Our investment
Description of the investment.
Description of the investment.
This investment is a co-investment with our portfolio fund, Novastar Ventures Africa Fund II. This investment aims to improve access to affordable and quality agricultural inputs for smallholder famers in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria, improving their yields and revenue. The scale-up of iProcure’s operations will also create economic opportunities for approximately 5,000 agri retailers. Our commitment will support the geographic expansion of iProcure, increasing its scale and depth of impact.
Impact information
Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.
Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.
What?
| Impact |
|---|
Supports SDG 1 and SDG 8 based on enhanced economic opportunities for smallholder farmers through improved access to affordable and quality agricultural inputs. |
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How?
| Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|
|
The scale-up of iProcure’s operations will also create economic opportunities for approximately 5,000 agri retailers. |
Who?
| Stakeholder | Geography | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Customers (smallholder farmers) |
Projected reach for agri retailers for 2021-26: Kenya (70 per cent), Uganda (10 per cent), Tanzania (20 per cent) and Nigeria (launch). |
70 per cent of smallholder farmers have an average income of $5.5 per day; approximately 60 per cent of smallholder farmers reached by iProcure are women. |
How much?
| Scale | Depth/Duration |
|---|---|
|
Smallholder farmers:
Revenue:
|
Significant depth considering fragmented supply chains and lack of reliable access to quality and affordable inputs. Results from 2019 Lean Data study we commissioned:
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Contribution/additionality
| Contribution/additionality |
|---|
|
Risk
Execution Risk
Unexpected Impact Risk
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Impact score
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Impact score (at point of investment)
The Impact Score is a tool to help us manage our performance against our strategic impact objectives. It is designed to incentivise investments that support our productive, sustainable, and inclusive objectives. You can find out more here. The Impact Score is published for investments made from 2022 onwards. The Impact Scores are calculated at the point of investment. We publish the Impact Scores of new investments annually, once the information has been externally assured by an independent third party. |
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Environmental and social information
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Environmental and social summary
A high-level description of the environmental and social aspects of the investment. This may include a summary of key environmental and social risks identified during environmental and social due diligence (ESDD); key elements of an environmental and social action plan (ESAP); or ways in which we plan to support the investee improve environmental and social standards, such as through their environmental and social management system (ESMS); as well as any other priority areas agreed with the investee.
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Environmental and social risk
A risk category rating, which indicates the level of environmental and social risk associated with an investment. For an explanation of the categorisations used, see here. We consistently provide an environmental and social risk category for all investments screened from 2023 onwards.
Environmental and social summary
We partnered with our fund manager to co-invest in this company, including by relying on our fund manager's ESDD. BII developed an environmental and social action plan with the investee, which included enhancements to the company's ESMS and developing mitigation measures associated with labour and working conditions, occupational health and safety, grievance mechanisms and data protection.
Environmental and social risk
Medium-Low
Reporting and Complaints Mechanism
The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism allows anyone outside BII to report alleged breaches of the business integrity or environmental and social provisions of BII’s Policy on Responsible Investing. This includes breaches made by BII, a BII investee, or a portfolio company of a fund in which BII has invested. The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism Rules are available here. Reports and complaints can be submitted by email to reportsandcomplaints@bii.co.uk or by mail. See more details on our Reporting and Complaints Mechanism here.
For any other general enquiries contact us at enquiries@bii.co.uk
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Key facts
- Last updated
:
When the last quarterly update of the website database occurred.
- June 2024
- Project number
:
An identifier number shared by investments in the same project.
- D5326
- Status
:
The current status of the investment (green flag for active and red flag for exited).
- Active
- Region
:
The geographical region where the country is located. We currently invest in Africa, South Asia, South East Asia and the Caribbean. In 2023, BII’s investment mandate was extended allowing it to invest in regional funds linked to Ukraine, with the majority of activity expected to begin post-war. Investments outside these regions were made prior to 2012 under previous investment mandates.
- East Africa
- Country
:
The countries where the investment delivers impact. Where impact is delivered in multiple countries, this is indicated.
- Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
- Sector
:
We prioritise those sectors that facilitate development and need our capital the most. Our priority sectors contribute towards many of the Sustainable Development Goals. They range from investing in the power infrastructure that will provide people with better access to electricity, to investing in financial institutions that direct capital to the individuals and businesses that need it the most.
- Food & Agriculture
- Investment type :
- Equity
- Start date :
- April 2022
- Amount :
- $3m
- Currency of investment :
- USD
- Domicile
:
The company or investment fund’s place of incorporation.
- Mauritius
We provide capital in the following ways: directly – through direct equity, direct debt, guarantees and other non-intermediated financial instruments; and indirectly – principally through investment funds.
For direct investments and fund investments, this is the date BII committed capital to the investments. This is typically the date on which legal agreements are signed by all parties.
For the portfolio companies of our fund investments, this is the date (either the month or the quarter) on which the fund committed capital to the portfolio company.
For direct equity investments, this is the date at which British International Investment exited the investment.
For debt investments, this is the date at which the final debt repayment was made.
For funds, this is the date at which the fund was terminated.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date at which the fund manager exited the investment.
The total amount committed, per financial instrument, per investment, on the date BII becomes subject to a binding legal obligation to provide funding or assume a contingent liability. This information is provided in US dollars.
For direct investments, this is the amount that BII has committed to the business or project. For fund investments, this is the amount BII has committed to the fund.
The currency in which the investment was made.
- 2X Gender Finance
:
Indicates whether the investment is ‘2X qualified’ using the 2X Challenge criteria. You can find out more here. It only applies to investments made from 2018 onwards, when the 2X Challenge was first launched.
- Fully qualified
- Last updated
