IFC PEP Africa programs help strengthen local private sector firms in Sub Saharan Africa through by encouraging large IFC clients to source locally, and through activities that directly support small enterprises in areas such as export market development, product improvement, and better management practices.
IFC PEP Africa’s work also helps larger clients add value by helping them implement programs that build local communities, empower disadvantaged groups such as women, and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on their operations.
Oil, Gas, Mining, and Chemicals
IFC PEP Africa works with the IFC and World Bank’s Oil, Gas, Mining, and Chemicals Department to enhance the value of extractive industry and chemical projects by bringing expertise in linkages, SME capacity building, HIV/AIDS risk management, and corporate governance.
An example is the IFC-supported BHP Billiton’s Mozal project, the first major foreign investment project in Mozambique. Mozal was a $1.36 billion greenfield aluminium smelter near Maputo. Assistance was provided to empower and train local small and medium businesses to Mozal standards for delivering products and services on time, at cost, and to project specifications. Local companies received intensive training and mentoring, enabling them to secure $18 million worth of contracts with Mozal.
In Zambia, IFC PEP Africa is implementing a similar program in partnership with five of the country's leading mines to encourage local sourcing from small and medium enterprises.
Contact: Thilasoni Chikwanda
Telephone: +27 11 731 3000
Email: tchkwanda@ifc.org
Manufacturing and Services
IFC PEP Africa programs work with many African countries to increase the volume and quality of investments in manufacturing and service industries.
Activities cover different sub-sectors including building materials, property development, forestry, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and tourism. Tourism is increasingly recognized for its contribution to economic growth and job creation in Africa. In up and coming destinations, IFC PEP Africa helps governments attract quality investment in sustainable tourism development. In more mature destinations, IFC PEP Africa’s activities focus on the participation of local enterprises and communities in the value chains of existing or prospective projects.
- In November 2006, PEP Africa launched the SME Market Access to Regional Tourism (SMART) program. Smaller operators are brought online through the WorldHotel-link.com reservation platform, creating direct contact with independent travelers. The program is active in Swaziland, and will eventually cover Cape Verde, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, and Gambia.
Contact: Charlotte Ashamu
Telephone: +27 11 731 3184
Email:
CAshamu@ifc.org
Agribusiness
IFC PEP Africa supports projects involving agricultural production, aquaculture and fishing, and related marketing, processing and distribution. The aim is to support efficient agribusiness systems along the value chain. Preference is given to programs that can add significant benefits to the efficiency and competitiveness of the value chain and contribute to economic development.
IFC PEP Africa has supported pilot studies on investment opportunities in Liberia’s oil palm sector.
In Kenya, IFC is working with the Coffee Quality Institute (USA), and key stakeholders in the country to help Kenya’s coffee exporters penetrate the international premium coffee market.
Complementing a $7.5 million loan from IFC to a horticultural company, IFC PEP Africa has provided HIV/AIDS training to the farm workers through the IFC Against AIDS program.
Contact: Joseph Areu
Telephone: +27 11 731 3000
Email:
jareu@ifc.org
Small and Medium Enterprise Development
IFC supports the growth of smaller businesses through a combination of investments and advisory work.
Programs strive to enhance access to finance, link local small and medium businesses to the supply chains of large firms, and facilitate business environment improvements for smaller firms.
IFC PEP Africa’s SME work assists entrepreneurs in developing bankable business plans and raising finance for new project investments, expansions and modernizations. IFC PEP Africa further seeks to develop viable small and medium enterprises throughout Sub-Saharan Africa by improving their business environment, and developing the capacity of small business membership organizations and business development services providers. Using proprietary products such as the
SME Toolkit and Business Edge, IFC PEP Africa provides training, mentoring and other support directly to small and medium enterprises across Sub Saharan Africa.
Contact: Daniel Kanyi
Telephone: +27 11 731 3000
Email:
dkanyi@ifc.org
Contact: Oumar Seck
Telephone: +27 11 731 3000
Email:
oseck@ifc.org
Addressing HIV/AIDS
An estimated 65 percent of people with HIV/AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa. The
IFC Against AIDS program provides advisory services to IFC clients for HIV/AIDS prevention and management. The mission of
IFC Against AIDS is to protect people and profitability by being a risk management partner, HIV/AIDS expert and catalyst for action where the epidemic is threatening sustainable development.
- Guidance. Program staff work one-on-one with firms to establish tailored corporate programs.
- Training. Addresses the unique needs of SMEs through the delivery of a twelve-month training program. It also offers specialized skills training to meet the needs of clients and civil society organizations.
- Development and research. The program expands its reach in sectors and regions such as financial institutions and Asia, where private sector mobilization on HIV/AIDS remains low and where the HIV/AIDS epidemic is in its early stages
Contact: Noleen Dube, Johannesburg
Telephone: +27 11 731 3000
Email:
ndube@ifc.org
Contact: Tish Enslin, Johannesburg
Telephone: +27 11 731 3000
Email:
lenslin@ifc.org
Contact: Ilidio Da Silva, Mozambique
Telephone: +27 11 731 3000
Email:
idasilva@ifc.org
Website:
www.ifc.org/ifcagainstaids 
