Kenya Innovative Finance Facility for Water (KIFFWA) – 2.0
Kenya’s water sector is hindered by a lack of investment, particularly in early-stage initiatives that private investors often consider too risky. Even when funds are accessible, capital frequently bypasses water projects perceived as unbankable. KIFFWA provides early-stage capital to support the sector.
The challenge
The initial KIFFWA model aimed to fill this gap but encountered several limitations: difficult exits, limited visibility in technical assistance, and restricted potential for subsequent funding rounds. The objective was to enhance KIFFWA’s model, attract co-investors, and improve the flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability of capital deployment. KIFFWA required a framework that would facilitate greater impact, increase leverage, and mitigate risks across the entire project lifecycle, thereby stimulating investment in neglected water-climate ventures.
The approach
Rebel guided a revamp of KIFFWA’s strategic focus. From the outset of each project, the team emphasized investor alignment, applied a rigorous intake process to identify only the most promising entrepreneurs, and incorporated strict governance to optimize resource efficiency.
Rebel ensured the model was both flexible and scalable. With a regional focus, KIFFWA 2.0 allowed for pan-African expansion wherever promising prospects or successful businesses emerged.
Leveraging investor mandates, aligning with SDGs (6, 8, and 13), and providing tailored tools to support projects through planning, execution, and scaling were all emphasized in the framework.
In the water-climate finance space, Rebel helped transform KIFFWA from a last-resort funder into a strategic co-investor and ecosystem enabler by driving this end-to-end change.
Impact
Rebel restructured KIFFWA into a flexible, blended finance platform will postioned to attracting additional funding for sustainable water-climate investments in Africa.
