Proven outcomes across emerging markets
A selection of recent engagements. Client identities are kept generic to honour confidentiality; specific references are shared in private conversation.
Client: A wholesale energy-finance vehicle, funded by a multilateral development partner
Year: 2017
Region: East Africa
Case 1: Working capital infrastructure for an emerging-market solar Pay-Go industry
The Challenge
Solar Pay-Go companies were scaling rapidly but could not access working-capital lines from commercial banks. The country’s wholesale energy-finance vehicle needed credit products that banks would trust to lend through. Without them, the off-grid solar industry’s growth was capped by access to capital.
Our Approach
Conducted a solar market study to size demand. Designed two generic receivables-financing products for solar companies, one for Pay-Go sales and one for cash sales, with the appraisal tools banks would use to underwrite each. Built the vehicle’s full risk management framework and risk manual, including a risk register and facilitated risk-assessment workshops with the executive team.
Results
The vehicle moved from concept to operational entity with the credit infrastructure banks needed to deploy capital into the solar Pay-Go sector. The risk framework and appraisal tools became reusable templates for further product development.
Client: A national central bank, funded by a European development bank
Year: 2018
Region: East Africa
Case 2: Activating a national Credit Reference Bureau across 33 financial institutions
The Challenge
A national Credit Reference Bureau had been operational for years, but participating banks and microfinance institutions were under-using it. Loans were being booked without consistent credit checks. The central bank needed to lift utilisation across the entire participating-institution network and to make better use of the bureau’s data internally.
Our Approach
Audited current utilisation across every participating institution. Identified the practical and cultural barriers to use. Built and delivered training for credit staff at all 33 participating institutions. Produced e-learning material so the capability would survive beyond the engagement. Surveyed institutions on which data fields carried highest decision value and presented findings to the central bank executives and the funder.
Results
All 33 participating institutions had trained credit staff with current bureau capability. The central bank received a clear view of which data was most actionable and a roadmap for deeper internal use. The e-learning kept capability building going past project close.
Client: A solar Pay-Go company, engagement led by a major microfinance industry body
Year: 2019
Region: East Africa
Case 3: Credit risk diagnostic and management training for a leading solar Pay-Go company
The Challenge
A leading solar Pay-Go company was scaling fast. To support continued capital raises, its credit risk management practices needed institutional-grade maturity. The industry body commissioned a structured assessment of where the company stood and how to close the gaps.
Our Approach
Built a credit risk assessment tool tailored to asset-finance companies. Tested it against the company’s actual portfolio and processes in the field. Delivered senior-management training on credit fundamentals. Prepared and disseminated the assessment findings to the executive team.
Results
The company received a documented credit-risk diagnostic and clear improvement priorities, defensible in front of investors. The industry body gained a credit risk assessment tool that has since been re-used with other asset-finance companies in its portfolio.
Client: A solar Pay-Go company, engagement led by a major microfinance industry body
Year: 2019
Region: West Africa
Case 4: Credit appraisal tool for a West African solar Pay-Go company, deployed and field-tested
The Challenge
A leading solar Pay-Go company in West Africa needed to formalise its credit appraisal process to support next-round capital raises. The credit team needed a tool that field staff could actually use, plus the training to embed it in day-to-day decisions.
Our Approach
Built a practical credit appraisal tool calibrated to the company’s customer profile and product mix. Ran field visits in-market to test the tool with real applications. Trained the credit staff on use and signed off the tool for production deployment.
Results
The company had a deployed, field-tested credit appraisal tool and credit staff trained to operate it. The build-test-train pattern became a replicable template for similar engagements across the sector.
Client: A development-finance fund’s Technical Assistance Facility
Year: 2017
Region: Southern Africa
Case 5: Designing targeted technical assistance for a development-finance fund’s African portfolio
The Challenge
A development-finance fund investing in African MFIs and SME banks wanted to deploy targeted Technical Assistance into its portfolio. But matching the right interventions to the right institutions, and selecting consultants who could actually deliver, required a field expert who could read both portfolio-company operations and TA economics.
Our Approach
Conducted technical needs assessments of partner institutions across the fund’s portfolio, both banks and MFIs. Designed TA programmes against those needs. Identified, vetted and selected the consultants who would deliver the work.
Results
The fund deployed sharper, better-targeted Technical Assistance into its portfolio institutions, with consultant selection matched to real institutional needs rather than to vendor availability.
Impact by the numbers
24
Years in financial services
17
Countries delivered in
500+
Board members and executives trained
6
DFIs and central banks served
Could your institution be next?
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