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Lighting Africa Development Marketplace Competition Print E-mail

First Global Business Conference & Competition Kick Off in Accra, Ghana, May 6-8

Fifty finalists from 54 countries are showcasing their proposals to try and win up to $200,000 in seed funding to develop and implement their ideas this week in Accra, Ghana.  The Lighting Africa Development Marketplace is part of a joint World Bank/IFC initiative called Lighting Africa which seeks to reach 250 million customers with modern, affordable, lighting by 2030. Winners will be announced on May 8, 2008.

Lighting Africa 2008 is the first global conference and development marketplace for off-grid lighting in Africa.  The conference is designed for investors, financiers, private firms, end users, and development agencies to showcase and expand business opportunities targeting low income populations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PPIAF, along with the Global Environment Facility is a sponsor of the event.  To see a video clip on Lighting Africa click here.  
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South-South FDI on the Rise, But Investors Wary of Political Risk Print E-mail
Foreign direct investment (FDI) originating in developing countries and destined for other developing countries is on the rise. This so-called “South-South” investment represents about one-third of all FDI flows into emerging markets.
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Bank Builds Knowledge with Wikipedia Print E-mail

A World Bank pilot project is helping build knowledge on infrastructure through Wikipedia. So far the project has produced 47 articles in English and 17 in Spanish, covering the water & sanitation and electricity sectors in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries. 
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Private Activity in Infrastructure Continued Its Recovery in 2006 Print E-mail

Investment commitments to infrastructure projects with private participation grew for the third consecutive year in 2006, according to just-released data from the Private Participation in Infrastructure Project Database. The number of projects reaching financial or contractual closure also showed a recovery.

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Sub-National Technical Assistance Builds Creditworthiness Print E-mail

Municipalities and sub-national entities can now apply for grants to improve their credit rating so they can access market-based financing without sovereign guarantees.

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