No poverty

Eradicating poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice and the key to unlocking an enormous human potential. Still, nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty, and lack of food and clean water is killing thousands every single day of the year. Together, we can feed the hungry, wipe out disease and give everyone in the world a chance to prosper and live a productive and rich life.

No hunger

Hunger is the leading cause of death in the world. Our planet has provided us with tremendous resources, but unequal access and inefficient handling leaves millions of people malnourished. If we promote sustainable agriculture with modern technologies and fair distribution systems, we can sustain the whole world’s population and make sure that nobody will ever suffer from hunger again.

Good health

Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half.This proves that it is possible to win the fight against almost every disease. Still, we are spending an astonishing amount of money and resources on treating illnesses that are surprisingly easy to prevent. The new goal for worldwide Good Health promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone.

Quality education

Education liberates the intellect, unlocks the imagination and is fundamental for self-respect. It is the key to prosperity and opens a world of opportunities, making it possible for each of us to contribute to a progressive, healthy society. Learning benefits every human being and should be available to all.

Gender equality

Gender bias is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us. It is not just a human rights issue; it is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential. By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all the world’s citizens. Together we can eradicate prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all.

Clean water and sanitation

One in three people live without sanitation. This is causing unnecessary disease and death. Although huge strides have been made with access to clean drinking water, lack of sanitation is undermining these advances. If we provide affordable equipment and education in hygiene practices, we can stop this senseless suffering and loss of life.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy solutions are becoming cheaper, more reliable and more efficient every day. Our current reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and harmful to the planet, which is why we have to change the way we produce and consume energy. Implementing these new energy solutions as fast as possible is essential to counter climate change, one of the biggest threats to our own survival.

Good jobs and economic growth

Economic growth should be a positive force for the whole planet. This is why we must make sure that financial progress creates decent and fulfilling jobs while not harming the environment. We must protect labour rights and once and for all put a stop to modern slavery and child labour. If we promote job creation with expanded access to banking and financial services, we can make sure that everybody gets the benefits of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Innovation and infrastructure

A functioning and resilient infrastructure is the foundation of every successful community. To meet future challenges, our industries and infrastructure must be upgraded. For this, we need to promote innovative sustainable technologies and ensure equal and universal access to information and financial markets. This will bring prosperity, create jobs and make sure that we build stable and prosperous societies across the globe.

Reduced inequality

Too much of the world’s wealth is held by a very small group of people. This often leads to financial and social discrimination. In order for nations to flourish, equality and prosperity must be available to everyone – regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs or economic status. When every individual is self sufficient, the entire world prospers.

Sustainable cities and communities

The world’s population is constantly increasing. To accommodate everyone, we need to build modern, sustainable cities. For all of us to survive and prosper, we need new, intelligent urban planning that creates safe, affordable and resilient cities with green and culturally inspiring living conditions.

Responsible consumption

Our planet has provided us with an abundance of natural resources. But we have not utilized them responsibly and currently consume far beyond what our planet can provide. We must learn how to use and produce in sustainable ways that will reverse the harm that we have inflicted on the planet.

Climate action

Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization. The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. Through education, innovation and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the necessary changes to protect the planet. These changes also provide huge opportunities to modernize our infrastructure which will create new jobs and promote greater prosperity across the globe.

Life below water

Healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence. They cover 70 percent of our planet and we rely on them for food, energy and water. Yet, we have managed to do tremendous damage to these precious resources. We must protect them by eliminating pollution and overfishing and immediately start to responsibly manage and protect all marine life around the world.

Life on land

A flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet. We are all part of the planet’s ecosystem and we have caused severe damage to it through deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation. Promoting a sustainable use of our ecosystems and preserving biodiversity is not a cause. It is the key to our own survival.

Peace and justice

Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society. Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.

Partnerships for the goals

The Global Goals can only be met if we work together. International investments and support is needed to ensure innovative technological development, fair trade and market access, especially for developing countries. To build a better world, we need to be supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all, cooperative.

IDH

FOUNT advised IDH, a sustainable trade initiative organization, in developing a proposition including strategy and a business case for the Farmfit Fund, an agricultural fund for smallholders.

DIGH

FOUNT advises and supports DIGH with portfolio management, restructuring of debt and refinancing its portfolio. In cooperation with Dutch housing corporations, DIGH provides financing for social housing projects for the lower income segment. DIGH funds projects around the world, and is particularly active in three regions: South Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America.

AGRI3

FOUNT acts as investment advisor of the AGRI3 Fund, together with Mirova Natural Capital and Cardano Development. Rabobank and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced capital injections of USD 80m in the AGRI3 Fund, a fund that provides de-risking financial instruments to commercial finance focused on sustainable agriculture, accelerated forest protection, and improvement of rural livelihoods. Linked to the fund, a dedicated Technical Assistance facility is established, managed by IDH.

For further information see AGRI3Fund.

Rabobank - AGRI3 Fund

Rabobank – AGRI3 Fund

FOUNT acts as investment advisor of the AGRI3 Fund, together with Mirova Natural Capital and Cardano Development. Rabobank and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced capital injections of USD 80 million in the AGRI3 Fund, a fund that provides de-risking financial instruments to commercial finance focused on sustainable agriculture, accelerated forest protection, and improvement of rural livelihoods. Linked to the fund, a dedicated Technical Assistance facility is established, managed by IDH.
FOUNT also acted as lead consultant to Rabobank for setting up the AGRI3 Fund before the Fund was established.

For further information see AGRI3 Fund.

BIX Capital

FOUNT is strategic partner and co-initiator of BIX Capital. BIX provides debt financing to SMEs through an innovative result-based finance structure, creating access to high impact products such as cookstoves or water purification systems for low income households mainly in sub-Sahara Africa. FOUNT has acted as advisor and is since 2017 part of the management team of BIX Capital and has a role in the Investment Committee and Supervisory Board.

For further information see BIX Capital.

Dutch Government Agency - RVO

Dutch Government Agency – RVO

FOUNT advised the Dutch government on affordable housing financing in Mozambique. First, the workshop ‘Finance for Affordable Housing’, part of the Beira Investment Conference 2018 and organized by FOUNT, was successfully delivered. The audience included a strong representation from local banks who gained interest in the Maraza affordable housing project. Second, FOUNT engaged into discussions with Mozambican banks on providing end user financing, with specific focus on the Maraza and the Inhamizua housing project in Beira (10 houses delivered in 2018). The Dutch Embassy in Maputo played an important role in setting up a round table discussion during which conclusions were drawn on the best business model for affordable housing as well as the key conditions for attracting end user finance.

Note that the cyclone Idaï resulted in damage to the houses (mainly the roofs), with repairs being reimbursed by the project financier. After the cyclone, individual property titles for the first houses have been obtained by the property developer Casa Real, an important milestone. The impact of the cyclone has increased the need for affordable housing in Mozambique.

Good Fashion Fund

FOUNT is Fund Manager of the Good Fashion Fund (GFF).

GFF is an investment vehicle initiated by Fashion for Good and Laudes Foundation. GFF provides financing to SMEs for implementation of technology innovation in the apparel supply chain along Five Goods (Energy, Water, Materials, Lives and Economy) in India, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Initial close took place in september 2019, Target size USD 60 million

For further information see Good Fashion Fund
See also the latest GFF Investor Factsheet

Rabobank - AGRI3 Fund

FOUNT has been the lead consultant for setting up the AGRI3 Fund, an innovative fund which provides risk mitigation to financial institutions with the aim to finance acceleration of forest protection and reforestation and implementation of innovative agricultural solutions in developing countries, whilst improving farmers’ livelihoods.

The target fund size is USD 300 million and the estimated total leveraged finance amounts to USD 1 billion. Rabobank and UN Environment have been the leading partners in establishment of the Fund. The Dutch government and Rabobank have committed USD 80 million to the Fund which had its official closing in April 2020. FOUNT is still involved in the Fund with a role as investment advisor and participation in the governance of the Fund.

BIX Capital

FOUNT is strategic partner and co-initiator of BIX Capital (‘BIX’). BIX provides debt financing to SME’s through an innovative result-based finance structure creating access to high impact products such as cookstoves or water purification systems for low income households, mainly in sub-Sahara Africa. FOUNT has acted as advisor and is since 2017 part of the management team of BIX Capital and has a role in the Investment Committee and Supervisory Board.

Good Fashion Fund

FOUNT is Fund Manager of the Good Fashion Fund (GFF). GFF is an investment vehicle initiated by Fashion for Good and C&A Foundation. GFF provides financing to SME’s for implementation of technology innovation in the apparel supply chain along Five Goods (Energy, Water, Materials, Lives and Economy) in India, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Initial close took place in september 2019, target size USD 60 million.

Cordaid

FOUNT acts as strategic advisor to cordaid.

Dutch Government Agency - RVO

RVO is part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

FOUNT acts as lead advisor focusing on:

Structuring project and end-user finance for affordable housing; developing (i) a high level business case as part of the fundraising for the Maraza affordable housing project, which is part of a long-term partnership between the Government of the Netherlands and the Municipality of Beira, (ii) define opportunities for end-user finance (incl. mortgages) for lower-and middle income households, jointly with banks, employers and other stakeholders.

Building a business case for providing end-user finance for housing purposes in Mozambique.

FMO

In 2018/19, FOUNT acted as strategic advisor for FMO with regard to the NL Business Risk Portfolio and Fund Management team with focus on strategy, investment process and governance.

In 2013, FOUNT was mandated by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review the MASSIF Fund which is managed by FMO. MASSIF provides financial resources to small businesses and micro-entrepreneurs (MSME’s) by supporting the local financial intermediaries and institutions that can contribute to their development.

DIGH

FOUNT advises and supports DIGH with portfolio management, restructuring of debt and refinancing its portfolio. In cooperation with Dutch housing corporations, DIGH provides financing for social housing projects for the lower income segment. DIGH funds projects around the world, and is particularly active in three regions: South Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America.

IDH

FOUNT advised IDH, a sustainable trade initiative organization, in developing a proposition including strategy and business cases for an agricultural Fund, as well as defining the operation set-up of the Fund.

ILX

Cardano Development is the incubator of a new institutional impact investment initiative, the Impact Loan eXchange (ILX). ILX aims to provide an innovative impact investment platform through which leading institutional investors, such as European pension funds, can co-invest with the global Development Finance Institutions, in sustainable long-term loans in developing countries.

FOUNT was part of the project team setting-up this initiative.

OIKOCREDIT

FOUNT advised Oikocredit. Oikocredit is a cooperative and social investor which provides funding to the microfinance sector, fair trade organizations, cooperatives and small to medium-sized businesses.

AFRICA AGRIBUSINESS ACADEMY

FOUNT advised the Africa Agribusiness Academy (AAA), a pan-African business platform for small and medium-sized agrifood enterprises (SMEs). The objective was to support AAA on setting up of a small-scale financing pilot in Uganda.

IFHA

FOUNT advised the Investment Funds for Health in Africa (IFHA), an Amsterdam-based private equity fund (over USD 200m) that invests in private healthcare companies in African countries. A feasibility study was performed with regard to the medical education sector in selected African countries.

REALL

FOUNT advised Reall, a UK-based international development organization dedicated to delivering sustainable and affordable housing, infrastructure and basic services for the urban poor in Africa and Asia. Reall’s funding partners are DFID and SIDA.

FOUNT advised Reall with regard to scaling up its international network and related investment readiness activities.

PPAF

In 2014 and 2015, FOUNT advised the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) in several assignments. FOUNT developed a strategic plan including a financial model for a new microfinance investment company. In this respect, FOUNT also advised on the transition plan and the design of the investment process and delivered several manuals and guidelines and support for operations (operations, HR, treasury policy, ESG, credit process). The new entity (PMIC) with shareholders PPAF, KfW and Karandaaz/DFID is operational as from 2016.

BERENDINA

In 2014, FOUNT was appointed by Berendina Stichting, jointly with FMO, to perform a capacity development study with regard to the optimal strategy of the microfinance operations of the Berendina Microfinance Institute in Sri Lanka (BMI) and to write a strategic plan allowing BMI to grow in the coming years.

FOUNT developed a new Strategic Plan for BMI in Sri Lanka. The 3-year strategic plan encompasses the steps required for the future organizational model and governance required to gain access to additional funding. This is based on international best practices and an in-depth market assessment.

DGGF

In 2013, FOUNT was appointed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advise them on the Investment Strategy for the newly established Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF) focusing on enhancing access to finance for local SME’s in Development Countries (track 2).

The DGGF is a €750 million revolving fund, which offers tailored funding arrangements for entrepreneurs (particularly small and medium sized enterprises) that have solid business or investment plans and relevance to development.

FOUNT provided the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the following advisory services:

Investment strategy for the fund;
Investment guidelines – terms and restrictions;
Potential portfolio investments and allocation;
Financial model;
Fund manager selection.

KFW

For the Development branch of the German bank KfW, FOUNT prepared a feasibility study regarding financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Ghana.

SOLARNOW

FOUNT supported SolarNow in preparation of their business plan for scaling up activities in Uganda. SolarNow is a for profit social business, providing solar energy and financing solutions in East Africa

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