Private Sector
Connexus is committed to working with private sector firms throughout the world, helping them to expand their client base, ensure adequate and timely supply of quality goods and resources to meet client and regulatory standards, and facilitate finance for their suppliers and clients.
Connexus recognizes the power of private and public sector partnerships to achieve development goals in a way that improves the global profile of private businesses and honors the people and communities where they work. For example, Connexus worked with ECOM, Agroindustrial Corporation’s local affiliate in Colombia, to strengthen their ties with coffee farmers by setting up a direct lending facility and gradually transitioning it to impact investors. This improved ECOM’s ability to consistently source high quality coffee in a highly competitive market.
In Kenya and Rwanda, Connexus helped private agrodealers increase sales by bundling their products and services so farmers could afford to invest in climate-smart inputs, drip irrigation, and technical assistance. Connexus set up loan guarantees and facilitated access to local financial service providers helping to expand horticultural markets and create jobs, including for women and youth. In partnership with Holland Greentech in Rwanda, Connexus helped to link 4,334 youth (61% female) to agribusiness opportunities. In most cases, Connexus leveraged matching funding from donors to multiply impact.
Financial Institutions & Investors
With extensive experience in the financial services sector, Connexus understands the needs of financial institutions and investors. We facilitate connections to the private sector through capacity strengthening, training programs, innovative financial products, and improved engagement with market actors at all levels.
Connexus conducts market research on supply and demand for small and medium enterprise (SME) finance, convenes financial partners and clients in workshops to develop tailored tools, and supports advocacy for policy change that facilitates inclusive economic growth. To link youth to finance, Connexus connects young entrepreneurs with buyers and supports their business growth with technical assistance, including facilitating savings mobilization and building credit readiness. Our gender-aware approach ensures that women and men are equitably engaged and included in access to finance and market activities.
Our clients include microfinance institutions, credit unions, commercial banks, impact and equity investors. Connexus has worked with several private financial institutions to expand their outreach to small, medium and large enterprises. In Ghana, Connexus strengthened the capacity of more than 40 financial institutions, resulting in more than $176 million in new finance and $91 million in new equity investments.
Development Organizations
Connexus partners with international development organizations, such as Chemonics International, Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), Creative Associates, and Adam Smith International. In addition to providing technical expertise, Connexus is known as a team player committed to serving the needs of the project so that all partners achieve success.
Connexus has also worked with a broad range of bilateral and multilateral donors, including USAID, DFID, GIZ/BMZ, AusAID, Dutch Development Agency, World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Connexus knows the specific reporting and contracting requirements of each donor.
