Financing sources for manufacturers
Explore potential financing options and sources that target small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the aim of generating both a financial and social impact return.
New and growing suppliers, in particular those operating in marginalised places, require improved financing for product development and operations. With access to financing, manufacturers can expand capacity, lower pricing and generate improved commercial terms and performance to better meet the needs of vulnerable communities supported by UNICEF and partners.
UNICEF does not finance suppliers’ operations but provides a database that maps financing options and sources, many of which target small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the aim of generating both a financial and "social impact" return.
The database provides a range of financing options for new and growing manufacturers. Results can be filtered by organization type, sector, financing mechanism and location. While the map is designed to provide basic information, the relevant organizations’ websites can provide more detailed information about their specific work.
About this database:
This database may help manufacturers operating in marginalized and “orphan” product areas and places to identify different sources of capital. These manufacturers may often be best situated to supply innovative, cost-effective approaches for the provision of goods and services that target the needs of marginalized and disenfranchised communities.
While SMEs may especially find it difficult to secure adequate capital, a growing number of banks and investment funds are evaluating their own returns by assessing both financial returns and the achievement of philanthropic and social objectives.
UNICEF assembled a non-exhaustive list of options that could provide different forms of financing, technical expertise, services and support. The database lists 250 sources, many with web portals opening to a wider range of additional sources. Each entry provides the following source information:
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Name
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Description
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Website (clickable)
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Contact Information
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Financing mechanisms
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Sectors
The financing sources cover four principal areas:
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Capital investment |
Offers capital investment through several financial options, instruments, and modalities (including debt, equity, financial guarantees, etc...) |
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Grant funding |
Offers financial support in the form of non-profit grants. |
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Capacity building |
Offers training and expertise in key areas related to business development and growth. |
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Network |
Offers guidance and support giving access to peers, technical expertise, services, possible financing sources and options through various networks. |
Search function
UNICEF designed the database to provide a simple search function that matches the interests, sectors, needs and purposes of new and growing manufacturers against different types of funding sources, financing mechanisms and sectors:
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Source type |
Financing mechanisms |
Sector |
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Agency Bank Co-operative Company Consortium EU Institution Foundation Fund Government Network Non-governmental organization Private equity firm Programme Tool UN agency |
Debt Equity Ethical banking services Grant Guarantee Insurance Investment Loan Micro-finance Network/advocacy/other… Saving Social venture capital |
Advocacy/lobbying Agroforestry (food security) Art/culture (heritage) Climate change Democracy/human rights Economic/business development Education Energy environment (ecology) Fair trade Governance (capacity building/training Health Housing Infrastructure (transport, community facilities) Innovation miscellaneous Research and development Technology Water and sanitation |
The current list serves as an initial catalogue. As UNICEF identifies more financing options, it will add them to the database.
Disclaimer
All external links, information, products and services posted on this site do not constitute an endorsement by UNICEF. While UNICEF has taken every care to ensure accuracy, UNICEF does not exercise any editorial control over the information on external sites. Additionally, UNICEF’s listing of resources on this site does not constitute an endorsement by UNICEF of a resource’s institution, governance, personnel, or operations. UNICEF provides links for informational purposes only.