Initiative to Leverage Article 6 Frameworks to De-risk Gender-Smart Green SMEs and Unlock Access to Global Carbon Markets
Accra, Ghana – December 9, 2025: ShEquity Partners (“ShEquity”), in partnership with the Agency for Business and Economic Development (AWE) and Greentec Capital Africa Foundation, has officially launched the call for submissions for its first gender-smart Climate Technical Assistance (TA) Facility (the “Facility”). The initiative is open to Ghanaian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in circular economy and waste valorisation, clean cooking, nature-based solutions, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable mobility.
Eligible gender-smart green SMEs are encouraged to apply for this pioneering Climate TA Facility designed to unlock access to global carbon markets. Applications remain open until January 9, 2025. The Facility aims to equip participating SMEs with technical capabilities needed to navigate global carbon markets, enhance climate impact, and strengthen their ability to attract private investment.
A core element of the Facility is to support SMEs in collaborating with key global certifiers, including Verra, Gold Standard, and I-REC, while ensuring alignment with strategic climate policies such as Article 6 frameworks and Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The initiative seeks to foster sustainable job creation, improve investment readiness, and enable local climate-smart businesses to participate meaningfully in global value chains.
Under the programme, 30 selected gender-smart, green SMEs will undergo comprehensive training in carbon market access and investment preparedness. Out of these, 15 companies will receive detailed Carbon Opportunity Maps, while 10 will be directly connected to investors and certifiers. The top two performing businesses will advance to carbon credit project development, benefiting from tailored support to create Project Design Documents (PDDs) and receiving USD 25,000 each to facilitate certification processes.
Commenting on the launch, Pauline Koelbl, Founder and Managing Partner of ShEquity, stated:
“We are excited to launch this pilot programme in partnership with AWE/GIZ and the GreenTec Africa Foundation to advance carbon market frameworks in Ghana, with plans to expand to Kenya, Nigeria, and other African markets in 2026. At ShEquity, we believe Africa’s potential lies in bold solutions that link gender, climate, and finance. Our gender-smart Climate Technical Assistance Facility is a central element of this strategy, leveraging Article 6 to de-risk investments and strengthen climate data integrity. By integrating gender and climate action, we are creating investable opportunities that generate climate impact while helping to close Africa’s gender funding gap.”
Christina Pfandl, AWE Advisor in Accra, added:
“This pilot project reaffirms AWE’s commitment to supporting sustainable economic growth by deepening cooperation between African and German stakeholders. Our mission is to expand access to private capital and support climate-focused, gender-smart businesses with strong potential to scale across African markets. By opening pathways to carbon markets and fostering meaningful collaboration between African entrepreneurs, German investors, and businesses, this initiative lays the foundation for long-term partnerships that drive both climate and socio-economic resilience.”
The TA Facility aligns with ShEquity’s broader investment strategy, “De-risking and Unlocking the Growth of Sustainable, Gender-smart Green SMEs in Africa.” It strengthens climate-oriented gender-smart SMEs by facilitating access to carbon markets, providing tailored coaching, and building strong connections to investors. It also directly complements the ShEquity Climate Fund, increasing participants’ opportunities to secure investment and scale climate-resilient solutions.
The initiative aligns with major sustainability frameworks, including the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It addresses financing and capacity-building gaps faced by early-stage enterprises, particularly those championing gender equality and climate resilience.
Interested SMEs can find more details and submit their applications here.
About ShEquity
ShEquity Partners is a gender-lens investment firm dedicated to accelerating Africa’s green transition through gender-smart investing. Its flagship ShEquity Climate Fund L.P. supports early-growth-stage, gender-smart green SMEs that meet 2X Challenge criteria and demonstrate commercial viability alongside scalable climate solutions. Through a blended approach that integrates tailored investment-readiness support and carbon market assistance with direct capital deployment, ShEquity accelerates the growth of Africa’s climate-smart businesses.
More information: ShEquity website (https://shequity.com/).
About the Agency for Business & Economic Development (AWE)
AWE supports German and European businesses with sustainable projects and investments in the Global South. With over 50 experts worldwide, AWE provides tailored guidance on funding, financing, and project development, while facilitating strategic global partnerships. AWE is part of the Partners in Transformation network of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is implemented by GIZ and DEG Impulse gGmbH.
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