The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (HQ) Member

The AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund) is a development NGO that supports innovative enterprises in the agribusiness and renewable energy sectors with the aim of reducing rural poverty, promoting resilient communities and creating jobs.

AECF works to catalyze the private sector by surfacing and commercializing new ideas, business models and technologies designed to increase agricultural productivity, improve farmer incomes, expand clean energy access, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience to the effects of climate change. The AECF also finances high-risk businesses that struggle to access commercial funding as the AECF is committed to working in frontier markets, fragile contexts, and high-risk economies where few mainstream financing institutions dare to go.

Over the course of its history, the AECF has supported over 375 businesses in 26 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, impacted more than 30 million lives, created over 27,000 direct jobs, and leveraged US $771 million in matching funds.

By sponsoring companies with creative concepts and business strategies, notably in the fields of agriculture, renewable energy, and climate change, the AECF hopes to foster long-term economic development in Africa.