47041 - MFP-BOP ACEP Cameroun

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Summary of Investment Information

Project Number

47041

Company Name

ACEP CAMEROUN SA

Date SPI Disclosed

Jul 30, 2025

Country

Cameroon

Region

Africa

Projected Board Date

Jul 31, 2025

Environmental Category

FI-2 - Limited

Status

Pending Approval

Last Updated Date

Jul 31, 2025

Department

Regional Industry - FIG Africa

Industry

Financial Markets

Sector

Microfinance and Small Business - Non Commercial Banking

Additional Project Attributes

Blended Finance

Project Description

The proposed investment consists of an up to five-year senior loan (inclusive of a one-year grace period) of up to US$ 5 million (to be provided in EUR or in XAF equivalent) to ACEP Cameroun S.A. (“ACEP”), a Micro-Finance Institution (MFI) operating in Cameroon, under the Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (“MSME”) Finance Platform – Bottom of Pyramid (“BOP”) Envelope (“the Project”). The Platform’s BOP Envelope seeks to address financial inclusion gaps, with a focus on micro and small enterprises (“MSE”), informal enterprises, and low-income households by providing medium- and long-term loans to eligible financial service providers (FSPs). Subject to BFC Approval, the Project will be included in the MSME Finance Platform which is supported by a pooled first loss guarantee (“PFLG”) of up to US$40 million provided by the International Development Association (IDA) 20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility (IDA-PSW BFF) allocated to the BOP Envelope under the MSME Finance Platform. ACEP aims to deploy at least 25% of the facility towards Women-Owned Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (“WMSMEs”).

Associated Advisory Engagement

IFC will help ACEP Cameroon enhance its risk management framework through its advisory services.

Sponsor / Cost / Location

IFC's loan to the financial institution described in this SII is targeted for on-lending to the following sector(s):

Product Type	Use of Proceeds
Straight Senior Loan	Loans to MSME (mix of Micro and SME)
Straight Senior Loan	Loans to Woman-Owned SMEs

IFC's Definitions of Targeted Sectors can be found here.

Development Impact

The project is expected to increase access to finance for MSMEs, including WMSMEs, contributing to narrow down the severe finance gap facing MSMEs in the country. In addition, IFC anticipates that the project will promote market competitiveness in the MSME finance market by demonstrating the commercial viability of lending to MSMEs and WSMEs and incentivize other investors to invest in MSME finance segments.

Financial Additionality: Financing structure (tenor). IFC will provide long-term finance (5-year senior loan) to ACEP to support its expansion in MSME lending, which is not readily available in current market due to the perceived risk associated with SMEs as well as the short-term nature of deposits and other funding sources available to MFIs. The provision of an up to US$5mn senior loan in Euro or XAF equivalent will provide ACEP with stable long-term funding to support the expansion of its MSME loan portfolio. Non-financial Additionality Knowledge, innovation, and capacity building. As ACEP aims to expand its MSME portfolio, partnering with IFC will help it become a market leader in the MSME segment. IFC will provide global industry knowledge to help ACEP to strengthen its capacity in supporting MSMEs. In specific, IFC’s complementary advisory service will provide support in helping ACEP improve its risk management framework. Standard Setting: The project will assist ACEP Cameroon in implementing IFC’s E&S Management System (ESMS) procedures. Currently, the client lacks a proper ESMS. Therefore, the project will include an E&S action plan that involves appointing a dedicated E&S officer and establishing an effective ESMS. Additionally, ACEP Cameroon is expected to enhance its risk management by creating a dedicated risk management function, which is not present in their organization structure to date.

Indicator	Metrics	Calendar Year 2022	Calendar Year 2023	Calendar Year 2024
Average loan maturities	months	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
MSME share of total loan portfolio	%	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Number of Outstanding Loans, MSMEs	number	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Value of Outstanding Loans, MSMEs	USDMill	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Number of Outstanding Loans, Microenterprises	loans	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Value of Outstanding Loans, Microenterprises	USDMill	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available

E&S Category Rationale / Risks and Mitigation

The project is a senior loan facility of up to US$5mn equivalent in EUR or in XAF, with a maturity of up to 5-years with an up to 1-year grace period, to support ACEP scale up its MSME portfolio in Cameroon. ACEP indicated exposure to sectors such as trade, services, industry and agriculture. The risks related to the portfolio are considered medium. The E&S risks and impacts associated with the supported clients include biodiversity, occupational health and safety, pollution prevention, waste management, labor and working conditions issues, among others and considered limited and readily addressed through established mitigation measures. Therefore, the Project has been categorized as FI-2 in accordance with IFC’s Sustainability Policy.
ACEP’s human resources policies and procedures are generally aligned with Performance Standard 2 on Labor and Working Conditions. However, it does not have a grievance mechanism and a life and fire safety procedure.
For this investment, ACEP will be required to screen eligible loans against the IFC Exclusion List and Cameroun environmental and social laws and regulations. The Project will not support coal-related activities, forestry, mining, and / or higher risk business activities that may include: (i) involuntary resettlement; (ii) risk of adverse impacts on indigenous peoples; (iii) significant risks to or impacts on the environment, community, health and safety, biodiversity or cultural heritage; (iv) retrenchment; or (v) significant occupational health and safety risks (e.g., risk of serious injury or fatality to workers).

ACEP includes compliance with regulations in its client assessment, but it does not have an ESMS. ACEP does not have an E&S Officer. The staff has not received E&S training. As part of this project, ACEP will be required to: 1) Designate an E&S Officer; 2) Develop an Environmental and Social Management System; 3) Provide an E&S risk management training to its staff involved in the loan procedure; 4) Provide evidence of ESMS Implementation; 5) Develop an employee grievance mechanism and; a Life and Fire Safety Procedure.

S.no	Title	Anticipated Completion Date
1	Designate an E&S Officer	07/31/2025
2	Develop an Environmental and Social Management System	11/30/2025
3	E&S risk management training	11/30/2025
4	Evidence of ESMS Implementation	02/28/2026
5	Labor and Working Conditions	05/29/2026

Contacts

For Inquiries About the Project, Contact

ACEP Cameroun S.A
Fayole Alexandre
CFO
+237694635802
alex.madio@acep-cameroun.org
BP 14614, Yaoundé, Cameroon
www.acep-cameroun.org

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IFC supports its clients in addressing environmental and social issues arising from their business activities by requiring its real sector clients to set up and administer appropriate grievance mechanisms and/or procedures to address complaints from Affected Communities in relation to environmental and social issues arising from IFC's clients' business activities. Since 2012, IFC's Financial Intermediary clients applying the Performance Standards are required to develop External Communications Mechanisms to receive and review inquiries or complaints from any interested party regarding the E&S risks and impacts of their operations.

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This Summary of Investment Information (SII) is prepared by IFC to disclose a factual summary of the main elements of the potential investment. It also includes findings and recommendations related to environmental and social considerations regarding this potential investment. The purpose of the SII is to enhance the transparency of IFC’s activities. For any project documentation or data included or attached herein, whether prepared by the project sponsor or otherwise, authorization has been given for public release by the project sponsor. IFC considers that this SII is of adequate quality for release to the public, but has not necessarily independently verified all of the project information therein. It is distributed in advance of IFC Board of Directors’ consideration and may be periodically updated thereafter. Board dates are estimates only and this document should not be construed as presuming the outcome of the Board Directors’ decision. The following SII is disclosed in accordance with IFC's Access to Information Policy (AIP) that went into effect on January 1, 2012.

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