GDC launches the Investment Catalyst Facility Programme
About the Programme
The Investment Catalyst Facility (ICF) is the Global Distributors Collective’s flagship initiative to help member companies access the financing they need to grow. Funded by EnDev (RVO) and UK government, via the Transforming Energy Access platform, the ICF will provide tailored financial and technical support to 15 high-potential GDC member companies preparing to raise debt investments between €50,000 and €500,000.
Through the ICF programme, GDC aims to strengthen investment readiness, support successful due diligence, and catalyse funding for locally led and women-led enterprises delivering energy access across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Need working capital to grow? The GDC Investment Catalyst Facility helps last mile distributors prepare for investment and access debt.
Why the Investment Catalyst Facility?
Accessing debt finance remains one of the biggest challenges for last mile distributors. Many businesses struggle to secure loans because of high transaction costs, complex collateral requirements, and perceived risk.
The Investment Catalyst Facility (ICF) aims to helps bridge that gap. It equips distributors to strengthen their financial systems, engage confidently with investors, with the objective to secure small-ticket debt that drives growth. The Facility will also work with investment partners to make smaller ticket size debt transactions available for last mile distributors.
By backing locally-led and women-led enterprises, the ICF aims to unlock smaller ticket size debt transactions for last mile distributors selling clean energy products.
Programme objectives
The Investment Catalyst Facility supports last mile distributors (LMDs) to move from investment readiness to financial close.
The programme will:
- Strengthen financial foundations: improve accounting systems, complete audits, and prepare investor-ready documentation.
- Build investor confidence: through tailored support, financial screening, and one-to-one guidance.
- Enable real financing outcomes: supporting at least seven companies to reach financial close and unlock working capital.
- Share learnings sector-wide: helping more locally-led distributors access debt in the future.
The role of investment partners in the ICF Programme
Through the Facility, investment partners:
- Can apply for transaction de-risking grant enabling them to lend to early-stage or underserved companies. Up to €10,000 per transaction in subsidy funded by FCDO.
- Collaborate on due diligence and monitoring, helping to ensure responsible financing and mutual learning.
- Test innovative financing models, sharing lessons on how to unlock more private capital for last mile distribution.
We are keen to learn from and work with other investment partners who are interested in supporting last mile distributors so please contact us here if you are an investor and want to find out more.
Check back soon for the full list of investors. In the meantime, here are a few of them:
What selected companies receive
Selected companies will receive practical, hands-on support throughout their fundraising journey:
- Investment readiness support (up to €10,000) to cover audits, accounting tools, or financial training.
- Tailored one-to-one guidance with GDC’s Access to Finance team.
- Financial screening simulations to prepare for investor due diligence.
- Investor matchmaking connecting you with the right funding partners.
- Catalytic co-financing (up to €30,000) e.g. equity like injection to strengthen cash flow and reduce debt burden once your deal closes. Please note: only companies that go through to financial close will receive this support.
Together, these interventions make the financing process clearer, faster, and more achievable for growing distributors.
Eligibility
- Be a GDC member. If you’re not yet a member and want to apply, please self-evaluate and apply here.
- Sell clean energy products to last mile customers, with at least 75% of turnover from energy access products and services.
- Have annual revenues between €50,000 and €1 million.
- Seek debt financing between €50,000 and €500,000.
- Preference will be given to companies based in Sub-Saharan Africa; and operating in EnDev priority countries: Benin, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
| CATEGORY | REQUIREMENT | CRITERIA FOCUS |
| Membership | GDC member (or willing to join before the application deadline) | Required |
| Legal status | Locally registered entity, legally allowed to operate and borrow in its country | Required |
| Leadership | Women-led enterprises (ownership and/or senior management) | Strongly encouraged |
| Ownership | Majority locally owned (≥51%) or local subsidiary leading operations | Strongly encouraged |
| Sector focus | Sells clean energy products or services (e.g. solar, clean cookstoves, productive-use equipment) | ≥75% of total revenue |
| Customer base | Serves low-income, rural, or underserved customers | Preferred |
| Annual revenue | Company size | €50,000 – €1,000,000 |
| Funding need | Debt finance requirement | €50,000 – €500,000 |
| Financial documentation | Up-to-date management accounts (2023–2024, 2025 YTD); audited if available | Required |
| Financial standing | Not over-indebted or in loan default | Required |
| Investment readiness | Has basic financial systems (P&L, cash flow, balance sheet) and a clear plan for loan use | Required |
| Geography |
Based in Sub-Saharan Africa; and operating in EnDev priority countries: Benin, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. |
Required |
| Programme participation | Willing to join benchmarking, diagnostics, and technical assistance activities | Required |
How to apply
To apply for the Investment Catalyst Facility, complete the online application form and provide your most recent management accounts and funding proposal.
Application opens on 24th November
Timeline
Application opens: 24th November 2025
Information sharing webinar: 27th November
Application deadline: 12th January 2026
Programme start date: January 2026
Selected companies will be notified by email following the review and scoring process led by the ICF Programme Manager and Advisory Council.
Learn more
To share more about the initiative, GDC shall host a Zoom webinar on 27th November 2:30-3:30pm EAT/ 11:30am-12:30pm GMT/ 12:30-1:30pm CET to discuss the facility’s objectives, eligibility, and application process. Registration is required, so please make sure to sign up here.
About the Global Distributors Collective
The Global Distributors Collective (GDC) is a network of over 250 last mile distribution organisations working across 60 countries to deliver beneficial products, such as solar home systems, clean cookstoves, and productive use equipment, to low-income and underserved customers.
This GDC ICF Programme is supported by UK government, via the Transforming Energy Access platform and EnDev (RVO), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, through the Dutch Government’s funding for access to finance in the clean energy sector.