This investment was made when British International Investment was named CDC Group.
Our investment
Description of the investment.
Description of the investment.
In 2016, CDC led UNICAF’s Series A round.
Other investees include University Ventures, an investment firm focused on the global higher education sector, and EDEX, a Cyprus -based higher education provider.
Our investment opens up new career opportunities for tens of thousands of UNICAF’s students, through the provision of flexible, online and blended-learning degree programs. It is also accelerating the development of on-the-ground learning centres across Africa.
Expected impact
Expected impact of investments made between 2012 and 2018. From 2019 onwards, we have published a fuller set of impact information, assessing each investment against six dimensions of impact.
Expected impact of investments made between 2012 and 2018. From 2019 onwards, we have published a fuller set of impact information, assessing each investment against six dimensions of impact.
For African economies to achieve their potential in the 21st century it is vital that workers gain access to high-quality skill development opportunities; this includes international-standard higher education.
To achieve levels of tertiary enrolment comparable to other fast-growing emerging markets, the continent will need to build hundreds of universities in the next decade. This is unlikely to be achieved with traditional approaches, but online learning provides an opportunity to ‘leapfrog’ traditional development paths.
UNICAF is a pioneer in this space and offers a cost-effective solution – 80 per cent more affordable – that can be combined with full-time work. This ensures that access to quality higher education is not limited by geographical location, tuition fees, or lack of academic resources.
The UNICAF business model operates in some of Africa's hardest countries to reach, including Zimbabwe, Somalia and Malawi. The organisation plans to expand into Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Mozambique.
Our investment is also helping UNICAF create over 1,000 new jobs by building a network of learning centres across African cities.
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.
- D299
- 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.
- Africa, Caribbean, East Africa, North Africa, South America, Southern Africa, West Africa
- Country
:
The countries where the investment delivers impact. Where impact is delivered in multiple countries, this is indicated.
- Africa, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
- 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.
- Consumer - Education
- Investment type :
- Equity
- Start date :
- May 2016
- Amount :
- $11.66m
- Currency of investment :
- EUR
- Domicile
:
The company or investment fund’s place of incorporation.
- Cyprus
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.
- Last updated
Related investments made by BII into this company:
| Investment name | Commitment | Region | Sector | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment 02 | $479.25k | Africa, Caribbean, East Africa, North Africa, South America, Southern Africa, West Africa | Consumer - Education | October 2017 | Active |
| Investment 03 | $6.15m | Africa, Caribbean, East Africa, North Africa, South America, Southern Africa, West AfricaAfrica, Caribbean, East Africa, North Africa, South America, Southern Africa, West Africa | Consumer - Education | March 2018 | Active |
