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Our work > Funds and Programs > I&P Acceleration > I&P/USAID Partnership
About
PACE is an innovative acceleration program for young companies in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal, implemented by I&P and sponsored by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The program has supported around 20 start-ups and small enterprises with high potential and facilitated their access to financing in a region where the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is still underdeveloped.
Program portfolio companies
Program Sponsor: USAID
The program is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically through the Partnering To Accelerate Entrepreneurship (PACE) initiative.
USAID (United States Agency for International Development) is the United States government agency working to reduce poverty and promote long-term, equitable economic growth. Through PACE, USAID aims to direct private sector investment flows to start-up businesses and to identify innovative and sustainable models for supporting these businesses - unlocking the potential of thousands of promising start-ups around the world.
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"Together, USAID and I&P are responding to one of the biggest challenges in impact investing—risky early- and seed-stage investments—by creating a model for SGB support to more effectively find and connect local private capital with promising SGBs and investment opportunities.
I&P and USAID are paving the way for sustainable early-stage investment models, building a market for SGB investment-readiness services in West Africa, and unlocking the potential of promising enterprises for greater growth in the region."
Rob Schneider, Division Chief, US Global Development Lab
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Implementing Partners
The partnership is coordinated by Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) and is implemented by Sinergi Niger, Sinergi Burkina and Teranga Capital, three in-country impact funds sponsored by I&P.
Sinergi Niger, Sinergi Burkina and Teranga Capital invest in start-ups, early-stage and small growing businesses with a strong growth and impact potential and that have financing needs between 40,000 and 400,000 USD. Together they have already financed 10 SGBs, and thanks to the program they plan to make 20+ new investments in the next 3 years.
