devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
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         Africas Talking Ltd. (the Company or AT) is a leading pan-African provider of Communication Platform as-a-Service (cPAAS) solutions focused on the fast-growing developer community in Africa. AT caters to the growing digitization of services and mobile-first trend in Africa by enabling high growth African companies to better communicate and engage with their customers. The Company provides a  
         cloud-based platform  
         that enables developers across Africa to  
         integrate messaging, voice, and video communications capabilities into their apps via its self-provisioning, unified access, and easy-to-use application programming interface (API) 
         .  
         AT serves as a bridge between mobile network operators (MNOs) and developers, offering access to locally relevant MNO services/means of communications such as SMS (bulk and premium), USSD, Short codes, Airtime, Voice, Real-Time Communication, Sender IDs, Keywords, and mobile money. - AT's platform and business model lower access and cost barriers for technology entrepreneurs in Africa:  AT's scalable cloud offering is able to profitably serve both the "one-man" shop and larger customers simultaneously.   
- Enhanced Digitization: AT's Africa expansion offers an opportunity for startups in Africa to target new markets and offer digital solutions which accelerate the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (by 2030) (e.g. digital payments for pay-as-you-go solar, fintech, and technology-enabled farming, which enhances food security.)
Twiga Foods IFC, acting for its own account and in its capacity as implementing entity of the Private Sector Window of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), is considering to invest a minimum of US$ 3 million alongside other investors including TLCom who will invest up to US$ 4 million in the Company.     Launched in 2014, Twiga is a fast growing, mobile-based B2B m-commerce platform using technology to   enhance supply chains by more effectively and rapidly consolidating highly fragmented supply and demand. Starting with the large target addressable mass-market Fresh Food and Vegetable (FFV) segment, Twiga more efficiently matches supply and demand between small-scale vendors and small-scale farmers. By cutting out multiple layers of middlemen, Twiga eliminates wastage and inefficiencies in the FFV value chain, ultimately resulting in lower food prices for mass market end-consumers.     Twiga offers stable, transparent prices and guaranteed offtake for farmers and convenience and reliability for small-scale vendors, e.g. street sellers and kiosks through the platform. Twiga started off with bananas, but has since grown to include other produce such as mangoes, potatoes, onions, tomatoes and cabbages and plans to onboard more products in the near future. This Project will result in positive outcomes for key stakeholders in the agricultural supply chain (farmers and vendors) and the environment at large. 
 - Smallholder farmers: The Project will (i) increase access to markets through guaranteed off-take (ii) increase prices (iii) increase efficiency through transparent pricing, swift digital payments and technical assistance, which will result in increased productivity
 - Small Scale Vendors: The Project will (i) increase access to supply (ii) improve quality of produce (iii) improve productivity, which will result in increased vendor incomes
 - Reduce Post-Harvest Food Loss: The Project's post-harvest food loss rate is expected to be 5%, significantly lower than the 30% in the traditional market.

The Project will also result in improved market outcomes by increasing competition in the sector through innovative channels which compel industry players to improve on quality and pricing of produce in order to compete. The Project will enhance integration of different stakeholders in the agricultural value chain working towards increasing farmer productivity. In addition, the Project could increase access to new services (e.g. credit) by reducing informality and demonstrating that farmers can be reached in a commercially sustainable way through technology
WCS Crisis Response Equity Bank Kenya The Project comprises of a senior loan of US$50 million to Equity Bank Kenya Limited (EBK or the Bank) under the COVID-19 Emergency Response WCS Envelope (WCS Envelope). The investment will help expand the Banks lending operations to the micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) segment in Kenya, especially to companies whose cash flows have been disrupted by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. By sustaining the Bank's ability to provide working capital and trade finance, IFC's facility is intended to promote the resilience of trade finance markets, as well as broader stability that comes about by providing for the going concern of market participants in Kenya.  IFC anticipates that the Project will help best position the private sector to support the economic recovery process, shortening the time it will take for the most vulnerable to return to their traditional income-earning opportunities.
AMSME K-Rep Bank - Local Currency K-Rep Bank specializes in microfinance (it makes microfinance loans to both individuals and groups) but also offers mainstream banking services.   The project, which falls under the Africa MSME program, is part of IFCs strategy to assist the bank to grow and strengthen its position in the MSME market especially through product differentiation and targeting of underserved sectors such health and education and women entrepreneurs, as well as providing longer term lending to the MSME sector. If successful this will be the first local currency funding provided by IFC in Kenya. IFC finance is expected to help strengthen K-Reps ability compete more effectively with other banks and micro finance institutions in its market space, thus enhancing the banks growth. The project will allow K-Rep to meet the long term finance needs of its micro finance clients especially schools and women owned businesses.  The Banks local currency ROE and EROE are expected to exceed the Banks WACC, over the life of the project.
NIC Bank Limited This is IFCs first project with NIC Bank and is intended to provide long term funding that will strengthen the Banks capital base, diversify its funding sources and support the expansion of term lending for the SME sector. IFCs investment will ultimately support the Banks medium term growth strategy. i. Improve access to finance for SMEs: The Project will allow NIC to grow its SME portfolio and provide this crucial segment of the economy with access to longer term funding, thereby enabling SME''s to undertake investment projects with more appropriate financing structures. ii.	IFC''s subordinated loan will strengthen the capital base of the Bank. This will ensure that NIC complies with new regulatory capital requirements that are aimed at improving the overall risk profile of the banking sector iii.	Enhancing regional competition and service.  The project will contribute to the success of the East African economic community by supporting a strong local bank with a growing regional footprint.
Centum RE Project The proposed IFC investment is an up to US$20 million A Loan (the Loan) to support Centum Real Estate Limited (CRE, the Company), a wholly owned subsidiary of Centum Investment Company Plc (CIC, the Sponsor), to finance its development of 1,940 affordable housing units in Two Rivers Development (Two Rivers), a prime mixed use urban node located within Kenyas Diplomatic Blue Zone in northern Nairobi (the Project). The Project will address the obvious and increasing affordable housing market gap in Kenya. Project outcomes for the Project include: 
Stakeholder effects: (i) Effects on consumers - The Project is expected to supply up to 1,940 affordable housing units within the investment period by a developer who is increasingly going down-market. The increase in access to quality housing at lower-priced points will help address the shortage of housing in Kenya and benefit families who currently cannot afford quality housing in the market; (ii) Effects on suppliers - With a larger scale of construction, there will be an increase in demand for building materials; (iii) Effects on local communities - those who live in the area will benefit from urban infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water and sanitation that were developed as a result of the Project.
Economy-wide effects: The Project will create direct and indirect jobs through the construction of the housing projects. Local suppliers of building materials and other services will also benefit from the increased demand. The Government of Kenya may also benefit from higher tax payments from imports and company income.
Environmental effects: Reaching efficiency in residential housing is an important step towards addressing climate change. Globally buildings account for 40% of GHG emissions and are an important consumer of energy. The Project is expected to improve energy efficiency, reducing GHG emissions. All developments will use EDGE standards requiring a minimum of 20% savings on water usage, energy usage, and embodied energy.

The Projects contribution to market creation includes: 
Competitiveness: The market for affordable housing in Kenya is underdeveloped. The limited provision of affordable housing is primarily driven by supply-side constraints due to: (i) high building costs and regulatory costs for approval processes; and (ii) limited access to finance for developers. The Project will demonstrate to other developers that good quality housing can be profitable and successful in a more affordable market segment, which could lead to more investments in the sector.
AEF Kenya Deras Limited SUMMARY OF  PROJECT INFORMATION (SPI)    Project name			Kenya-Deras Ltd   Region				Sub-Saharan Africa   Sector				Manufacturing   Project No				008078   Projected Board Date		April 3, 1997   Company Name:			Deras Ltd   Technical Partners and/or Major Shareholders: The company is owned by Mr. Steven Hamawi (50%) and Mrs. Xenia Hamawi (50%).   Project Cost including proposed IFC Investment:   	Project cost	:	US$3.9 million   IFC investment	:	US$1.0 million   Location of Project and Description of Site: The project is located off Kangundo Road in Njiru township approximately 20 kms from Nairobi city center.   Description of  Company and Purpose of  Project: Deras Ltd is a major hides and skins processing company in Kenya.  In 1982 it established a tannery with a capacity of processing 150,000 hides and 1.5 million skins/annum up to wet blue and crust stages for the export market.  It also installed finishing equipment to manufacture leather for the local market.  It requires additional investment for the procurement of finishing and balancing equipment to enable it to manufacture export quality finished leather.  IFC has been approached to provide a US$1 million loan to finance the additional equipment.   Developmental Impact: The project will earn the country a substantial amount of foreign exchange; it will create additional employment for 160 people; and provide a stable market for the hides and skins supplied by rural farmers, thus assuring them of a source of income.   IFC Role: IFCs role is to provide a medium term loan which is not readily available at reasonable cost in Kenya, to attract a local bank to provide a sizable working capital facility, and to assist in the proper planning of environmental protection.   Environmental Categories and Issues: Category B.  Environmental issues include liquid and solid waste treatment and disposal, air emissions and odor, and chromium recovery.  Occupational health and safety issues include employee exposure to pathogens and parasites from animal hides, hazardous material and fire prevention and emergency evacuation.  Primary effluent treatment systems are in place at the plant, and upgrading of these systems are planned.  Effluent undergoes further treatment at central municipal service locations in Nairobi.  The ERS is expected to be available at the Public Information Center on or about March 7, 1997   Date SPI sent to PIC			March  3, 1997   For additional Information contact:  Corporate Relations Unit - Telephone (202) 473-7711- facsimile:   (202) 676-0365   IFCSPI    	  Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).
AEF Equitea EPZ Company  Limited SUMMARY OF PROJECT INFORMATION (SPI)     Project Name			Kenya-Equitea Co. Ltd.    Region				Sub-Saharan Africa    Sector				Agribusiness    Project No.			007366    Projected Approval Date	June 14, 1996    Company Name			Equitea Co. Limited    Technical Partner and/or Major Shareholders:   A group of Kenyan and European nationals including Mr. Luc Pinard, Mr. Esmail Zainool, Mr. Adrian Archer, a tea industry expert, Mr. Callistus Alles, with experience in tea manufacturing, and Pegasus Tea Ltd., a Kenyan tea trading company, are the projects promoters.    Project Cost including proposed IFC investment    			Project Cost:		US$1.24 million equivalent    			IFC Investment:		US$0.40 million (loan)    Location of Project and Description of Site:   The project will be located in the Athi River Export Processing Zone in Nairobi.    Description of Company and Purpose of Project:  The project involves the establishment of a blending and packaging unit for high grade East African teas.  The project is expected to produce 205 tons of tea per annum for export to Germany, France, and other European markets.      IFC, by supporting the first high grade tea blending and packaging export oriented project in East Africa, is expected to play a catalytic role.  Furthermore, the project is expected to have a positive developmental impact by: (i) generating foreign exchange earnings of about US$1.8 million per annum; (ii) adding value to locally produced tea; and (iii) creating 40 additional jobs.    Environmental Categories and Issues:  This is a Category B project according to IFCs environmental review procedure.  Environmental issues associated with this project include liquid and solid waste disposal, fire and explosion prevention, housekeeping, ventilation, provision of personal protective equipment, and employee safety and training.  The sponsors have submitted an environmental management plan addressing the issues listed above.  Based on the review and finalization of this plan, an ERS will be drafted for release to the PIC.  The ERS is expected to be released on April 24, 1996.       Date SPI sent to PIC		April 23, 1996    For additional Information contact:  Corporate Relations Unit - telephone (202) 473-7711 - facsimile: (202) 676-0365.  Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).
Blue Nile Project Blue Nile Rolling Mills Ltd. (BNRM,     the Company) is a locally-owned, leading steel manufacturer in Kenya. The Company will develop Kenyas first galvanization iron (GI) wire manufacturing plant in Thika, Kenya, with a capacity of 26,580     metric tonnes   per annum (the Project). GI wire is the raw material for the steel wire products that are currently growing in demand in Kenya and East Africa. The most significant, expected Project-level outcomes are: (i) employee skills and know-how development from the introduction of the first galvanized wire plant in Kenya, (ii) customer benefits via improved quality galvanized wire available at quicker supplier terms, and, (iii) economy-wide and employment effects with import substitution of imported galvanized wire, creation of 53 new direct jobs for the Project, and estimated creation of 310 indirect and induced jobs in the Company's value chain.

Beyond the Project, IFC anticipates that the investment will have a strong effect on sector competitiveness and on the integration of the manufacturing sector in Kenya through the building of manufacturing capabilities and enhancing economic complexity.
Kongoni River Farm The project entails the establishment of Kongoni River Farm (Kongoni), an 86 hectare farm comprising 20 hectares of roses under steel greenhouses.  The farm, located in the high altitude locale of Timau, on the foothills of Mt. Kenya, will be implemented in two phases of 10-hectares each.   The project represents an expansion of the sponsors existing flower operations in response to market demand and the need for geographic diversity of production sites.  Additionally, the higher altitude and climatic conditions at Timau will enable the production of a broad variety of roses including large head, long stem roses which command a market premium.
Avenue II Project The proposed IFC investment seeks to support Avenue Group Limited  (Avenue or  the Group) scale up its secondary and tertiary care offering through enhancements to its diagnostic capacity, expansion of its clinic network, the construction of a new hospital wing at Parklands, Nairobi, and refinance its existing short and long-term debt (the Project). The Project is expected to contribute to increase the provision of health services in Kenya through increased capacity.
GEF PVMTI Muramati Solar The borrower plans to introduce "solar loans" through its head office, mobile banking units and, subsequently, through its branches.  The project aims to enhance significantly the rate of consumer adoption of high quality solar home systems sold with consumer finance and after sales service.     This is a project financed by the IFC/GEF Photovoltaic Market Transformation Initiative (PVMTI).  The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has provided $30 million in concessional funds to IFC to support investments in private sector projects to encourage market development for photovoltaics.  PVMTI aims to address market barriers by making available appropriate financing and stimulating business activity, accelerating PV penetration to achieve reductions in greenhouse gases.  By harnessing the innovation and discipline of the private sector in designing and implementing PV projects, IFC is helping to shift the design and financing of PV market activity to a more sustainable and replicable private sector context.                                                                                    By investing PVMTI funds in the project, IFC intends to support the demonstration of a successful and replicable business model for the Kenyan PV market.
DTBK Tier II Inc The proposed project entails an IFC investment of $20 million, in the form of a subordinated loan that qualifies as Tier II Capital, to be extended to Diamond Trust Bank Limited (DTBK). The above facility will be utilized to: (i) strengthen the banks capital base; and (ii) help the bank to expand its lending activities to SMEs. The Project is expected to have a high development impact in the following measurable areas:  1-Increasing credit availability to the SMEs and Very Small Enterprises (VSEs);  2- Supporting job creation by financing the SME and VSEs. The VSEs are a high impact sector, which has low access to finance. Financing this sub-segment helps create opportunities to achieving more balanced growth; 3. Capacity building to help the bank to service VSEs on a sustainable basis; and   4. Demonstration effect/market transformation through DTBK''s continued lending to the target segment beyond the life of the Project.
MCF Africa Project The Medical Credit Fund (MCF) is a financing and technical assistance vehicle with a mandate to improve access to quality healthcare for underserved populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has successfully served the smaller end of the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, including many first-time borrowers, for the last six years. To date, it has built partnerships with 10 local commercial banks in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria, and has jointly extended 868 loans to healthcare providers, totaling over US$16.2 million, with MCF itself funding US$7.8 million.  MCF has identified an opportunity to scale-up its activities to serve more and larger healthcare SMEs on the continent, including businesses that cater to the health sector as well as health providers. To fund this scale-up and broadening of scope, MCF is raising US$35-40 million in additional financing (the Project). (i) Increasing access to finance for healthcare SMEs; (ii) Improving the quality of healthcare services and business practices through technical assistance; (iii) Catalyzing investments into healthcare from the banking sector by educating local financiers on the industry; (iv) Impacting the health and, therefore, the lives of Africans at the bottom of the pyramid.
Coop Bank Kenya The proposed investment consists of a US$60 million 7-year senior loan to Cooperative Bank of Kenya (Coop Bank or the Bank) to support its long term lending business and in particular to enable the Bank to expand its SME and Agribusiness lending programs (the Project). In addition to the senior loan, a further US$5 million trade line will be made available by IFC to the Bank under IFCs Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP).  The primary objective of the Project is to support the Banks growth, address its balance sheet maturity mismatch, and help it meet its US$ funding needs.   Coop Bank is the 3rd largest bank in Kenya and accounts for 8.2% of total assets in the banking system.  The Bank was publicly listed in 2008 and trades on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) under the symbol COOP.  Coop Bank has its roots in the cooperative movement having been established in 1965 by agricultural cooperative marketing societies.  Over the last 15 years, the Bank has transformed into a strong universal bank catering to all market segments including public sector, corporate, SMEs, micro-entrepreneurs and the Cooperative sector. By providing long term US$ financing and a trade line, IFC expects to deliver strong development impact through its partnership with Coop Bank.  Long term funding to address the existing maturity mismatches will offer a lower risk funding approach to the Bank''s business and consequently allow for increased reach in terms of broader access to finance for various market segments.  In summary, the provision of long term finance is expected to have strong development impact in the following areas:  i) Access to Finance - SME: IFC''s long-term funding will allow Coop Bank to grow its SME lending business and enable it offer affordable long term finance to its clients; ii) Access to Finance - Agriculture: access to long term funding will enhance the Bank''s ability to grow its agribusiness lending portfolio and increase the tenor of its loans;  and iii) Access to Finance - Trade: the trade line under GTFP will allow the Bank to ramp up its trade activities and more importantly offer affordable trade finance to SMEs.