devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Cerba Africa IFC is looking to provide a long-term loan to support the expansion of Cerba Lancet Africa (CLA or Company), a network of clinical diagnostic laboratories across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The project will be supported by the IDA-Private Sector Window (PSW). CLA, the first pan-African diagnostics group is looking to increase its capacity across the African continent to provide diagnostics services and create well paid jobs in an area with few job opportunities (the Project). Capex will finance the upgrading and expansion of labs in its current network and support acquisitions across Sub-Saharan Africa, including IDA-PSW eligible countries, with the goal of constructing a high-quality pan-African medical diagnostics company. The most significant Project-level outcomes is patient impact: access to good quality diagnostic services is fundamental in providing improved access and coordination of care. Currently there are many shortcomings across Africa in terms of diagnostic services. There are too few laboratories and those that exist often have poor quality control, with a limited variety of tests. The Project will fill these gaps by (1) increasing the number of patients & collection points. The project plans to expand its lab network to new countries, including IDA-PSW-eligible countries. The project will also increase the number of collection points to the periphery of major cities, resulting in an estimated 0.5 million additional patients and 2.3 million additional tests; (2) introducing more accurate & faster tests: Cerba will aim to expand and strengthen CLA's systems, and introduce new technology, that will lead to additional and quicker accurate testing by CLA's pathology labs, reducing costs and the need for multiple tests, and (3) introducing a greater depth of clinical tests into the markets it enters. This will allow for diagnostics of a greater range of diseases, and these diagnostics will support a greater range of treatments. 

Market Impact Assessment - the Project will enable systemic changes by increasing the competitiveness of the diagnostics market in Africa. It will do this by supporting the entry and expansion of CLA into a number of under-developed markets. These markets are characterized by relatively small providers that are under-capitalized and without the systems to ensure consistently accurate tests, as well as by the absence of regulation. CLA's expansion will place pressure on other laboratories to "up their game" and will demonstrate the value of its business model and so could lead to replication by other companies.

COVID-19 - African countries have fragile health systems & to fight the pandemic, public authorities will need to engage the private sector. CLA is the largest pan-African lab in terms countries covered and is uniquely placed to join national COVID-19 response plans. Its labs will be amongst the few labs able to conduct COVID-19 testing.
Olam Multi Country Multi Commodity facility Olam International Limited (Olam or the company) supplies raw and processed agricultural commodities, grown mainly by community and SME producers in emerging countries, to well established regional and international clients.  It is a fully integrated company that engages in the sourcing, primary processing, transport, warehousing and distribution of a broad range of commodities, including cocoa, rice, timber, cashew, cotton, coffee, sugar, sesame, sheanuts, and spices.  

The project is to provide Olam with a $150 million multi-country multi-commodity 2-year committed working capital facility, to help Olam International restructure and increase its working capital lines to provide more flexible financing for its supply chain management activities, and allow them to increase trading volumes from Africa (mainly Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Nigeria), Asia (mainly Vietnam and Indonesia) and other countries where Olam operates.
Baobab MicroCred LCY multi-country facility The proposed project consists of a multi-currency facility of an aggregate amount of US$21.1 million equivalent to six African affiliates of the Baobab Group, one of the leading global microfinance networks with operations in nine African countries and China. The program includes support to the following subsidiaries, for on-lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs): Senegal, Cote dIvoire, Madagascar, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Democratic Republic of Congo. The most significant, expected Project-level outcome is increased access to finance including at longer terms by underserved MSMEs including Women owned MSMEs (WSMEs). Beyond the Project, IFC anticipates that the Project has the potential to promote greater market inclusiveness via demonstration and replication channels. 
Development Impact is expected to be measured based on the following factors: 
-	Stakeholders effects: change in accessibility - in the context of bridging finance gap for MSMEs (incl. WMSMEs and agri-MSMEs located in rural areas) in six countries by deploying (i) its products and services and (ii) access to scarce medium- to long-term finance. 
-	Stakeholder effects: change in affordability of finance for MSMEs - by (i) deploying digital channels, agent network along with multiple products offering to lower the access to finance cost for MSMEs. 
-	Inclusiveness: by demonstrating to other Financial Institutions the viability of product offerings and digital channels that meet the funding needs of WMSMEs and MSMEs in remote locations.
Amethis II Project The proposed project is for an equity investment of up to 15 million in Amethis Fund II SICAR S.C.A. (the Fund), a 10-year closed-end generalist private equity fund targeting mid-market companies in financial institutions, fast moving consumer goods, healthcare, agribusiness, education, IT and telecommunication. The Fund will invest in several African countries including Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia., Morocco and Mauritius. The Fund is seeking to raise 300 million of total committed capital. (i) The growth of the Fund's portfolio companies is expected to result in strong job creation; (ii) the Fund will invest in companies that focus on the lower-income emerging consumer; and (iii) private sector development by enhancing regional integration via supporting companies to expand across borders.
La Fayette Investissements The project involves the establishment of a new private sector company, La Fayette Investissements (or the company), in Luxemburg.  The company will specialize in providing start up capital and other financing for microfinance institutions (MFIs) in frontier, low-income countries, primarily but not exclusively in Africa.
SMEV Ascent II a The proposed project is for an additional equity investment of up to US$5 million in Ascent Rift Valley Fund II L.P. (the Fund), a 10-year closed-end generalist private equity fund targeting small and medium companies in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. The Fund is seeking to raise USD$120 million of total committed capital. Expected Development Impact includes: (i) Providing access to growth equity and business advice to underserved companies in East Africa; (ii) Contribution to market creation by enabling private sector development demonstrating the viability of PE investments in a low income IDA countries like Ethiopia and Uganda that are underserved by PE funds; (iii) Job creation and economic growth through financing SMEs, which are a growth driver in East Africa; and (iv) At the investee level - operational and financial improvements, implementation of best practice corporate governance and ESG improvements of local businesses.
Alterra Africa Accelerator Fund The proposed project is an investment in Alterra Africa Accelerator Fund L.P., a Mauritian limited partnership (Alterra or Fund), which will invest in equity and equity-linked instruments in companies across Africa. The Fund will invest in companies in telecommunications, technology, financial services, consumer products & services and infrastructure & logistics sectors. Expected
development impact through:    

  (i)
job creation, improved job quality and diversity, and economic growth;    

  (ii)
at investee company level, implementing best practice corporate governance and
social and environmental standards; and    

  (iii)
supporting regional integration by investing in companies expanding into
neighboring countries.
BBI IDA RSF The proposed project, BBI IDA RSF is a funded and unfunded 50%-50% risk sharing facility with BMCE Bank International Plc (BBI or the Bank), a subsidiary of Bank of Africa (formerly BMCE Bank), on a portfolio of trade-related assets for up to US$150 million (the Project). The Project will provide BBI with funding and risk mitigation to finance importers and exporters of essential goods in emerging markets in Africa. IFCs investment will also help BBI augment its trade finance delivery in certain key markets of its corporate strategy. The facility will initially have an availability period of 3 years with a run-off period of up to 6 months, while the underlying trade assets will have a maximum tenor of up to 12 months.   The project includes support from the International Development Associations Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility (IDA PSW BFF) as described below. The Project is expected to have the following development impact: 
(i)	Increase in trade finance for EMIBs and underlying importers and exporters in Africa. Through the Project, BBI will increase its trade finance in those riskier markets and support the capacity of EMIBs to finance trade flows. 
(ii)	Market resilience. By sustaining BBI's ability to provide trade finance services, despite COVID, IFC's facility is intended to promote the resilience of trade finance markets. In addition, it will contribute to the maintenance of financial stability by providing comfort to other market participants, beyond the project, that are under pressure to retreat from African markets during this economic crisis. In doing so, this project will help to protect the essential platform of myriad cross-border trade finance linkages.
OCP Africa CF Established in 1920, in Morocco, and transformed into a société anonyme in 2008, OCP SA (OCP or the Company,  https://www.ocpgroup.ma/ ) is the worlds leading producer and exporter of phosphate products. OCP is the largest company (c. 21,000 employees) and largest exporter (17.3% of the countrys exports in 2019) in Morocco. OCP has fertilizer processing platforms at Safi and Jorf Lasfar in Morocco.  OCP is looking to increase its presence in Africa and thus established, OCP Africa SA (OCP Africa,  https://www.ocpafrica.com/en/home ) in 2016, a subsidiary dedicated to growing the business in Sub-saharan Africa (SSA) with the main objectives of  producing fertilizer near main agribusiness markets, invest in logistics and distribution, and provide support and training to farmers.     The proposed investment is to finance the Company and its subsidiaries (the Group) facilities and agri-ecosystem development program in Senegal, Cote dIvoire, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania (the Project): The most significant, expected project-level outcome is driven largely by stakeholder effects, particularly for farmers and distributors, namely: (i) increased agricultural productivity and farmer returns due to customized products and extension/agronomy services (ii) improved logistics for better distribution of agricultural inputs in SSA, particularly West Africa. Beyond the project level, IFC expects the investment to promote mostly small-holding farmers' integration into domestic and regional value chains.
BBI WCS Project The proposed investment is a Working Capital Solutions (WCS) facility to BMCE Bank International Plc (BBI or the Bank) of up to US$50 million to be provided by IFC (the Project). The proposed loan will have a tenor of 2 years, renewable for one additional year at IFCs sole discretion, for a maximum aggregate tenor of up to 3 years.      The Project will provide BBI with funding to support its trade lending activities to import and export of essential goods throughout IDA/FCS countries in Africa. BBIs trade finance portfolio is highly diversified. Currently, BBI has exposure to 18 IDA PSW countries in Africa, accounting for 55% of total exposure.      This follow-on Project complements an up to US$75 million risk sharing facility under the Global Trade Liquidity Program. The Project is expected to be supported by the IDA Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility (PSW BFF) as described in the Blended Finance Section. Stakeholder effects: Increased access to working capital and trade finance for BBI's customers (FIs and traders) in IDA PSW/FCS countries in Africa. This Project is expected to sustain BBI's ability to maintain liquidity and access to working capital to these customers in IDA/FCS countries. Given the short term nature of the trade transactions financed by BBI, IFC anticipates that BBI will maintain/provide access to finance to customers across IDA PSW countries for a total volume of up to US 300 million over the life of the Project.

Market Creation: Integration: By supporting BBI's liquidity needs and its ability to provide trade finance services despite COVID 19 IFC's facility is intended to promote the integration of trade finance markets in the Africa region. This will be achieved by maintaining and expanding trade finance corridors and trade linkages through bolstering correspondent banking network that serves as an enabling platform. This Project will help to protect the essential platform of myriad cross border trade finance linkages, which supports trade in these countries. In addition, it will contribute to the maintenance of financial stability by providing comfort to other market participants, beyond the Project, that are under pressure to retrench from African markets during this economic crisis. To measure the progress against this outcome, IFC will track the number of additional IDA PSW markets where the Bank is currently not actively supporting trade finance.
GWFP AgroCompanies The proposed investment is a US$20m IFC unfunded participation under a Risk Sharing Facility (RSF) in an up to US$60m uncommitted transaction secured revolving trade finance Facility for 3-years with annual renewals with Banque Internationale de Commerce-BRED (Suisse) SA (BIC-BRED or the Bank) for Agro Companies International (Agro Companies or the Group).   The RSF will finance Agro Companies grain trading working capital needs, mainly (i) floating cargoes secured by the bills of lading (BLs), (ii) storage in warehouse at destination with Stock and Monitoring Agreement (SMA), and (iii) receivables on African buyers mainly covered by prime credit insurers. It will be processed under the Global Warehouse Finance Program (GWFP) with delegated authority from the Board. The Project is expected to: (i) increase the supply of wheat to African millers in the destination countries to produce wheat products; (ii) increase the supply of animal feed (soya bean, corn) to destination countries; (iii) increase technical support from the Group to millers to improve food safety and quality; and (iv) increase (in-kind) financing to millers to ensure continuity in commodity trading.
 
To measure progress against this outcome, IFC will track the: (i) volume of products supplied to customers; and (ii) number of customers reached.

The Project is expected to have catalytic effect of stimulating industry-wide best practices in grain trade financing, grain sourcing and processing, and facilitating food quality and safety improvements, moving the sector toward greater competitiveness from domination by large players to more participation by mid-sized players.

To measure progress against this outcome, IFC will track the number of private sector banks providing support to the Company (which should increase or at least remain stable).
BoP Impact Exchange Fund IFC proposes an investment of US$8 million in Senior B Notes of the BoP Impact Exchange Fund (BIX Fund). The proposed BIX Fund aims to provide impact based debt finance to small, innovative and fast growing manufacturers and distributors of household appliances designed for the worlds least affluent people in order to improve their health and sanitation as well as to protect the local and global environment. The target appliances are in particular clean cookstoves but also other appliances such as solar lanterns, water purification systems and biogas digesters.  BIX Fund will primarily lend to companies with already registered and operational impact certificate issuance programs, such as Program of Activities (PoAs) registered by the regulatory body under the UNFCCC to generate Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and PoAs approved by highly recognized carbon standard providers to generate Verified Emission Reductions (VERs).  Revenue from sales of these impact certificates is expected to be the primary source for loan repayments to the BIX fund. The BIX Fund will especially focus on projects with significant social and health benefits for the people at the Bottom of the Pyramid in the least developed countries.  This innovative pilot fund targets a minimum closing amount of US$30 million. BIX Fund will be incorporated as a partnership under Dutch law called Fonds voor gemene rekening (FGR). 1. Scalable distribution of clean technologies: The business model of the Fund enables distribution of clean cookstoves, biogas digesters, solar lanterns, and water purification systems to households.  2. Health and financial benefits to households at BoP, especially for women and children: The distributed technologies will reduce indoor air pollution caused by fuelwood, charcoal and kerosene burning and will provide safe water, contributing to the improved health of families especially women and children, and reduction of energy and medical expenses. 3. Access to finance: The Fund will provide finance to small and fast growing manufacturers and distributors of highly efficient appliances designed for the least affluent people at the BoP. 4. Reduced GHG emissions: Use of high efficiency appliances in households reduces the use of non-renewable biomass, thus reduces emission of CO2. 5. Job creation: The business model helps create jobs for manufacturers, distributors and retailers of efficient clean technologies.
Africa Renewable Energy Fund, L.P. The proposed project is for an equity investment by the IFC Catalyst Fund in Africa Renewable Energy Fund (AREF or the Fund), a US$200 million, 10-year, 2014 vintage private equity fund focused on investments in renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The AREF transaction is anticipated to have project-level impacts in the form of (i) improved services offerered to customers (i.e. increased access to energy); and (ii) environmental impacts that make a contribution to green industries (i.e. investments in clean energy with associated GHG emissions reductions).  

It will also have market-level impacts, (i) in sustainability, through an impact on building green industries; and (ii) on competitiveness, through diversification of the private equity product offerings in the market.
Axian Telecom Bond Axian Telecom (the HoldCo or the Company), has invited IFC to act as anchor investor in its first ever bond issuance (alongside other DFIs), to encourage the market at a time when market volatility has been high and liquidity is tight, for an amount of up to US$420 million. (the Bond Issuance). The use of proceeds for refinancing in Togo seeks to unlock a capital expenditure program. The refinancing operation in Tanzania will also unlock investment that will result in increased access to quality mobile connectivity for individuals and businesses in Tanzania, a country with large connectivity gaps.
GEF Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund, L.P. The proposed project involves a US$20 million IFC investment in a fund (the Project) managed by the GEF Management Corporation (GEF or the Sponsor), a leading manager of forestry assets in emerging markets.   GEF Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund, L.P., (GEF Africa or the Fund), a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada, is a $150 million, 12-year closed-end private equity fund dedicated to investments in forestlands or forestry-related companies and projects in Eastern and Southern Africa together with two countries in West Africa. A majority of the target countries of the Fund are among the 20% least developed countries in the world. These countries are predominantly rural, with low income levels, low education rates, high infant mortality rates, high HIV prevalence (especially in Southern Africa), poor availability of clean water and nutritious food, and low life expectancy rates. In the face of great need, forestry enterprises in rural areas of Africa will have a significant positive impact.  
Employment: The investments in the Fund pipeline would create approximately 10,000 new jobs.
Community Benefits:  Existing GEF funds have provided at least some portion of their employees not only housing, but also health and nutrition services, on-the-job training and support for local schools and communities. The Fund is expected to make a similar commitment to investing in the basic needs of employees and their communities. 
Sustainable Forestry: The Fund will ensure that all forestry investments will meet the Forest Stewardship Councils Principles and Criteria.  With the exception of South Africa, where FSC Certification is already standard practice, additional certification will provide benefits and an important model for the forest sector in all countries targeted by this Project. 
Climate Change Mitigation: The Fund anticipates investing in 750,000 hectares of forest during its life and estimates the CO2 sequestration of the project to be approximately 4.5 million tons CO2 equivalent per annum, or 44.6 million tons CO2 equivalent for 10 years.
HTA Debt Project Helios Towers Plc (HT) is an independent tower company operating across five countries in Africa, including DRC, Tanzania, Ghana, Congo-Brazzaville, and South Africa. HT recently embarked on an expansion strategy to grow its current portfolio of 7,000 towers to over 12,000 by 2025. The company is looking to enter several new markets in Africa, with Senegal as the first target country. The project is expected to increase access to quality mobile connectivity for individuals and businesses in Senegal, and potentially across a number of other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, by promoting shared digital infrastructure through the acquisition and roll out of new towers that will be shared by mobile operators under open access and non-discriminatory basis. The project is also expected to increase competitiveness of the market for mobile connectivity by enabling technological innovation through a faster roll out of high-speed mobile internet by all operators.