The EU-funded Uganda Green Enterprise Finance Accelerator (UGEFA), which provides sustainable Ugandan enterprises with support to scale
and contribute to a green and inclusive economy, has today announced that it is accepting applications for its fourth and final cohort to join its programme.
UGEFA is seeking high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises looking for debt finance to invest in their business. UGEFA targets SMEs that specialise in eco-tourism, clean energy.
Sustainable transport, Waste management and green manufactering, including agro-processing
(turning raw crops into finished products such as textles and dried fruit).
Amplifying the impact of environmentally-conscious enterprises is essential to growing the economy, improving living
conditions to thousands of people and increasing access to fulfiling employment.
Applications for the final cohort of the programme open 1 March and close 14 April. Previous applicants have received capacity-building workshops to help them scale Through a sessions of
hands-on interactive sessions to refine their business models, financial systems management and impact measures.
Since its launch in March 2020, UGEFA has:120 enterprises into the programme
Delivered 50+ workshops
UGEFA Supports succussful applicants Through its business advisors, led by adelph and finding XY.
It involves tried and tested practical tools to prepare entrepreneurs for managing growth and gives them a platform to showcase their businesses and share ideas with peers.
The aim is to help enterprises prepare their loan application and access UGEFA’s network of
parther banks Equity Bank, Yako Bank, Opportunity Bank – to achieve the next stage of growth.
Businesses that are eligible (see criteria below) can receive support during application clinics
and providing
tricks on how to compile a compelling applicaton to the
programme.
Commenting on the opening of the call for applications, Rainer Agster adelphi Executive
Board member said trA provides the support green enterprises need to grow and scale
We know that access to finance is a key challenge for green SMES – UGEFA establishes the
Framework to make these enterprises bankable. Beyond that, U supports enterprises to
Scale their positive impacts for people and the planet, to become frontrunners of a green
economy in uganda.
Leveraging Uganda’s human and natural resources effectively has the potential to boost GDP
by 10 percent and generate four million jobs over the next 20 years. I his will improve income
equality wrhile building a more resillent economy.
Even though bank lending is the most common source of external financing for SMEs in
Uganda, it is not always easy for enterprises to access.
UGEFA helps to bridge this gap by
assuring that eligible businesses meet the requirements of lenders so they can get access the money they need to grow.
Union to the Republic of Uganda.
Deligation from European Union cooperation programmes so that they deliver on our commitments in terms of transition to green and inclusive economies and climate change. The UGEFA programme offers not only business development services but also post investment technical assistance.
Applicants to the UGEFA programme must be registered, clean energy, sustainable transport, sustainabie
tourism, waste management or green manufacturing, including in the supply chain of sustainable agricultural products.
Interested in support to access debt finance
To learn more, visit: https://ugefa.eul
About UGEFA
The Uganda Enterprise Finance Accelerator (UGEFA) is funded fully by the European Union
Delegation to Uganda. UGEFA is Implemented by adelphi Research, a leading global independent think and do tank on environment and development; and Finding XY, a Ugandan
based, innovation centre and business advisory firm.
