SMV Green Solutions (SMV) has been an SF partner since 2015 and works to provide safe, clean and affordable sustainable mobility solutions. Through its “Project Vahini” programme – supported by the UK Government – SMV also promotes gender inclusion and has so far helped over 70 women e-rickshaw drivers become owners of their own vehicle.…
SF partner Easy Matatu, one of the earliest stage companies in our portfolio, has eagerly risen to the Covid-19 relief effort challenge. Easy Matatu is reforming the existing, informal minibus-taxis (known as “matatus”) industry by building a community of trusted matatu drivers and a fleet of clean and safe vehicles to provide first-rate transportation to…
India-based logistics organisation Tusker joins the growing list of SF partners who are coming to people’s aid during the Covid-19 pandemic. Getting essential items to people in remote areas of India can be very challenging. Tusker uses its logistics system to enable rural crowd-sourced freight transportation to deliver to outlying towns and villages and address…
Key Facts Completed 1000+ trips Served 2500+ commuters Trained 50+ minibus drivers Easy Matatu is reforming the existing, informal minibus-taxis (matatu) industry by building a community of trusted matatu drivers and a fleet of clean and safe vehicles to provide first-rate transportation to the public. Piloting in Kampala, Uganda, commuters can pre-book seats on scheduled…
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets are critical to driving economic growth, creating jobs and working toward the Sustainable Development Goals, contributing up to 60% of employment and 40% of national income. These SMEs face a significant financing gap, which is at risk of widening during the current Covid-19 crisis. Increasing access…
Evidence has shown that safeguarding risks dramatically increase during an epidemic. During the current period of uncertainty caused by Covid-19, it is vital that our partners are mindful of these increased risks and are equipped to prevent or deal with any incidents should they arise. We are supporting all our partners in ensuring safeguarding remains…
SF partner GroFin in the SME sector recently released its 2019 Annual Report. In 2019, GroFin invested in 25 new businesses by deploying US$21m of growth capital to increase the number of jobs they have helped to sustain since inception to 89,450 and the Report provides an overview of the following: How GroFin uses different…
As the world adapts to a different operating environment caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, at Shell Foundation we have been working to formalise our response strategy to help our portfolio of social enterprises and institutions continue delivering energy and transport solutions to low-income consumers in Africa and Asia, and that the sector response is aligned…
Access to goods and services is a constant challenge for rural communities in Africa and Asia. These challenges have been exacerbated further by the Covid-19 pandemic. Waterbus builds and operates catamaran ferries for safe and affordable transport of passengers and goods, linking islands on Lake Victoria to the Kenyan mainland. Although rural Kenya is not…
In Uganda, Covid-19 restrictions have left many entrepreneurs in the informal sector struggling to take care of their families and cover basic living costs. SF partner Tugende provides asset financing, training, life and health insurance, and active business support to help MSMEs own their economic future. Tugende’s core product is a financing package for local motorbike taxi…