• Acumen rolls out second KawiSafi fund with $90 million capital, $40 million secured.
• Fund targets 50 million people, avoiding 50 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
• Focus on clean energy, transport, nature-based solutions, and carbon markets.

Impact investment platform Acumen has launched its second KawiSafi fund to support climate solutions in Africa. With an approved capital of $90 million, including $40 million already committed, the vehicle aims to back innovative African companies driving a low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive economy.

KawiSafi Fund II builds on the first fund, launched in 2016, which raised $67 million to expand access to clean energy across Africa. The new fund targets reaching 50 million people and preventing 50 million tons of CO₂ emissions by supporting scalable and inclusive business models.

The fund focuses on sectors such as energy transition, clean transport, nature-based solutions, and access to carbon markets. It is designed to support high-growth African companies that combine low-carbon business models with job creation.

“We are backing the entrepreneurs who are building scalable business models that turn climate challenges into growth opportunities across Africa,” said Amar Inamdar, Managing Director of the KawiSafi funds.

Backers include the African Development Bank through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), the Green Climate Fund, the Schmidt Family Foundation, and the Quadrature Climate Foundation. Acumen hopes to replicate the success of the first fund.

The initiative comes as Africa, despite contributing only a small share of global emissions, remains one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change. Droughts, water shortages, soil degradation, and food insecurity could push as many as 100 million more people into poverty in the coming decades. Yet the continent attracts just 6% of global climate finance, fueling calls for more funding from developed nations to support Africa’s transition.