen its business strategy and implement best industry practices in a nascent market.
The Project will generate a range of social and economic benefits, including economic growth and employment creation, as well as financial deepening with services and products tailored to the SMEs.
TEB Kosovo Sh A Subordinated Loan IFCs strategy for Kosovo in the financial sector is to build upon its ongoing activities to support small and medium enterprises (SME) access to finance. In this regard, IFC will actively support banks and non-bank financial institutions through providing medium-term funding to help them increase portfolio levels in a context of reduced available funding sources. In particular, providing capital support through direct equity or through Tier II capital provide much needed leverage for the banks and financial institutions to grow their lending activities.  In this context, the proposed investment, a subordinated loan of up to EUR3.5 million to be counted towards Tier II capital of TEB Sh. A (the Bank), is aimed at providing access to finance to the SMEs, through partnering with a leading bank in the country. IFC''s expected role in the Project is multifaceted.  Its main role lies in supporting a south-south investment to an IDA country through providing a tier II capital loan to a well managed bank sponsored by a partner well known to IFC with a proven track record.  In particular, through this Project, IFC would: a)	Strengthen the Bank with capital to expand its lending capacity and therefore support access to finance for SMEs;  b)	Provide its support to a south-south FDI, provided by a long standing IFC client, in an IDA country which would have a demonstration impact to attract similar type of investments into Kosovo; c)	Further increase competition in the highly concentrated banking sector of Kosovo; and d)	Work together with the Bank to implement best industry practices in sustainable finance such as updating their social and environmental management system.  This investment''s direct impact would be to support lending operations of a well managed bank and thus would generate a range of social and economic benefits, including economic growth and employment creation, as well as financial deepening with services and products.
KRK AGRI MSE 2 The proposed investment is an IFC senior debt investment of up to EUR8 million to Kreditimi Rural i Kosoves LLC (KRK or the Company), a leading microfinance institution in Kosovo. The investment will be shared equally between IFCs own account and concessional financing provided by the Global Agriculture & Food Security Program (GAFSP). The proceeds from the proposed investment will be used for on-lending to individual entrepreneurs and micro-businesses in Kosovo, including smallholder farmers, microenterprises, women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs operating in the agriculture sector and underserved rural areas. The project fits IFCs and GAFSPs strategy by directly supporting investment in micro and small enterprises and agribusiness in Kosovo. The project is expected to provide increased access to finance for underserved microenterprises and individual entrepreneurs in Kosovo, including smallholder farmers, women-owned small-businesses, and entrepreneurs operating in the agriculture sector and underserved rural areas. The MSME finance gap is estimated at US$342.3 million representing roughly 5.4 percent of GDP, of which the microfinance gap is US$4.3 million. In addition, approximately 28.4 percent of microenterprises are either fully or partially constrained and female micro-borrowers are more constrained. The Project is expected to support the growth of the Companys loan portfolio, thereby boosting economic activity in the microfinance sector including Agri-MSMEs and those led by women.
KRK Senior Loan II p.cls-NormalWeb { margin-top:5pt; margin-bottom:5pt; text-align:justify; font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size:12pt; line-height:108%; margin-left:0pt; margin-right:0pt; } span.cls-DefaultParagraphFont { font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size:12pt; font-weight:normal; margin:0in; padding:0in; } span.cls-DefaultParagraphFont-000000 { font-family:Calibri; font-size:12pt; font-weight:normal; margin:0in; padding:0in; } table { border-collapse:collapse !important; width:100%; table-layout:fixed; border-spacing:0 !important; margin-bottom:15px; } .k-table, .k-table td, table, table td, div table, div table td {outline: 0;border: 1px solid #000;} .k-table td, table td, div table td { padding: 5px;}       The proposed project consists of a senior loan of up to EUR4 million, to Kreditimi Rural i Kosoves (KRK or the Company) for on-lending to individual, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Kosovo.                 KRK is an IFC investment client since August 2015 when IFC committed a senior loan of EUR1.5 million. The Company is a leading lender to micro and small enterprises in Kosovo with a special focus to agriculture and agriprocessing (with close to 50% of the loans and 60% of the clients). By continuing engagement with KRK the project seeks to further build a solid platform to expand financing to individuals and entrepreneurs in rural and sub-urban areas, typically underserved by traditional commercial banks. i.	Stimulate access to financing to individuals, micro and small enterprises as a key contributor to country's economy;
ii.	Create job opportunities for entrepreneurs and individuals in the rural area, including women, with direct impact to poverty reduction;
iii.	Serve as demonstration effect to other MFIs in introducing best practices in insurance, environment and social systems.
Lydian Resource Company Ltd The project is the continued exploration of Lydian Resource Companys (Lydian or the company) mineral resource properties in Kosovo, Armenia and Turkey, including feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessments and other preparatory activities. The proposed IFC investment will contribute to continued exploration and associated feasibility studies for the companys main assets. The direct development impacts during the exploration and feasibility study stage are expected to be small. Because the investment predates any feasibility studies, it is not yet possible to fully quantify or specify the potential development impacts during production stage. Potential development impacts at the mine production stage could include employment, foreign currency generating exports, and taxes and royalties at the federal, regional and local levels.
SLGP RSF TEB - Kosovo The project consists of a risk sharing facility for a portfolio of up to EUR20 million (to be committed in two tranches of up to EUR10 million each) with TEB Sh.A. under IFCs Small Loans Guarantee Program (SLGP) which is supported by the IDA18 IFC-MIGA Private Sector Windows Blended Finance Facility (IDA PSW-BFF) to de-risk and scale up lending to SMEs, in this case with a focus on underserved very small enterprises (VSEs), women-owned SMEs (WSMEs) and agri-SMEs in Kosovo (the Project). IFCs exposure for both tranches will be up to EUR10 million, or 50% of the risk sharing facility. IDA PSW-BFF was created by the Word Bank Group to catalyse private sector investment in IDA countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected states. The Project will also be potentially supported by the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) should TEB Sh.A. achieves significant growth in lending to women-owned SMEs. We-Fi is a collaborative partnership among 14 governments, six multilateral development banks (MDBs), and other public and private sector stakeholders, hosted by the World Bank Group. It seeks to address financial and non-financial constraints faced by women-owned small and medium enterprises in developing countries. IDA PSW-BFF and We-Fi support would enable to the Project to reach segments facing serious market failures which IFC could not otherwise serve. The project is expected to have a strong development impact as follows:

(i) Scaling up small loan financing to SMEs, including underserved segments such as women entrepreneurs and farmers in Kosovo, which in turn supports job creation; 

(ii) With the risk sharing facility, encouraging alternative financing structures and promote cash flow-based lending in a market dominated by collateral-based lending; and

(iii) Promoting growth in agribusiness, a key economic sector: Approximately 60% of the country's poor live in rural areas and depend on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods. In this context, the project will reach the base of the pyramid by directly supporting the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Raiffeisen Leasing Kosovo Senior Loan - Climate The proposed investment consists of senior loan of up to EUR5 million to Raiffeisen Leasing Kosovo (RLKO or the Company), the largest leasing company in Kosovo (the Project). The loan proceeds will focus on women-owned MSMEs and climate related projects by MSMEs and individuals in Kosovo. The Project presents an opportunity for an impactful engagement in Kosovo, an IDA and FCS country, with pressing needs in access to finance for MSMEs and green transition, exacerbated by the impacts of Covid-19 and Russias invasion of Ukraine. The Project is expected to be supported by the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility (IDA PSW BFF), the Women Entrepreneurship Finance Initiative (We-Fi) and the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF) Project Outcome: Stakeholder effects: Access to finance for climate projects and for W-MSMEs: Many cities in Kosovo suffer from poor air quality and a rapid replacement of the obsolete vehicle fleet is pressing not only from climate change but also public health perspective. MSMEs in Kosovo have been financially constrained, particularly following the pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine. W-MSMEs are scarce and even more constrained. IFC anticipates that the Project will help increase the access to much needed climate finance for MSMEs and individuals in Kosovo. The Project will also support RLKO in establishing a new business line specifically for business owned and/or led by women.

Market Creation: Competitiveness: The proposed investment is part of a programmatic approach in Kosovo that is intended to enhance the competitiveness of the MSME finance market through demonstration and replication channels. Under the program, IFC will provide financing to five financial institutions. The overall objective is to expand lending to underserved MSMEs, particularly those owned by women, and farmers, including support for their climate projects.
KRK Kosovo Project The proposed project consists of a long term senior loan of up to EUR1.5 million to Kreditimi Rural i Kosoves (KRK or the Company) for on-lending to individual, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Kosovo.   KRK, a greenfield company to IFC, is a leading lender to micro and small entrepreneurs in Kosovos rural and semi urban areas. The project seeks to partner with KRK as a platform to provide access to finance to the entrepreneurial poor that are typically underserved by traditional commercial banks. IFC impact is expected to: i.	Stimulate development and economic growth in the country by enhancing the MFI's ability to support access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises as the major contributor to country's economy; ii.	Create job opportunities for entrepreneurs and individuals especially in rural areas with direct impact in poverty reduction; iii.	Stimulate demonstration effects for other MFIs in the country to introduce best standards in insurance, environment and social systems.
Newko Balkan Ozer Konveyor Band Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (the Sponsor, or Ozer Band), a mid-sized Turkish conveyor belt manufacturer, is carrying out a modernization and expansion program for its subsidiary Newko Balkan L.L.C. (the Borrower) incorporated in Kosovo to improve its competitiveness and widen its product range . The Sponsor asked IFC to provide an A Loan of up to EUR 6 million to Newko Balkan (the Project).

The Borrower, which was privatized in 2005 by the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) enjoys a 40 years experience in conveyor belt manufacturing. Similarly, the Sponsor has 34 years experience in conveyor belt manufacturing; and more than 60 years experience in the rubber industry. The proposed south-south Project is expected to: (i) transfer modern manufacturing technology from Turkey to Kosovo, which would improve efficiency and competitiveness, (ii) implement sound environmental and social best practices, (iii) improve corporate governance and financial transparency in privately held family group of companies; and (iv) provide a demonstration effect and promote foreign direct investment in Kosovo.
Newko Balkan II Newko Balkan SH.P.K (Newko Balkan or the Company), a Republic of Kosovo-based manufacturer of conveyor belts, seeks a senior IFC A loan of up to EUR4 million (the IFC Loan) to help fund (i) the Companys COVID-related working capital needs and (ii) upgrade investments to increase efficiency and expand production operations (the Project).  The Project will be IFCs second engagement with the Company following IFCs initial investment in 2010 to support Newko Balkans post-privatization ramp-up and refurbishment investments. The proposed south-south Project is expected to: (i)  create additional jobs and preserve more than 230 direct jobs while increasing purchases from local suppliers; (ii)  contribute to foreign exchange generation through strong export sales; (iii) benefit domestic consumers by ensuring access to lower cost, high quality locally produced conveyor belts; and (iv) promote the resilience of the conveyor belt production activities in Kosovo by supporting the only local conveyor belt producer.
Afk Agri Project The proposed investment is an IFC senior debt investment of up to EUR4.0 million, with a Blended Finance contribution from the Private Sector Window (PSW) of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) to The Agency for Finance in Kosovo (AFK, or the Organization). The proposed investment will help to boost the Organizations micro and small enterprises portfolio, with at least 50 percent of the proceeds to be used for lending to agribusiness borrowers including farmers. The project fits IFCs and GAFSPs strategy by directly supporting investment in micro and small enterprises and agribusiness in Kosovo.      Established as an NGO in 1999, by Mercy Corp, AFK is the fourth largest MFI with a market share of 19 percent in Kosovo.  It is headquartered in Peja and an existing IFC client since 2018. Significant expected developmental impact will be derived from increased access to finance to microenterprises, with a focus on agri-businesses and small farmers. Despite its contribution to the country's GDP (10.5 percent of GDP as of 2016 and 12.9 percent in 2017) and employment (29.8 percent), Kosovo's agricultural sector remains underserved by banks, due to an unfavorable production structure and high costs of assessing multiple small farmers. As a result, Agrifinancing is becoming the main domain of the MFls with at least 25 percent of loans from MFIs going to agriculture over the past 6 years. IFC's support on this project will help AFK to further strengthen its impact in this sector. The expected impact of the co-investment with GAFSP is also critical as it will help to properly price the project, making funding affordable, and consequently, on-lending to microentrepreneurs and end-users in Kosovo. Furthermore, it is anticipated that from this project there will be increased inclusiveness in the micro finance market via demonstration and replication channels.
Activity under preparation Soutien à la paix et à la stabilisation en République démocratique du Congo The political, security and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and there is a risk of a spillover of the conflict to the region. Fighting between the Congolese army, in collaboration with local armed groups, and the armed group M23 has intensified further in Eastern DRC, forcing hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes. At the same time, the situation in Mai Ndombe province in the West of the country is suffering from inter-communal conflict, mainly over customary power and land rights. This exceptional assistance measure will provide flexible assistance and support to ongoing peace and stabilisation processes in DRC through social cohesion, dialogue and mediation initiatives.
Projet ECRIRE - Engagement Citoyen pour une Repr¿sentativit¿ Inclusive et Responsable <p>L¿action contribuera à l¿instauration d¿une démocratie participative en RDC par le renforcement de l¿engagement citoyen de la population encadrée par la société civile en visant les deux objectifs spécifiques complémentaires suivants : a/ la contribution à la mobilisation des populations autour des questions et enjeux sociétaux pour la République Démocratique du Congo de demain au niveau local, provincial et national, et b/ la contribution à l'émergence de la culture de l¿exigence de la redevabilité et du respect des engagements des « politiques » à l¿égard des Congolaises et Congolais.</p>