Standard Chartered, IFC launch $300 million Africa supply chain finance facility

- The World Bank Group's private-sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Standard Chartered on Wednesday announced a new risk-sharing facility aimed at strengthening supply chains and supporting business growth across Africa.

Here are the details:

  • The facility will cover up to $300 million in supply chain and trade finance assets originated by Standard Chartered in the region, ensuring faster payments to suppliers, the partners said.

  • The programme will roll out supply chain finance solutions in eight markets – Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia – targeting key sectors including agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing.

  • Under the arrangement, IFC will provide guarantees of up to $150 million to support transactions in U.S. dollars and selected local currencies.

  • Over the next three years, the partnership is expected to enable around $1.9 billion in supply chain finance transactions, supporting more than 500 suppliers.

  • In December 2024, IFC and HSBC launched a $1 billion risk-sharing trade finance programme covering emerging markets across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.