The funding targets early-stage start-ups in energy, agriculture, and mobility, sectors critical to addressing the continent’s escalating climate challenges.

Equator Africa Fund specializes in supporting climate technology ventures that drive both environmental sustainability and economic growth.

With teams based in Nairobi and Lagos, the fund leverages local knowledge alongside global expertise to foster solutions that combat Africa’s vulnerability to climate change and its growing population pressures.

The urgency of the investment aligns with alarming climate projections that estimate 39 million Africans may face chronic hunger by 2050 due to climate-related impacts.

Equator’s focus on renewable energy solutions, sustainable agricultural practices, and innovations in electric mobility seeks to mitigate these effects while creating long-term economic stability.

Proparco’s investment is part of its 2023-2027 strategic pillars of advancing climate initiatives and expanding economic opportunities.

The initiative qualifies for 40% to 60% climate co-benefits, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development.

Fabrice Perez, Head of Proparco’s Venture Capital Division, emphasized the significance of the collaboration, stating:

“Through this investment, we aim to support ventures addressing the urgent climate challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Equator’s approach echoes our commitment to driving sustainable development and climate resilience in the region. We believe these ventures hold promise for a sustainable future, enhancing both Africa’s economic strength and environmental resilience.”

Equator’s Managing Partner, Nijhad Jamal, welcomed Proparco’s participation, highlighting the role of active funding and mentorship for emerging ventures:

“We are extremely proud to have Proparco participate in our fund and to join Equator’s mission to provide much-needed capital and active hands-on support to early-stage climate-tech ventures at a critical juncture in their start-up journey. Proparco is uniquely positioned to provide expertise, networks, and capital directly to our portfolio companies as they scale across the region.”

This investment will enable Equator to bridge the climate funding gap by empowering innovative start-ups with the resources to enhance Africa’s climate resilience.

The first investment targets Truk Rwanda, a logistics company specializing in cold chain storage and transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables.

N3F’s funding will facilitate the acquisition of refrigerated trucks and the establishment of hybrid cold rooms.

This development will enable farmers to extend the shelf life of their produce, reduce food waste, and maximize their earnings.

In addition, Truk Rwanda plays a vital role in connecting farmers in central Rwanda with vendors while offering informal training on post-harvest handling to help preserve the nutritional quality of their products.

The second investment focuses on Couvoir Amar, a poultry company based in Senegal.

With the goal of increasing domestic poultry production, Couvoir Amar aims to make poultry more affordable for lower-income households.

This initiative supports greater consumption of protein-rich poultry, addressing Senegal’s low levels of poultry intake and contributing to improved nutrition in the region.

Both investments align with N3F’s mission to strengthen food value chains, reduce waste, and improve access to affordable, nutritious food across Africa.