Arc Finance works with a wide range of partner organizations to increase access to clean energy and water. From financial organizations like MFIs, remittances companies and investors to grassroots practitioners that develop pro-poor technologies, Arc leverages a diverse body of expertise to carry out its work.
Bandhan Konnagar is a not-for-profit society that is part of the Bandhan Group, and its sister company, Bandhan Financial Services Ltd. (BFSL), is the largest MFI in India. Bandhan provides microfinance services to 7.6 million borrowers, (all women), through 2,022 branches across 22 Indian states. Arc is supporting Bandhan under REMMP to develop and launch a new multi-state, energy-focused subsidiary, providing both sales and credit for its clients.
Indian Grameen Services (IGS) is a registered not-for-profit company that serves as the action research, pilot testing and incubation arm of the BASIX Group, one of India’s largest financial and business development institutions focused on the poor. Under REMMP, Arc has partnered with IGS to launch Vayam Renewable, which markets, sells and finances energy products for low-income consumers in rural communities, through REMMP, and trains and supports a network of village-based solar retailer-technicians.
Civil Bank is registered as Class “A” financial institution, commercial bank and has a total loan portfolio of $225 million. The bank is actively participating in the urban solar lending program and has financed around 1,000 solar systems for urban households. Under REMMP Nepal, Arc is supporting NMB to unlock energy lending through its network of MFIs and other Local Financial Institutions.
The Central Renewable Energy Fund (CREF) is a Government entity whose goal is to deliver subsidies and credit support to the renewable energy (RE) sector in Nepal. CREF is the main financial enabler for helping deploy Renewable Energy Technology (RET) in rural areas. The CREF performs two principal activities: issuing of subsidies to qualified RET installers and other authorized recipients of subsidy funds, and facilitating the provision of credit facilities to households and communities that wish to acquire RETs. Under REMMP Nepal, Arc will partner with CREF and its partner banks, which in turn will work with their network of micro-finance and non-bank financial institutions. Under the partnership, Arc will provide technical assistance to help the MFI partners develop and roll-out relevant financial products for Nepali end users.
Dhosa Chandaneswar Bratyajana Samity (DCBS) is a registered microfinance institution based in West Bengal, India. Founded in 2003, DCBS’ mission is to transform the lives of the rural poor by providing effective, transparent and sustainable financial services that emphasize participatory approaches. Arc is providing DCBS with strategic advice and technical assistance to help scale its energy lending business; DCBS’ goal is to “solarize” its entire client base by the end of 2015.
Ecami S.A. is a renewable energy business based in Nicaragua that specializes in planning, system design, supply, installation and maintenance and repair services of renewable energy equipment and radio. Arc provided technical advisory services to Ecami under the auspices of the Rural Clean Energy Project: Latin America, funded by the IFC/World Bank.
Emprenda Grupo ACP is a microfinance institution with a social mission. It seeks to create and strengthen credit relations with people working together for mutual growth through productive loans, improved housing and communications. Arc provided technical advisory services to Emprenda under the auspices of the Rural Clean Energy Project: Latin America, funded by the IFC/World Bank.
Evangelical Social Action Forum is a registered charitable society established in 1992 as a response to the social and economic needs of poor people. ESAF organizes community health solutions for the poor, and works on water sanitation, clean energy, nutrition and HIV/AIDS initiatives. Under PACE-D, Arc is supporting ESAF in scaling its energy-lending program.
Faulu Microfinance Bank, a subsidiary of the Old Mutual Group, is the first licensed deposit taking microfinance institution in Kenya, with a network of over 80 outlets and 900 employees. Faulu is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya and offers a variety of financial solutions catering to both the retail and MSME (micro, small-medium sized enterprise) segments. With strategic advice and technical services from Arc, Faulu launched its energy lending program in 2010.
Friends of Women’s World Banking-India (FWWB-I) is an apex organization that provides loan support and program development assistance to a network that currently includes 25 microfinance and community-based organizations located throughout India. Arc Finance is partnering with FWWB-I under REMMP to create and grow a revolving credit facility for clean energy. Arc is also providing technical assistance to several FWWB-I MFI sub-partners to finance a range of energy services by the end of 2015.
Grameen Koota Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. is an Indian NBFC-MFI (Non Banking Finance Company – Micro Finance Institution) organization based in Bangalore, with its services focused on the rural poor and low-income households, particularly women. Arc is providing Grameen Koota with strategic advice and technical assistance to help develop its growing energy lending business.
IDEAAS is a non-profit organization, based in Porto Allegre, Brazil, that works in the field of renewable energy and social entrepreneurship. IDEAAS creates renewable energy solutions to improve the lives of families in rural or isolated areas. Arc provided technical advisory services to IDEAAS under the auspices of the Rural Clean Energy Project: Latin America, funded by the IFC/World Bank.
Kenya Women Microfinance Bank (formerly KWFT DTM), established in 2008 as a subsidiary of Kenya Women Holding (KWH), is a Kenyan microfinance bank with over 600,000 women clients, and a network of 231 offices spread across 45 out of the 47 counties in Kenya. With strategic advice and technical services from Arc, KWFT launched its energy lending program in 2010.
Mahashakti Foundation is registered as a trust and operates an NBFC-MFI (Non Banking Finance Company-Micro Finance Institution) known as Mahashakti Inclusive Financial Services Pvt. Ltd. MSF is based in Odisha, India, and provides a range of services to “poor and downtrodden communities.” Mahashakti works toward improving health and education; expanding renewable energy and sustainable community development and providing microinsurance and microcredit. Under REMMP and PACE-D, Arc is providing MSF with strategic advice and technical assistance to help scale its energy-lending business. MSF has launched eight microgrids that target off-grid communities based in Odisha and plans to expand these efforts under PACE-D.
MamaMikes a Kenya-based goods transfer company that offers the Kenyan diaspora a way to send both material assistance and gifts to families in Kenya. Since 2014, MamaMikes has offered solar products and improved cooking solutions on its website for purchase by diaspora and local customers. Arc Finance is partnering with MamaMikes under REMMP to refine the existing business model, expand online and offline marketing activities, and scale up MamaMikes clean energy product sales.
Milaap is an online crowdfunding platform that supports the growth of microcredit products such as energy, water, sanitation, and education loans by providing inexpensive, flexible capital to Indian MFIs through the crowdsourcing of funds. Arc Finance is partnering with Milaap under REMMP to establish a low-cost revolving credit facility for innovative energy companies and MFIs engaged in energy lending. Arc is also providing technical assistance to Milaap’s MFI sub-partners to finance a range of energy services including solar, efficient cookstoves and microgrids.
Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF) is a microfinance organization based in the Philippines that takes a holistic approach to poverty alleviation by coupling access to finance with development services for its clients, including business and livelihood workshops, training courses, and medical and dental missions. With strategic advice and technical services from Arc, NWTF launched its energy lending program in 2010.
NMB Microfinance is registered as a “D” class financial institution and currently serves 15 districts and 30,000 clients in hilly and mountain regions in Nepal. NMB Microfinance was established in 2013 by Clean Energy Development Bank. With the merger between NMB and Clean Energy Development Bank, Clean Village is now majority owned (51%) by NMB. Under REMMP Nepal, Arc will help NMB Microfinance develop its energy loan portfolio and the Arc team will work closely with NMB team to implement an energy program.
Nepal Merchant Bank is registered as Class “A” financial institution, commercial bank. It has a total loan portfolio of $272 million. NMB has interest in Nepal’s energy sector and is a participant in the Government run urban solar program. Under REMMP Nepal, Arc is supporting NMB to unlock energy lending through its network of MFIs and other Local Financial Institutions.
Nepal Women Community Service Center (NWCSC) is registered as an NGO, with authority to perform MFI business. It is the first women specific grassroots non-governmental development organization in Nepal and was established in 1993 in Dang district of the Rapti Zone. Run by a group of dedicated women volunteers, NWCSC strives for empowerment of women in rural areas through improving livelihoods, access to finance, education and health. NWCSC is a non-political, non-partisan and secular organization. It operates in five districts and has approximately 30,000 clients. Under REMMP Nepal, the Arc team is working with the NWCSC team to design and implement an energy lending program. NWCSC understands the need for energy in its area of operations and wants to offer all its clients an energy solution.
Saija is an NBFC-MFI (Non Banking Finance Company-Micro Finance Institution) based in the state of Bihar, India, with headquarters in Patna. Saija targets small and micro businesses in both the urban and rural settings, in the underserved geographies of Northern and Eastern India. Under PACE-D, Arc is supporting Saija to develop and scale an energy lending program.
Sarala, based in West Bengal, is a registered Section 25 not-for-profit company operating as a microfinance institution. It was established in 2006 with a mission to reduce poverty by providing high-quality financial services to low-income communities, with a particular focus on helping poor women gain access to credit. Under PACE-D, Arc is supporting Sarala to develop and scale an energy-lending program.
Simpa Networks is an energy company that markets high quality solar home systems (SHS) with a proprietary metering technology sold on a “progressive purchase” basis in Uttar Pradesh, India. Progressive purchase enables off-grid consumers to pay for solar in flexible increments over time. Arc Finance was Simpa’s first investor and is currently partnering with Simpa under REMMP to scale its “progressive purchase” business model.
Sogexpress specializes in money transfer payments and is the leading Western Union partner in Haiti, a country with one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world. With only 26% of the Haitian population connected to the grid, remittances offer an innovative new solution for financing the purchase and distribution of energy devices. With the support of USAID and FOMIN/IDB, Arc is working with Sogexpress to both scale a remittance-based platform, which allows Haitians in the diaspora to directly provide solar products to their families in Haiti in lieu of cash transfers, and expand cash sales of solar products using Sogexpress’ network of flagship stores across the country.
SolarNow is a private distribution and service company that is delivering improved solar access to poor rural consumers in Uganda. Arc is partnering with SolarNow to support the scaling of its franchise-based solar retail business. SolarNow offers an in-house credit facility for a range of modular solar home systems and low-voltage appliances. Under REMMP, Arc Finance provided funds to upgrade SolarNow’s Management Information System to handle its credit facility, and arranged a DCA loan guarantee to allow access to local capital markets.
Stiftung Solarenergie (Solar Energy Foundation) is a nonprofit organization based in Germany that brings affordable lighting to communities in various parts of the developing world through the use of solar home systems. Arc Finance supported Stiftung Solarenergie to develop a pay-as-you-go financing business unit for clean energy in Ethiopia.
Social Upgrade in Progress of Education Region (SUPER) is registered as an NGO with authority to perform microfinance activities. It was founded in 1993 in Dang district of Rapti Zone. Established as a developmental NGO, SUPER works towards empowerment of the deprived sector of the population in rural Dang areas through improving livelihoods, access to finance, education and health. Under REMMP Nepal, the Arc team is helping SUPER to design its energy lending program. Beyond solar lighting, SUPER is also interested in providing solar water pumping solutions to its clients.
SV Creditline Private Limited is an NBFC-MFI (Non Banking Finance Company – Micro Finance Institution) operating in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, India. SVCL provides a range of financial products and services to uplift the “entrepreneurial poor.” Under PACE-D, Arc is supporting SVCL to develop and scale an energy lending program.
Swayamshree Micro Credit Services is a Section 25 not-for-profit company, operating as a microfinance institution, based in Odisha, India. Swayamshree’s mandate is to supplement the efforts of existing players in the microfinance field and to catalyze the Self Help Group (SHG) movement. Under PACE-D, Arc is supporting Swayamshree to develop and scale an energy lending program.
Utkarsh Micro Finance Pvt. Ltd. is the NBFC-MFI (Non Banking Finance Company-Micro Finance Institution) arm of Samutkarsh Welfare Society, a registered Section 25 not-for-profit organization based in Varanasi, India, that seeks to support underprivileged and underserved segments of the population through financial and non-financial services. Arc is providing Utkarsh with strategic advice and technical assistance to help develop and scale its energy lending business.
Weaker Section Development Society is a registered NBFC-MFI (Non Banking Finance Company-Micro Finance Institution) that seeks to reduce rural poverty, especially among women, in the remote state of Manipur, India, through the provision of financial and non-financial related services. Arc is providing WSDS with strategic advice and technical assistance to help scale its energy lending business, in which WSDS provides small-scale credit for products including solar home lighting systems as well as financing for education costs. WSDS is also working with Arc to pilot a solar microgrid in a village outside Imphal.
Vayam Renewable Limited, registered as an Indian public limited liability company, is the clean energy subsidiary of the BASIX Group, one of India’s largest financial and business development institutions focused on the poor. Vayam markets, sells and finances energy products for low-income consumers in underserved Indian rural communities. Vayam also trains and supports a network of village-based solar retailer-technicians. Under PACE-D Vayam plans to launch a set of microgrids designed to serve off-grid communities.