USAID West Africa Trade Hub Learning Event | Blended Finance | Capitalizing on Lessons Learned

The USAID West Africa Trade & Investment Hub committed US$17.3 million to twelve diverse Financial Institutions & Advisors (“FIAs”) to catalyze private sector investments in SMEs and Micro Finance Institutions. Trade Hub structured grant products such as investible first loss and cash collateral to launch four new investment funds, unlock SME lending through commercial banks, and raise capital through advisory services. As of March 2024, ten FIAs have impacted over 60 SMEs, startups, and MFIs involved in food security, access to finance, climate adaptation, inclusive job creation, value-added manufacturing, exports, and health
This Learning Event provided an interactive opportunity for government agencies and fund investors to gain insights into Trade Hub’s blended finance model with banks and non-bank financial institutions, impact funds, and advisors, to promote blended finance, public-private partnerships, and micro, small and medium enterprise financing in West Africa.