The International Finance Corporation and Standard Chartered have launched a $300 million risk-sharing facility aimed at expanding access to supply chain finance for businesses across eight African countries, including Nigeria.
The initiative is expected to support trade and supply chain finance transactions worth approximately $1.9 billion over the next three years and benefit more than 500 suppliers, many of them small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
According to a statement issued by Standard Chartered, the programme will be implemented in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. It will focus on key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing, helping businesses access much-needed working capital and improve cash flow.
Details of Arrangement
Under the arrangement, IFC will provide guarantees of up to $150 million, beginning with an initial commitment of $100 million. These guarantees will support transactions in both U.S. dollars and selected local currencies, while the overall risk-sharing structure will cover up to $300 million in supply chain and trade finance assets originated by Standard Chartered across Africa.
The facility will deploy financing solutions such as payables finance, receivables discounting, and pre-shipment finance schemes. These instruments are designed to help suppliers receive payments more quickly, enabling them to expand production, meet payroll obligations, and invest in business growth.
Speaking on the initiative, Mohamed Gouled said supply chain finance remains one of the most effective tools for narrowing the financing gap facing businesses in emerging markets.
He noted that by supporting companies at the centre of strategic value chains, the partnership would unlock critical working capital for businesses across Africa, including smaller enterprises and farmers, while improving supply chain competitiveness and creating jobs. The programme is also projected to indirectly benefit more than one million farmers through stronger value-chain connections and improved access to finance.
Dalu Ajene described the facility as a demonstration of the two institutions’ commitment to strengthening African supply chains and supporting sustainable economic growth.
According to him, Standard Chartered’s presence across major trade corridors connecting Africa with Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas will help channel financing to businesses engaged in regional and international trade. He added that improved access to supply chain finance would help companies unlock liquidity, manage risk, and invest with greater confidence.
The partnership comes at a time when SMEs across emerging markets continue to face significant challenges accessing affordable credit despite their crucial role in economic development and employment creation. The statement noted that while the global supply chain finance market reached an estimated $2.7 trillion in 2025, access remains limited in many developing economies due to a historical concentration of financing in developed markets.
The initiative marks IFC’s first project under its Global Supply Chain Finance Programme and the Africa Trade and Supply Chain Recovery Initiative, which is supported by the International Development Association Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
