New RBF backed loan product launches

Energise Africa is launching a new RBF-backed working capital loan product designed for Green Mini Grids (GMG) developers and Solar Home Systems and Productive Use Equipment distributors operating in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Results-Based Finance (RBF) grant programmes are accelerating Africa’s clean energy transition, but they also create a funding bottleneck, as distributors and developers must deploy systems and reach project milestones before the grant funds are released. This creates a material working capital requirement for construction, inventory and operational expenditure. 

To address this problem, Energise Africa is offering secured RBF-backed loans, enabling developers to bridge the pre-RBF funding gap and scale project deployment more effectively. 

The key features of these loans include: 

• Secured loans with a pledge over RBF capital, the account into which RBF funds will be paid, and the physical equipment purchased 

• Funding available for inventory, construction, equipment, EPC costs and associated operational expenditure covering up to 80% of total RBF grant 

• Loan sizes of $500k–$3m, drawn down in tranches as required 

• Tenor of 12–24 months 

• Interest payable every six months 

• Straight-line amortisation with six-monthly principal repayments. Bullet repayment for GMG, depending on RBF agreement 

• 5% arrangement fee and 1% annual monitoring fee 

• Interest rates of 7–8% 

• Loans denominated in GBP 

• A signed RBF grant agreement 

• Ready-to-build projects with required consents or established SHS/PUE distribution business and supply chain 

• 3 years audited accounts 

• Total assets ≥ $500k and turnover ≥ $500k 

• Equity: Assets ratio > 25% 

• Experienced leadership and deployment track record 

Energise Africa has financed clean energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa since 2018, raising over $60m in debt funding for African businesses through our direct investment platform. We are an impact lender focused on supporting experienced African clean energy developers with scalable projects. 

Developers and distributors interested in exploring eligibility are invited to complete our Pre-Qualification Questionnaire at energiseafrica.com/raise. We will then schedule an introductory call to discuss project details, RBF structure and funding requirements. 

As RBF grant funding expands across the continent, we are committed to partnering with SHS and PUE distributors and GMG developers to accelerate deployment and strengthen market growth. 

Join our webinar
If you're interested, please register for our webinar on the product on 1st April at 12:30 PM GMT here: https://lnkd.in/etsb8cHy