Lisbeth Zacho, CEO of Nordic Impact Funds, (Number 3 from right on photo) here shares insights on why her company is a strategic member of A2i. She emphasizes the collaborative efforts and benefits of this membership in driving economically sustainable development in Africa.
Strategic Membership for a Shared Vision
“We are strategic members of Access2innovation for many reasons,” begins Lisbeth Zacho. “First and foremost, because of our shared mission. At Nordic Impact Funds, we are committed to economically sustainable development in Africa, and it is therefore only natural that we should be part of this journey together.”
For Zacho, the alignment between Nordic Impact Funds’ mission and Access2innovation’s objectives is clear.
“It provides me with a wealth of resources and contacts. This is true both in East Africa, where we are engaged, and in Denmark. For example, it is a great benefit to be able to draw on the expertise and networks of Access2innovation’s local office in Kampala. The membership also gives us a platform where we meet potential investment partners and other Danish companies that are engaged in East Africa. This is very useful for us,” she explains.
Collaborative Success expected in Grant Applications
One of the tangible benefits of the membershipis evident in the success of their grant applications.
“We also greatly benefit from our membership when it comes to writing grant applications. Here, we have the opportunity to enter into strategic partnerships across continents. For example, in our application for a new irrigation project to P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030), we connect one of our portfolio companies, Grekkon in Kenya, which specializes in irrigation, greenhouse, and allied technologies, with the Danish TEMCompany, which maps groundwater by geo-scanning. This is a great example of Danish-developed technology that an African company needs. One company drills holes, while the other can measure the quality of the water from the earth’s surface. Here, Access2innovation has been a huge help in coordinating between the involved parties and writing the application”, Zacho notes.
Valuable Insights from A2i Talks
Zacho also highlights the value of the virtual A2i Talks, describing them as a great resource:
“The topics that A2i Talks cover are really exciting. I often join on a Friday morning and always get some great insights on topics that turn out to be important. It is a nice and easy format to jump into, and the time spent is well worth it.”
Positive Experiences from Delegation Trips
Finally, Zacho shares her positive experiences from Access2innovation’s delegation trips to East Africa:
“It was an incredibly concrete and relevant trip, where I got good insight into different types of companies in East Africa. It was useful and effective. In fact, it was so good that when I arrange a trip for investors to Africa this fall, I’ll get a few tips from Karin Elisabeth Lind, CEO at A2i. So, there is plenty to gain from the shelves at Access2innovation for strategic members.”
Addressing Denmark’s Engagement in Africa
Zacho believes that Denmark’s engagement in Africa could be significantly enhanced:
“I think Denmark is far too little engaged on the African continent. I believe that Access2innovation should be one of Danida’s most important partners in the effort for economically sustainable green transition in Africa. Therefore, it is also important for me to signal that I am committed to this important agenda.”
Through their year-long membership, Nordic Impact Funds and Access2innovation exemplify how strategic collaborations can foster sustainable development and create impactful changes across continents. Here, Lisbeth Zacho visits The Uganda-European Union Business Forum 2022, where the Danish Embassy in Uganda and Access2innovation were hosting a stand, that showcased solutions from PESITHO, SolarVenti A/S, 4Life Solutions, MASH Makes and the DMDP-financed Grain Hub project. Lisbeth Zacho is number three from the right.
Facts about Nordic Impact Funds
Nordic Impact Funds is a Danish fund manager, managing an evergreen impact fund with a focus on climate adaptation and resilience for underserved populations in East Africa. The fund has made 8 investments in East Africa: 4 in Uganda, 2 in Kenya, 1 in Ethiopia and 1 in Tanzania. The portfolio includes investments in farm-to-market models that work with small holder farmers, climate smart solutions like irrigation solutions, rainwater harvesting, solar drying, soil testing, precision farming and digital extension services. The fund also seeks to build financial resilience to a population increasingly hit by shocks and disasters through investments into savings and insurance solutions.
Facts about Grekkon Ldt
Grekkon Limited is a wholly owned African firm, that was established in Nairobi Kenya in 2013, by agro-savvy experts with years of experience dealing with African farmers solving their farming needs.
The firm has grown since then and has been engaged in projects in Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.
The firm specializes in irrigation, greenhouse and allied technologies such as construction of solar dryers, supply of non-soil growing media, seedling trays and mulching papers.
They also provide drip and sprinkler irrigation setups, green house and shade house construction, pump installations, dam lining for rainwater harvesting and borehole drilling.
Facts about TEM Company
TEMcompany started with the dream of building next-generation imaging solutions to solve today’s water problems. The company’s mission is founded on the idea that technologies enabling informed management of resources will be critical to addressing the growing vulnerability of groundwater to climate change. The vision is to become a technology leader in seamlessly integrated hardware and software for subsurface imaging and to develop easy-to-use geoscanners for mapping groundwater resources, raw materials and much more.
The sTEM geoscanner delivers efficient, reliable groundwater surveys. It conducts single-site measurements, capturing data that reaches depths beyond 500 m (1650 ft). Affordable and robust, the sTEM geoscanner is operated via an Android or iOS app and offers valuable insights into groundwater resources. The sTEM ensures efficient surveys with reliable performance. Its transmitter capacity enables robust measurements, covering a substantial area per station.
Designed for convenience, the lightweight and portable sTEM geoscanner, with transmitter wire and receiver cable, weighs approximately 17 kg (37 lb). It can be easily transported in a solid shipping box as check-in luggage on airplanes. With Wi-Fi and internet connectivity, enjoy seamless data upload and remote support.