Funds

Pepea

Pepea is a new 10-year EUR 20 million fund managed by Goodwell Investments on behalf of Oxfam Novib. Staying true to the Swahili word that gives the fund its name, Pepea will help early-stage growth companies in East Africa to “take off” and “flourish”. By investing in SMEs with high impact potential, this fund supports the growth of a greener, fairer, and more inclusive society, and directly contributes to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for gender equality and climate action.

Partnering for impact

Oxfam Novib and Goodwell Investments both have a long history in impact investment. The two organizations are now working together to support impact-driven SMEs; Oxfam Novib has made EUR 20 million available for investment in East Africa and Goodwell Investments manages the fund’s day-to-day operations from their office in Kenya.

Investing in essential businesses

Pepea focusses on innovative, early-growth stage businesses that contribute to a greener, fairer, more inclusive economy. The fund invests in companies in the sustainable agriculture, clean energy, clean mobility and logistics, and waste management sectors.

Focusing on East Africa

The Pepea fund is specifically investing in companies based in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Lower-income people in these countries typically pay a premium to access essential goods and services; by investing in local, impact-driven SMEs, Pepea is laying the foundation for a more equitable future in East Africa.

Fair

Pepea invests in a more inclusive economy by supporting fairer practices which benefit employees, small-scale suppliers, and customers. The fund supports the creation of hundreds of new jobs and facilitates living wages for employees.

Green

Pepea invests in companies with green business principles. By reducing average greenhouse gas emissions and enabling more sustainable practices across all the fund’s investments, Pepea creates positive environmental impacts for our entire planet.

Inclusive

Pepea invests in women, contributing to a more inclusive and equal SME ecosystem by growing the percentage of female leaders, employees and small-scale suppliers across the fund’s portfolio.

Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals

No Poverty

Zero Hunger

Gender Equality

Climate Action

Delivering impact throughout the value chain

Increasing percentage of female managers

Increasing percentage of female employees and suppliers

Increasing creation of direct jobs

Increasing incomes

Increase percentage of employees and suppliers earning a living wage

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

We’re looking for promising African entrepreneurs!

Is your company:

Based in Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda?
Improving access to basic goods and services for your community?
Contributing to reducing the impact of climate change?
Elevating women in your organisation’s leadership and value chain?

Then you might be a fit for Pepea. We’re particularly interested in the sustainable agriculture, clean energy, clean mobility and logistics, and waste management sectors.