FIRST+
Financial Institution Resilience & Strengthening
Supporting Ghanaian Financial Institutions to Scale MSME Finance
FIRST+ (Financial Institution Resilience and STrengthening) works with Ghanaian financial institutions that are ready and committed to scale MSME finance, inclusive of youth and women with a focus on the agricultural sector. We bring international best-in-class expertise and practices tailored to the Ghanaian context to address challenges that are inhibiting financial institutions’ ability to increase their lending to micro and small businesses, who will in turn create and retain thousands of quality jobs in Ghana.
FIRST+ is implemented by CapitalPlus Exchange (CapPlus) in collaboration with the Bank of Ghana and in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the Ghana Microfinance Institutions Network (GHAMFIN). CapPlus is also partnering with Oikocredit, a $1 billion impact investment fund which has committed up to $20 million in investment finance to FIRST+ financial institution partners.
OBJECTIVES
Addressing capital adequacy shortfalls and meeting Bank of Ghana’s requirements
Expanding financial institutions’ MSME market share, product offerings and digital services
Strengthening the financial sector with GHAMFIN for greater impact and sustainability
RESULTS
First Year
Over 1,000 staff from 467 financial institutions attended at least one of GHAMFIN’s 31 webinars or workshops
22 financial institutions are receiving one-to-one TA to improve lending to MSMEs and/or their investment readiness
More than 30,000 MSMEs and 38,000 employees benefiting
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
- Grow MSME market share
- Increase digitalization for customers and operating efficiencies
- Build women’s client base
- Expand profitably into underserved markets such as agriculture, education, health
- Increase investment readiness
- Address capital adequacy
- Reduce nonperforming loans and strengthen credit risk management
- Attend webinars and in-person training on topics such as finding investors, credit risk management, problem loan management, cybersecurity and much more
FIRST+ INDUSTRY-BUILDING RESOURCES
CONTACT INFORMATION
LYNN RAILSBACK
Director (Industry Building and Impact, CapitalPlus Exchange)
lrailsback@capplus.org
+1 312 806 0413
YAW GYAMFI
Executive Director (GHAMFIN)
ygyamfigh@gmail.com
+233 (0) 303 – 936 090
BINYAM TADESSE
Programme Lead (CapitalPlus Exchange)
btadesse@capplus.org
+233 (0) 599 – 525 234
EDMUND BENJAMIN-ADDY
Head of Operations/M&E; Manager (GHAMFIN)
edsyl20032000@yahoo.com
+233 (0) 244 – 489 819
CHRISTOPHER STATHAM
Senior Manager, MSME Finance and Digitalization (CapitalPlus Exchange)
cstatham@capplus.org
+233 (0) 592 775 696