2X IGNITE AFRICA WAREHOUSING FACILITY SCSP

Published purpose

The 2X Ignite Africa Warehousing Facility aims to strengthen economic stability and resilience across African markets by expanding women’s access to capital and strengthening women’s leadership in investment. The project supports women-led investment funds to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping unlock growth, create jobs, and build more inclusive local economies. By backing female fund managers and improving the quality of investment decision-making, the project contributes to women’s economic empowerment and more resilient African markets. Project activities include: (1) deploying concessional loans to female fund managers to increase the availability of capital for women-led and women-benefiting businesses; (2) warehousing SME deals to help build investment pipelines and prepare high-potential SMEs for future financing; and (3) providing coaching and hands-on support to investment funds on impact measurement and management (IMM), including good practices related to gender equality and climate considerations, delivered by the investment team. Through these activities, the project helps crowd in private investment, strengthen fund management capacity, and expand sustainable financing for SMEs across Africa.