Today, we mark the International Women's Day. At NDF, gender equality is a cross-cutting priority in all the projects we finance. Our Gender Equality Policy spells out NDF’s principles and commitments, aiming to ensure that gender equality is actively addressed in our work and to enhance the impact of NDF supported activities. 

In this edition, we highlight inspiring stories from women in rural Zimbabwe. They tell us  how solar energy changed their lives as they joined the NDF supported women-led start-up PowerLive. 

You will also learn about the Africa GoGreen Fund that advances climate resilience and the upcoming EEP Africa Knowledge Week with virtual events in mid-March. Finally, if you are interested in joining our team, make sure not to miss the vacancy notices. 

Women-led start-up in Zimbabwe changes lives in rural communities

On this year's  International Women’s Day we showcase Powerlive, a women-led initiative that provides solar energy and internet access to rural communities in Zimbabwe while supporting women-run businesses.

As access to electricity in Zimbabwe is restricted with only over half of the population having access to it, a large percentage of the rural communities are cut off from power, having a big impact on women and girls. 

To combat the lack of access to electricity, Powerlive was set up in 2018 to provide clean, safe and affordable modular solar home systems to off-grid households, small-scale farmers and schools in the rural and peri-urban areas of Zimbabwe. With financing since 2020 from the Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa)—a clean energy financing facility hosted and managed by NDF—this initiative has equipped over 4,000 rural households with solar energy.

Read our full article about these inspiring women from Zimbabwe and how the project has empowered them economically while changing their lives to the better. 

AfricaGoGreen Fund closes $47M in new equity investments to advance climate resilience in Africa

The AfricaGoGreen Fund (AGGF) has made headlines in February with the announcement of its successful second fundraising close, securing $47 million in combined investments from top financial organizations, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Nordic Development Fund (NDF), and the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA).

The funding will allow AGGF to broaden its financing for climate-friendly projects in Africa, including purchasing high-efficiency appliances and industrial equipment, retrofitting existing buildings and new green buildings, and installing rooftop solar and battery storage for residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.

EEP Africa: Knowledge Week

EEP Africa Knowledge Week is a series of online events that examines evolving themes and innovative projects in the clean energy sector in Africa. Check out this year's topics and sign up. 

14 March at 14:00 – 16:00 (GMT+2): Demystifying Investor Readiness 

What does investor readiness mean? What are investors looking for? What and how can my business prepare to be investor ready? How do I know what type of investment to seek for my business? 

Register for the event: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7060105328895793245

**

15 March at 14:00 – 15:30 (GMT+2): EEP Africa Call for Proposals: Grant Financing for Innovative Clean Energy Solutions

Are you a clean energy company based in Southern or Eastern Africa? Are you interested in grant financing for innovative clean energy solutions? Join the session to learn about the upcoming Call for Proposals, followed by a chance to ask questions about the process and get tips on how to make a good application. 

Register for the event: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6973719998836532832

**

16 March at 14:00 – 16:00 (GMT+2): Strengthening the ecosystem for clean cooking solutions 

How can we strengthen the ecosystem for clean cooking solutions? Join to hear experts from the sector discussing the future of clean cooking.

Register for the event: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/195220917992861782

Looking for new team members!

We are currently recruiting new colleagues: 

• Two (2) Program Managers for the Portfolio Origination & Management Department
• Two (2) Associates for the Portfolio Origination & Management Department

If you are interested in working with NDF, read more and apply before the deadlines!

Follow us on

Nordic leadership in addressing climate change and development challenges

Together with our strategic partners, we develop, launch and scale high-impact projects to support developing countries and the most vulnerable people affected by climate change.