UNDP-EU announces 17 finalists for the Nigeria Growth Stage Impact Ventures (GSIV) programme

September 4, 2023

The UNDP and the European Union (EU) launched the Growth Stage Impact Ventures (GSIV) programme in Nigeria, to identify, through a competitive process, enterprises that have developed at-scale products and services. These companies are contributing to the SDGs while achieving commercial success and are committed to embedding impact considerations in their decision-making. The programme is based on the findings emerged from the Nigeria SDG Investor Map, a market intelligence tool designed to help private investors (funds, financiers, corporations, etc) identify Investment Opportunity Areas (IOAa) and business models that advance the SDGs. The Nigeria SDG Investor Map revealed market insights around seven sectors aligned with the national development needs and policy priorities of the country, where private capital can make a difference to people and planet.

Over 131 companies - across the seven priority sectors (Food & Agriculture, Renewable Resources and Alternative Energy, Infrastructure, Technology and Communication, Health Care, Services and Consumer Goods) - were nominated to participate in the selection and 17 outstanding enterprises emerged as finalists. They will have access to pre- and post-investment readiness support, as well as training on UNDP’s SDG Impact Standards to enable them embed sustainability into their business strategies. They will also be exposed to potential financing vehicles from Development Finance Institutions, UN Agencies (including the UNCDF), and other domestic and international investors. Consequently, finalists will have the opportunity to engage with investors and other ecosystem players at the 6th Annual Convening on Impact Investing, in partnership with the Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), taking place on 31 October and 01 November 2023 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, in Lagos Nigeria.

Discover the 17 finalists for the UNDP-EU Nigeria GSIV:

The online platform leveraging technology to drive financial literacy in Nigeria.

Builds and distributes technologies that turn biodegradable and organic waste into clean energy, reusable clean water and more food.

Builds climate-smart farming and post-harvest infrastructure for African agriculture to enable smallholder farmers optimize their productivity and incomes.

Enables families and businesses group buy and share fresh food items sourced directly from farmers and wholesalers making it cheaper and fresher than buying at retail.

Tackles malnutrition in Africa and beyond by providing healthy plant-based solutions produced locally with international quality standards.

Makes high quality retail-packaged food products for consumers across all income brackets, sourcing raw materials from a network of smallholder farmers who have been transformed from subsistence growers to profitable commercial farmers.

Provides subscription-based telemedicine, doctors' home visits, and micro insurance in Nigeria, Harnessing the power of AI and ML.

Leverages technology to connect healthcare providers with pharmaceutical manufacturers to deliver affordable and quality medical products.

Alleviates infant and maternal mortality in Africa through innovation, research, policymaking and technology.

Converts Textile and Plastic Waste into Eco-friendly Products.

Empowers women and youth in coastal communities in Lagos, through recycling, promoting a circular economy through waste management.

Provides a solar powered cold chain infrastructure to help SME’s, Industries and food producing communities mitigate waste, reduce GHG emission and operate profitably.

Makes sustainable refrigeration affordable and accessible to everyone who needs it.

Deploys efficient, reliable and affordable renewable energy solutions that provide energy to homes, businesses and Farmers in Northern Nigeria.

The “bank to the unbanked,” that meets the needs of the financially excluded by providing the personal and technological touchpoints they require to digitize their cash and grow their income.

Solves everyday challenges for people with technology, starting with financial services.

Closes the gender finance gap in Africa by increasing access to savings, investments and credit - credit particularly for female farmers and women-owned/led small businesses.