MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: M-Kopa Solar Raises $19m in Private Equity Investment to Expand Pay-As-You-Go Model in East Africa

M-Kopa Solar, a Kenya-based “pay-as-you-go” solar energy supplier for homes in Africa that do not have traditional electricity connections, has raised KES 2 billion (USD 19 million) in an equity round led by London-based Generation Investment Management LLP.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: World Economic Forum (WEF) Leaders Aim for Cooperation among Regulators for Financial Inclusion in Africa

During the World Economic Forum (WEF) in South Africa, business and political leaders from multiple African countries including Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa among others, emphasized the need for collaboration among regulators in order to promote financial inclusion globally.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Citing Bank Delays, Kenya’s Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) to Boost Direct Lending to Young Entrepreneurs

The Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF), a Kenyan state corporation established in 2006 that provides loans for youth-owned or youth-focused enterprises, reportedly has applied for a deposit-taking microfinance license from the Central Bank of Kenya, and will increase its focus on providing loans directly to young entrepreneurs in Kenya.