Impact Amplifier has been appointed as the second executing entity for the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) in South Africa. The organisation will work alongside partners to establish a R150 million Cleantech Debt Fund.
The GCIP is a worldwide initiative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In South Africa, the project is implemented in partnership with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), which serves as the lead executing entity.
The programme aims to promote cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship by addressing market and policy barriers, thereby assisting low and middle-income countries in transitioning towards greener and more resilient economies.
The new fund is designed to fill the early-stage financing gap for high-impact cleantech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enhancing their ability to scale and contribute to the innovation economy while creating green jobs. Additionally, Impact Amplifier will collaborate with TIA to provide a range of capacity-building and ecosystem development support services to the GCIP in South Africa.
Karin Reiss-Haimbala, project manager for GCIP South Africa at UNIDO, highlighted the importance of this partnership, stating that it supports TIA and UNIDO’s efforts to unlock the cleantech innovation potential of South African entrepreneurs. She noted that by accelerating impact-driven cleantech solutions, the project is contributing to a greener economy and setting a benchmark for other regions.
The fund will employ a blended finance model, targeting post-revenue, scalable cleantech ventures based in South Africa. Impact Amplifier’s responsibilities include setting up the fund and providing commercialisation and investment readiness support to early-stage cleantech companies. This initiative aims to help promising cleantech solutions progress beyond the proof-of-concept stage to achieve significant market penetration and sustainability.
Max Pichulik, director of Impact Amplifier, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating that they are eager to develop the cleantech ecosystem through GCIP and increase access to capital for SMEs. He views the collaboration with UNIDO and TIA as a significant step towards achieving impactful social and environmental change through entrepreneurship.