BFA Global

In Samburu, Kenya, women have raised goats for generations. The milk was used at home. The surplus? Often poured away. Then the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the milk supply for orphaned elephants at the Reteti Sanctuary. What began as a crisis revealed an overlooked opportunity. That gave rise to the Milk-to-Market program spearheaded by The Sarara Foundation. Today, 1,245 women now earn from what used to be wasted. They're saving for the first time and sending children to school.  With support from BFA Global, they're now producing goat milk soap to diversify their income and exploring new market opportunities to help secure the program's long-term sustainability. Read the blog to explore the program's achievements, challenges, and insights gained in creating a sustainable market. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dwam8bES This story is part of our upcoming series under the Opportunity Leads Umbrella Fund project. Stay tuned for more blogs. Phoebe K. Maha Khan Carol Chege Hannah Eskinder Amolo Ngweno Anne Gachoka Michelle Hassan Priyanka Kapoor Juan Manuel J. Nancy Kiarie Shannie Lotan Nathalie Ngatia, MBA

This week, BFA Global's TECA Director Tyler Ferdinand will be at the Frugal Innovation Forum 2025, participating in key conversations on building climate resilience for vulnerable communities. If you are at the forum, make sure to catch him at these two sessions: ✅ Breakout 1.3: Use Cases for Government and Industry 📅 July 25 | 🕐 1:00–2:00 PM Tyler will discuss practical examples of how government and industry partnerships are leveraging data and innovation to strengthen climate adaptation for smallholder farmers. ✅ Panel 2.3: Creating an Enabling Environment – Uniting the Private and Public Sector 📅 July 26 | 🕛 12:00–1:00 PM Tyler will join other industry experts to explore how cross-sector collaboration can scale inclusive, climate-smart solutions for low-income communities. We look forward to connecting with fellow stakeholders and sharing ideas on building a more resilient future. Register: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gBxD_rb7

#Goodreads! Each year, over 10 million youth enter sub-Saharan Africa's workforce, but only about three million formal jobs are created. Most young people, especially young women, are building their futures in the informal economy, choosing flexibility and autonomy despite the challenges. As part of the research process leading up to our recent report with Acumen, 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔: 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂, we conducted 90 in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with men and women aged 18 to 30 across Nigeria to understand their experiences and aspirations. This piece highlights our findings, including how 93% of Nigerian workers manage multiple gigs, small businesses, or side hustles to make ends meet. While informal work offers opportunity, it often lacks income stability, social protection, and essential benefits. Read the blog to learn more: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dNmt-HqP #DignifiedFutures #YouthEmployment #DecentWork #InclusiveGrowth Michelle Hassan Carol Chege Jacob Winiecki

Once upon a time, “Microwork” was the golden ticket to digital jobs across Africa. Today, with AI and digital work rapidly evolving, new opportunities (and challenges) are emerging, and Jobtech Alliance is helping shape what comes next. In our July newsletter, we explore the journey of microwork, how it sparked a wave of accessible digital jobs, and what the future holds as AI annotation continues to grow and change. Check out our publications for the latest trends, the nuanced realities of the sector, and why the story of Africa's digital workforce is only just beginning. Also in this issue: ✅ We spotlight our platform member Breedj, Africa's first social-bridging HRTech platform helping global companies find, hire, onboard, and pay African remote talent across 54 countries ✅ We highlight upcoming events and opportunities, including our Lagos meetup on August 14th, our Venture Builder role in North Africa, and the Digital Agency Accelerator for refugees in Uganda Read the newsletter and subscribe to receive future updates: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dSM3yfZX

In June 2024, we partnered with New Ventures to launch TECA Mexico with a USD 1 million investment to train and fund ten climate-tech entrepreneurs in Baja California Sur. With the support of Swiss Re Foundation, PayPal, Nacional Monte de Piedad, Fundación Coppel, Innovaciones Alumbra, and Builders Initiative, the program equipped local startups to develop solutions for climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and carbon mitigation. After a 34-week incubation and seed capital for each startup, 60% of participating ventures are now creating formal jobs in La Paz, helping to reduce migration and strengthen community ties. Congratulations to all the entrepreneurs and partners making a difference in Baja California Sur! As we look ahead to the next edition of TECA Mexico, we invite funders, investors, and partners to join us in supporting startups that are building solutions. Learn more about TECA Mexico in this Forbes feature: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dYpPr7rj Nelly Ramírez Moncada Amolo Ngweno Aline S. Julián Rodríguez Beltrán Maria Puch Mariana Madero Armando Laborde Santiago Gatica

Our portfolio companies, Samaking (TECA portfolio) and Zuhura Solutions (ClimaFii Alliance portfolio), have been announced as winners in the sixth funding round of the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) programme! 🚀🎉 Samaking is transforming East Africa's food value chains by commercialising a solar-powered, farm-to-retail fish aggregation and cold chain logistics system, helping reduce post-harvest losses and boost local incomes. Zuhura is advancing clean cooking innovation in Kenya with IoT-enabled, hybrid bio-ethanol and solar-powered vending carts, empowering street food vendors with affordable, climate-smart business models. Congratulations to Clinton Obura, KIBITI Benson, and the entire Samaking and Zuhura teams for this well-deserved recognition!  We're proud to continue supporting them as they scale their innovative solutions and create lasting impact across Africa. Learn more about their work and other inspiring innovations here: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/er4VgQvw FSD Africa Accion Shell Foundation Transforming Energy Access Jacob Winiecki Tyler Ferdinand Hannah Eskinder Carmen Wamukoya Amolo Ngweno Maureen K. Ngetha Mwangi Charles I. Nweke Mary Kashangaki Wyclife Aketch Grace Akinyi Phoebe K. #CleanEnergy #AfricanInnovation #TECA #ClimaFii #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy

Why Jobtech Alliance invested 🚀 Africa's youth population is growing rapidly, but there aren't enough quality jobs to meet their ambitions. Meanwhile, global demand for tech talent is rising, especially in Europe, yet many African developers face challenges, including a lack of visibility, trust, and access to overseas opportunities. Elewa, a Kenyan ICT agency, is delivering high-quality tech solutions to a global client base while developing Africa's next generation of tech talent. Their unique model goes beyond traditional outsourcing. They provide hands-on training and real project experience through their accelerator program, helping young developers build valuable skills. Jobtech Alliance is supporting Elewa's expansion in Europe by helping them establish a sales hub in the Netherlands and connect with new clients. Their investment aims to open up digital trade routes between Africa and Europe, create more skilled jobs, and set an example for other African tech providers. Learn more (link in the first comment).

How can bold partnerships drive #climateresilience for those who need it most? Our TECA Director, Tyler Ferdinand, will be at Frugal Innovation Forum 2025 exploring how cross-sector collaboration is helping smallholder farmers and food systems adapt to #climatechange through better data, stronger policies, and inclusive innovation. If you're attending the forum, be sure to catch him in these sessions: ✅  𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 1.3: 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 📅 25 July | 🕐 1:00–2:00 PM Tyler will speak alongside Richard Choularton (He, Him, His) and Sharmind Neelormi, moderated by Ashley Toombs (BRAC Climate Hub). They'll highlight successful partnerships improving climate data access and resilience in agriculture. ✅𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 2.3: 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 📅 26 July | 🕛 12:00–1:00 PM Tyler will join an expert panel of innovators, policymakers, and practitioners (stay tuned for full list!) to unpack how public-private collaboration can scale inclusive climate-smart solutions for low-income communities. Register now: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gBxD_rb7

BFA Global's Nelly Ramírez Moncada and Jesse F. are currently at the Rural Resilience Forum hosted by Appalachian Community Capital and the Green Bank for Rural America! They're engaging in critical conversations about how Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) can build resilience to climate shocks and foster long-term sustainability in underserved rural communities. If you're attending the forum, be sure to connect with Nelly and Jesse; they're eager to share insights, explore collaborations, and learn from others working at the intersection of climate resilience and inclusive finance. #RuralResilience #ClimateFinance #CDFI #ClimateResilience

Across Africa, microenterprises power the food, transport, and retail systems we all rely on. But without access to affordable, sustainable energy solutions and financing, their growth is stalled, leaving them unable to adopt the technologies that could boost productivity, increase income, and strengthen resilience. That's the gap the ClimaFii Alliance, which includes Shell Foundation, Transforming Energy Access, Accion, BFA Global, and Upaya Social Ventures, is working to close. Through the 2025 ClimaFii Alliance Cohort, BFA Global is proud to support 10 African startups advancing clean, inclusive technologies for last-mile microenterprises from electric mobility and solar-powered cooling to clean cooking and productive-use financing. But it's not just about tech, it's about livelihoods. With hands-on venture support, catalytic capital, and partnerships with financial service providers, these startups will enable micro-entrepreneurs to boost incomes, grow resilient businesses, and build a cleaner future. 🎉Meet the ventures: 🇺🇬 EnerGrow – Financing productive-use appliances for MSMEs 🇳🇬 Farm Warehouse – Empowering farmers with solar-powered hubs for agri-tools and market access 🇳🇬 ICE Commercial Power – Delivering stable, affordable power to MSMEs via embedded solar microgrids 🇳🇬 Instollar – Matching solar companies with trained, on-demand technicians for quality installations 🇿🇲 Lake Farms and Fishing Lodge Limited – Scaling clean aquaculture through solar cold-chain logistics and sustainable fish farming 🇸🇳 Mbay Mobility – Enabling unbanked commercial drivers to own EVs through a lease-to-own model 🇰🇪 Mega Gas Alternative Energy – Converting plastic waste into affordable clean cooking gas for low-income households 🇰🇪 POLLEN PATROLLERS – Improving hive health and crop productivity by using solar-powered tech  🇰🇪 SONGA Mobility –  Providing rural EV logistics that connect smallholder farmers to markets sustainably 🇰🇪 Zuhura Solutions – Powering Kenya’s street food vendors with clean, solar and bioethanol cooking trolleys Congratulations to the startups! Learn more: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dpCZPerK #ClimaFiiAlliance #CleanEnergy #EnergyAccess #MSMEs #ResponsibleFinance #ClimateTechAfrica #Livelihoods Aaron Leopold | Chinwe Udo-Davis Msc, SPHRi | Ketty Shamakamba | Matthew Sellar | Thebean Gilfillian | Amolo Ngweno | Jacob Winiecki | Charles I. Nweke | Ngetha Mwangi | Maureen K. | Carmen Wamukoya | Grace Akinyi | Dustin Kahler | Eliza Hogan, CEC, ACC | Michelle Hassan | Wyclife Aketch | Valiullah Hashmi | Nelly Ramírez Moncada | Phoebe K. | Shankha Lahiri | Vishal Ajmera | Meera Bharadwaj