Acumen Fund, Inc.
Acumen
The Acumen Fund, Inc. is an impact investment fund with almost 15 years’ experience in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that serves low-income communities in developing countries primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Acumen has a successful track record in sourcing and executing equity investment opportunities in the clean energy, agriculture and health-care sectors, which provide environmental and livelihood impacts. The results of its activities overlap with the results areas and impacts of the GCF in the areas of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from energy efficient products (appliances); improvements in the livelihoods of vulnerable populations through the provision of improved agricultural inputs, services and information; and increased access to health-care products and services that treat diseases and conditions related to the negative effects of climate change and emissions from polluting fuels. The activities of Acumen, for example, include the distribution of: solar lanterns, solar home systems, smoke-free cook stoves (energy) and formal financial services, such as providing home improvement micro loans for low-income women and families in developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Leveraging its well-established track record investing in companies via equity and loan instruments, Acumen sought accreditation to the GCF as an opportunity to further assist more people in the low-income communities in which it operates.
Accreditation timeline
Accreditation term 1
11 Jul 2016 - 10 Jul 2021
Accreditation date
19 Mar 2015
AMA execution date
08 Jun 2016
AMA effectiveness
11 Jul 2016
Term end date
10 Jul 2021
Accreditation term 2
08 Dec 2022 - 07 Dec 2027
Re-accreditation date
30 Mar 2022
AMA execution date
30 Nov 2022
AMA effectiveness
08 Dec 2022
Term end date
07 Dec 2027
Entity details
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Size
- Micro
- Small
- Medium
- Large
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Environmental and social risk category
- Category C
- Category B
- Category A
- Intermediation 3
- Intermediation 2
- Intermediation 1
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Fiduciary standards
- Basic
- Project management
- Grant award
- On-lending/blending:
- Loan
- Equity
- Guarantee
- Blending
Projects
Documents
Title | Type | Date |
---|---|---|
KawiSafi Ventures Fund Acumen |
Approved funding proposal | 22 Mar 2017 |
Accredited Entity nomination from Kenya for Acumen Acumen |
Accredited Entity nomination letter | 21 Jun 2016 |
Pages
News + Stories
![](https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/article/image-story-farmer-280706830.jpg?itok=f838Fs_j)
Farmerline: Empowering smallholder farmers and governments to create climate-resilient agribusinesses
04 Jun 2024 / The impact of climate change is impacting all sectors, with agriculture being particularly vulnerable, and a significant contributor to its exacerbation at the same time. The agricultural sector alone is indeed responsible for 19 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, totalling 9.9 billion tons of CO2e annually. Agriculture is a major industry in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, with up to 80 percent of farmland managed by smallholder farmers, who are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with wide-ranging supply chain impacts.
![](https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/article/image-fullbleed-workers.jpg?itok=O7RMyvW5)
GCF and KawiSafi Ventures Fund driving off-grid solar power in East Africa
05 Dec 2023 / Although the African continent is responsible for only three per cent of the world's human-induced greenhouse gas emissions each year, it is expected to suffer some of the most severe consequences of climate change. Significant investments in Africa's infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, and economy are necessary to helpthe continent's adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change.
![](https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/article/image-pr-earf.jpg?itok=vADtLRtF)
GCF boosts COVID-19 low-carbon energy relief with anchor investment
01 Sep 2021 / Green Climate Fund (GCF) backing has been crucial in an emergency relief fund launched today that shields clean energy companies in developing countries from COVID-19 economic shocks to keep low-carbon trajectories on track. The USD 80 million Energy Access Relief Fund (EARF) has drawn together a unique coalition of financial support for 90 companies in Africa and Asia that have been filling energy access gaps with low-carbon solutions but now face bankruptcy form the COIVD-19 fallout. EARF will keep these companies financially solvent by providing them with short-term loans.
![](https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/article/image-fullbleed-hlpf.jpg?itok=6K-HyI1w)
Ministers call for successful GCF replenishment at HLPF
15 Jul 2019 / Panellists at the Green Climate Fund (GCF) high-level event at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York recognised the Fund’s critical role in helping developing countries meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement and called for an ambitious GCF replenishment.
![](https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/styles/small/public/article/image-acumenfaa-fullbleed.jpg?itok=raaq6tZf)
Acumen and GCF sign agreement to implement its first approved project proposal, bringing household solar energy to East Africa
04 Aug 2016 / GCF and Acumen Fund today signed an agreement enabling the disbursement of funds to implement the first approved project proposal from Acumen, making it the first GCF project to move to this stage.