IPC

?? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ???????????????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ????????????? As part of its ambitious reform course, the government of Benin has launched projects aimed at improving the country's port, airport, roads, energy sector, and investment climate, aligning them with international standards. A key objective is to encourage domestic processing of agricultural products. In this context, the FNDA (National Fund for Agricultural Development) (https://lnkd.in/daqrbdKR) is a key player, as it aims to catalyse financing to the agricultural sector through three windows, consisting of subsidies to diverse beneficiaries, and refinancing lines and guarantees to the financial sector for agric financing. KfW has partnered with FNDA and supports its ambitious goals by funding a project that aims to enhance the sustainable access of agricultural actors (producers, MSMEs, local champions) to suitable financial services, thereby increasing investments in production and operational resources. Next to a credit line, IPC /Horus Development Finance provide technical assistance to strengthen FNDA’s internal structures as well as 11 partner financial institutions, and to conduct comprehensive studies, benefiting both the FNDA and the financial institutions, with a focus on support to women, on green investments and on non-financial-services. ?? ?????? ????????????? A major component is the development of environmental and social risk management systems for FNDA as well as its PFIs. This project represents a significant step forward in enhancing agricultural finance and investment in Benin, with a focus on sustainability and inclusivity. The February 2025 Steering Committee allowed for casting the way forward and bringing all stakeholders to one table to discuss the challenges ahead. We applaud the engagement of FNDA’s management, as well as the commitment of KfW’s project manager and her colleagues to ESG and compliance! Let’s keep the positive dynamics up – there is a lot to do :) Victor Prevot | D?rte Weidig | Juliette David Cornu | Lydie ANSELME JOHNSON | Abdou Djalill DJIBRIL | Louisa B.

Exciting to see this collaboration with the GET.invest EDGE Finance team come to life, as we together help banks in Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria unlock the opportunities in green energy finance, with more markets joining soon!

?? We are hiring a Team Assistant and Training Support Specialist ?? IPC GmbH is seeking a Team Assistant and Training Support Specialist to join our team in Kigali, Rwanda for our activities in East Africa. This full-time role involves supporting project coordination and training implementation, with potential opportunities for independent training delivery. Qualifications we seek: ?? Rwandan resident with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field ?? Minimum 5 years of post-university work experience ?? Experience in the financial sector, particularly in MSME finance, agricultural finance, or Learning & Development ?? Strong English communication skills (French is an advantage) ?? Proactive, outgoing, and comfortable facilitating workshops and trainings ?? Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks in a multicultural environment ?? More information about the position ?? https://bit.ly/3Fs2HHY Jonathan Trenk?| Mareike Wolter |?Camilla Torresan?|?D?rte Weidig

?? How did the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) address climate and energy challenges in Armenia and Georgia? The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) prioritises investments in sustainable energy and resource efficiency. In response to the escalating impacts of climate change, the EBRD launched the Green Economy Transition (GET) approach to scale up green financing across its countries of operation, including Armenia and Georgia. This initiative has been supported by the Green Climate Fund (Green Climate Fund) and the Climate Investment Funds (The CIF). Both Armenia and Georgia face significant environmental challenges, including reliance on fossil fuels, energy inefficiency, and the urgent need to develop renewable energy sources. The Caucasus GEFF tackles these issues by providing credit lines to local financial institutions, which then lend to smaller-scale renewable energy and resource-efficient projects. At IPC, in collaboration with iC consulenten ZT GesmbH, we played a pivotal role in supporting this initiative. Our team provided hands-on operational assistance to financial institutions, guiding partner banks in developing tailored financial products. We also advised end-borrowers on transforming green projects into viable investments. The GEFF successfully established and maintained vital connections between the EBRD and local financial institutions. In Armenia, it financed 409 projects, totalling EUR 36 million, while in Georgia, it supported 86 projects, totalling EUR 44 million. Key achievements include: ? Tailored financial products: Specific loan products were developed for businesses eligible under the GEFF, addressing Armenia and Georgia’s unique economic needs. ? Capacity building: Comprehensive training programmes enhanced the ability of financial institutions to support green investments. In total, more than 700 bank staff were trained. ? Market outreach: Effective marketing strategies reached 2,001 local businesses in Armenia and 695 in Georgia, raising awareness and promoting sustainable financing. ? Institutional collaboration: Co-operation was established with eight partner financial institutions. ? Project assessment & tools: We introduced robust tools for identifying and selecting sustainable investments and conducted detailed assessments of larger green projects. ?? The result: A strong network of empowered financial institutions and well-informed borrowers is now driving the green economy forward in the Caucasus, fostering sustainable development and increasing energy efficiency in both Armenia and Georgia. Dirk Hab?ck | Gernot Kuhlisch | Andro Butkhuzi | Mikhayil Gevorgyan | Michael Reidlinger | Zlatko Bacelic Medic | Liana Tadevosyan | Karen Asatryan | Hrant Ter-Gabrielyan | George Zurashvili | Murad Kharaishvili | Ana Mindorashvili | Teona Mikadze | Tatev Khoetsyan | Vardan Khachatryan #SustainableEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Environment #GreenProject

?? ?????? ???????? ?????? "?????????????? ?????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????????? ??????????????????" ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????????????????????? The Programme, established by the EBRD and supported by various donors through the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi)), addresses significant gaps in SME development and financial inclusion for women-led enterprises in Central Asia. Implemented by IPC in partnership with DSIK, the Programme spans the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It aims to bolster women-led SMEs by enhancing access to finance, know-how, and advisory services. Key activities include: ???Conducting baseline assessments at EBRD's partner financial institutions (PFIs). ???Designing gender-sensitive business models, strategies, and training programmes for PFIs. ???Developing technical support packages, including (new) loan products, other financial products and non-financial services (NFS), and IT/MIS improvement plans for PFIs. ???Establishing local partnerships in Bishkek, Ulaanbaatar, Dushanbe, and Tashkent. ?? ?????? ????????????? By the end of 2024 the IPC-DSIK (Deutsche Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation e.V.) team was working with 15 PFIs across the region, each at a different stage of programme implementation. Since the CAWiB was founded, a total of 173 training courses have been held to date, in which a total of 2,733 PFI employees (56% of whom are women) have participated. In addition, 15,271 female entrepreneurs and about 1,500 male entrepreneurs have benefited from the 576 different NFS activities since the start of the Programme. Last but not least, the EBRD's PFIs have granted more than 32,000 loans to women in business within the framework of the CAWiB Programme. In summary, the Programme has empowered several thousand women entrepreneurs in Central Asia by improving the capacity of financial intermediaries and direct training events, and it continues to do so. Azamat Baltabaev | Daniela Wendhaus | Jana Kadian | Dirk Hab?ck | Matthias Fohs

?? ?????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????????????? The RSBP Tunisia, launched by EBRD, builds on the success of the RSBP in Central Asia and Mongolia. The programme extends EBRD’s commitment to the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region by supporting financial institutions in Tunisia to enhance their MSME financing capabilities. With a focus on knowledge transfer, the programme facilitates access to valuable expertise in MSME finance. This is achieved through EBRD’s knowledge- sharing platform, which provides systematic and electronic access to finance know-how, alongside regular classroom training for financial institutions. By expanding visibility and institutionalising MSME finance best practices, the RSBP Tunisia aims to strengthen EBRD’s role as a development-oriented investor and create more opportunities for MSMEs to thrive. ?? ?????? ????????????? A more resilient and inclusive financial ecosystem that empowers MSMEs across Tunisia to grow and contribute to the local economy. Since July 2020, the RSBP Tunisia has trained more than 3,000 staff and managers from the financial sector across the country. Since March 2023, the RSBP in Tunisia partners with the banking association ( Conseil Bancaire et Financier ) for joint course development and deployment of needs-based blended training programmes. Please visit the project website for more information! ?? https://lnkd.in/eub-Q9aY Mareike Wolter | Dirk Hab?ck | Mathilde d'Orgeval | Senda BOUGHZALA | Cyryne Challouf | Saoussen Lakhal | Clémentine Hédan

?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ?????? ??????????-?????????????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ????????????? Private sector development is one of the key objectives of the European Union and the European Commission co-operation activities with the neighbourhood countries that are set by the European Neighbourhood Policy. In the Southern Neighbourhood countries of the European Union in particular, microfinance is a recognised tool to foster sustainable development and entrepreneurship, supporting the private sector and the development of MSEs, and contributing to local development in both rural and urban areas through job creation and the reduction of social imbalances. In this context, the European Investment Bank (European Investment Bank (EIB)) had designed a credit facility, the Southern Neighbourhood Microfinance Facility, and an accompanying technical assistance programme, the Technical Assistance for Financial Inclusion or TAFI programme. From January 2019 to January 2025, IPC was mandated to implement TAFI’s activities resulting in 39 TA assignments for 11 partner financial institutions (PFIs) in Morocco, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. During the project duration, more than 440 PFIs staff including almost 80 in-house trainers, were trained, and more than 400 MSE clients received practical trainings in various topics such as digital marketing and tools, accounting knowledge and entrepreneurship skills. ?? ?????? ??????????????? The 11 PFIs – INMAA, Al Karama, Al Amana, Microfund for Women, Tamweelcom, Vitas Palestine, Vitas Lebanon, Faten, JAIDA, Centre Mohammed VI and Bank of Africa - benefitted from a wide scope of TA activities ranging from the development of digital tools; to national and regional studies and surveys, the development of strategies; various capacity building measures for all levels of PFI staff; to hosting conferences, workshops and the strengthening of the capacities of micro-entrepreneurs in business planning, marketing and pitching. IPC is grateful to EIB and all partner institutions for six years of close and constructive cooperation. Cristiana Finotti | Mehdi ELHARTI | Ulrich Weber | Hicham BAYALI | Thelma Tajirian | Rachid Amrani | D?rte Weidig | Dirk Hab?ck

?? ?????? ???? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ?? ?????????????????????? ????????????? After the 2024 elections, Senegal is charting a new course, continuing with successful initiatives while reviewing those that lacked public support. In this context, MSME remain a strong backbone of the country on its way to a more inclusive economy. Senegal has made remarkable strides in financial inclusion over the past decade, largely driven by the rise of digital payments and the adoption of a National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) in early 2022. However, despite this progress, most MSMEs in Senegal are still unbanked, which hinders their growth and ability to create jobs. With funding from KfW, Senegal launched the project "Promotion of Senegalese MSMEs". The Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation (Ministère de l'Economie, du Plan et de la Coopération du Sénégal (MEPC) ), through the technical assistance of IPC in partnership with Horus Development Finance, aims to enhance the capacities of public and private financial intermediaries and support sectoral reforms benefiting MSMEs' access to finance. The initiative is in close collaboration with GIZ’s activities in the area of MSME promotion. ?? ?????? ???????????? ???? ??????: ACEP Sénégal has modernized its services to meet market demands. FONGIP has greatly improved efficiency and its standards. FONSIS - Fonds Souverain du Sénégal will strengthen its private equity capabilities. Victor Prevot M. Bernard Koissy, Jr. Anne Hofer Camara Fabrice Nze-Bekale D?rte Weidig #FinancialInclusion #Growth #Senegal #SustainableDevelopment

?? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????????????? ?????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????????? The Regional Challenge Fund (RCF) aims to increase youth employability and enhance the competitiveness of enterprises in the six economies of the Western Balkan 6. In concrete terms, the initiative funded by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by KfW supports vocational education and training (VET) excellence, regional cooperation, and EU integration. WB6 CIF has mandated IPC in partnership with PLANCO Consulting GmbH, KPMG Bulgaria and Swisscontact to manage the Challenge Fund. The Fund provides financing for VET schools in partnership with enterprises to improve cooperative vocational education through better facilities, equipment and capacity building. With approx. EUR 75 mil committed, RCF has so far selected 99 projects in 3 competitive calls with over 500 enterprises from the region as partners. ?? ?????? ????????????? Over 150 schools and 750 enterprises across key locations like Belgrade, Sarajevo, and Skopje benefit from the support of the RCF. Significant initiatives include promoting gender equality and leading the green transition in VET, ensuring a sustainable and inclusive economic landscape. Join us in building a stronger, more resilient future for the Western Balkans! ?? https://rcf-wb6.org/ Dr. Frieder Woehrmann Jelena Mani? Radoi?i? Renato Vasili Mareike Wolter Dirk Hab?ck CIF: Balsa Culafic, Tatjana Shterjova Dushkovska KfW: Viktoria Veidt #YouthEmployability #WesternBalkans #VocationalEducation #SkillsForJobs

?? We are hiring a Marketing and Communication Specialist ?? If you're a passionate professional with 5+ years of experience in marketing and communication, based in Serbia or Montenegro, we want to hear from you! We are looking for a team member for the Regional Challenge Fund. Qualifications we seek: ?? Experience in regional or multinational projects is a plus ?? Strong understanding of social media, PR, and event management in the WB6 region ?? Proactive and organized, with an ability to work in a remote, multicultural team ?? Proven track record in managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines ?? Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred ?? Proficient in Microsoft Office and English; regional language skills are a plus ?? More information about the position ?? https://bit.ly/4aR7vm0 KPMG Bulgaria | Swisscontact | PLANCO Consulting GmbH #IPC #RegionalChallengeFund #JobAd #MarketingandCommunication