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 announced the call for submissions for its first gender-smart Climate Technical Assistance (TA) Facility (the “Facility”). The Facility is open to all Ghanaian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the following sectors: circular economy and waste valorisation, clean cooking, nature-based solutions, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable mobility.
Eligible gender-smart green SMEs across Ghana are invited to apply for this first-of-its-kind Gender-Smart Climate TA Facility, designed to unlock access to global carbon markets. Applications are open until January 9, 2025.
The Facility aims to enhance the knowledge and technical capacity of SMEs to access carbon markets, foster sustainable job creation, and attract private investment. It provides participants with the tools to collaborate with major certifiers such as Verra, Gold Standard, and I-REC, while aligning their operations with key policy frameworks, including Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Through the programme, 30 selected gender-smart, green SMEs will receive training focused on carbon market access and investment readiness. Out of these, 15 companies will be supported with Carbon Opportunity Maps, while 10 will be introduced to investors and certifiers. The top two SMEs will advance to carbon credit project development, receiving assistance in preparing Project Design Documents (PDDs) and USD 25,000 each to support certification efforts.
Commenting on the launch, Pauline Koelbl, Founder & 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, ultimately expanding to Kenya, Nigeria, and other African markets in 2026. At ShEquity, we believe that unlocking Africa’s potential requires bold solutions that connect gender, climate, and finance. Our gender-smart Climate Technical Assistance Facility is a vital element of our strategy, leveraging Article 6 to reduce risks and enhance the integrity of climate data. By integrating gender and climate action, we are creating investable opportunities that drive climate impact while addressing Africa’s gender funding gap.”
Christina Pfandl, AWE Advisor in Accra, added:
“This pilot project underscores AWE’s commitment to driving sustainable economic growth by deepening cooperation between African and German stakeholders. Our goal is to expand access to private capital and support climate-focused, gender-smart businesses with strong potential to scale across African markets and participate in global value chains. By opening pathways to carbon markets and fostering meaningful collaboration between purpose-driven African entrepreneurs, German investors, and businesses, this initiative lays a solid foundation for long-term, resilient partnerships that deliver both climate and socio-economic impact.”
The TA Facility forms a critical part of ShEquity’s investment strategy aimed at “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 and offering investment-readiness assistance, including tailored coaching and investor connections.
Aligned with national and global sustainability priorities—such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—the Facility addresses key financing and capacity-building gaps faced by early-stage businesses committed to advancing gender equality and climate resilience. Its connection to the ShEquity Climate Fund also increases participants’ chances of securing future investments.
For more information and details on how to submit your application, please click here.
About ShEquity
ShEquity Partners is a gender-lens investment firm dedicated to accelerating Africa’s green transition through gender-smart investing. Its current fund, the ShEquity Climate Fund L.P., supports early-growth-stage, gender-smart green SMEs that meet 2X Challenge criteria and offer commercially viable and scalable climate solutions. ShEquity applies a systemic investment approach that combines tailored investment-readiness support and carbon-market participation through its TA Facility with direct capital deployment via the ShEquity Climate Fund. Eligible ventures typically have at least three years of operation, strong leadership, and a clear pathway to profitability.
More information: https://shequity.com/
About the Agency for Business & Economic Development (AWE)
The Agency for Business and Economic Development (AWE) supports the German and European business community with sustainable projects and investments in countries of the Global South. With a network of over 50 experts across Germany and abroad, AWE provides tailored guidance on funding, financing, and project development, while facilitating global partnerships. By supporting know-how transfer and easing entry into promising markets, AWE strengthens local economies and fosters innovative solutions. AWE is part of the Partners in Transformation network of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and DEG Impulse gGmbH.