16 DEC 2024
iGravity and Helvetas are proud to be among the five impactful initiatives chosen in the third funding cycle of the SDG Impact Finance Initiative (SIFI). Since its inception in 2021, SIFI has mobilized capital to address systemic challenges, bridging the gap between financial innovation and the urgent need for solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This cycle focuses on SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
With the design of the Green Rice Bond, we are working to introduce the world’s first financial instrument designed to mobilize USD 50 million to support local micro and SME finance institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa’s rice value chain. These institutions play a pivotal role in empowering farmers, cooperatives, and the wider community—ensuring that economic growth goes hand in hand with sustainability.
Closing the Rice Value Chain Gap
Rice, a staple food for half the world’s population, has seen an impressive 40% production growth in Sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade. However, local production still lags behind demand, forcing reliance on costly imports and perpetuating unsustainable agricultural practices.
The Green Rice Bond seeks to bridge this financing gap by channeling resources to micro and SME finance institutions, as well as as other important financial intermediaries, that are critical to finance the local rice value chain. This approach ensures:
Why It Matters
Sub-Saharan Africa’s rising rice demand—projected to grow by 3-4% annually—underscores the urgent need for scalable solutions that support local value chains while preserving environmental integrity.
The Green Rice Bond prioritizes resilience by addressing the financing needs of SMEs. These enterprises are the lifeblood of local economies, ensuring that farmers, communities, and cooperatives—the end beneficiaries—can thrive in a system that supports equitable growth and sustainability.
A Shared Vision
This recognition by SIFI is a testament to the role of impact finance in driving systemic change. Together with Helvetas, we’re contributing to a future where finance and entrepreneurship create a more equitable and sustainable world—one where innovative solutions empower local ecosystems to thrive.
Stay tuned as we collaborate to shape a model for climate-smart agricultural finance, driving progress across the continent and beyond.
Read more: https://www.sdgimpactfinance.org/news