How do small businesses fighting climate change get the support they need? That’s what Bloom’s Green Catalyst Africa event, “Unblocking Challenges & Accelerating Support - Participatory Discussion”, set out to explore on November 18, 2024. Over 90 minutes, changemakers came together to unpack barriers, exchange ideas, and imagine what’s possible when green enterprises are given the tools they need to thrive.

Participants and key partners from across the globe joined forces, bringing diverse perspectives and a shared drive to tackle these challenges head-on.

Across Africa, green SMEs are pioneering innovative, community-based solutions to climate challenges. These enterprises demonstrate how grassroots efforts can drive meaningful impact:

Juveline Ngum Ngwa in Cameroon: As the CEO of Bleaglee Waste Management, Juveline uses drones equipped with AI to detect waste in waterways that cause flooding. Her team works with youth groups and informal waste collectors to clean and recycle the waste, turning it into products like fuel. Her efforts not only prevent disasters but also create jobs and promote sustainability. Juveline has expanded her work to Senegal, showcasing how local solutions can scale to tackle regional challenges.

Deborah Nzarubara in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Through her company, Green Community Mind (GRECOM), Deborah leverages AI and IoT technologies to modernize beekeeping and promote regenerative agriculture. Her NYUKI TECH project empowers local farmers to increase yields while fostering biodiversity, making a tangible impact on sustainable farming practices.

Chinasa Stephanie-Meltus in Nigeria: As the Co-Founder and CEO of Green Eden Farms, Stephanie developed “Scaregrow”, a digital scarecrow technology that provides farmers with real-time insights to protect crops and reduce losses. Her innovation offers a scalable, climate-smart agricultural solution, helping farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions while boosting productivity.

These stories highlight the power of local innovation to create tangible change. Yet, moving from small wins to large-scale impact requires collaboration, funding, and systems designed to support growth.

Funding Gaps: SMEs often lack access to investors or programs tailored to their needs. Traditional grants help but don’t address long-term growth.

Complex Finance Processes: In traditional finance, standard agreements and templates simplify deals. In green or “blended finance,” where grants, loans, and private investments are combined to reduce risks, these tools are often missing, making funding painfully slow.

Lack of Visibility: These businesses rarely have a seat at major climate discussions, where decisions about resources and priorities are made.

These challenges aren’t just frustrating, they’re holding back solutions the world desperately needs.

So how do we fix this? Key ideas emerged during the event:

Combine Funding Streams: Blended finance can bridge the gap between donor funding and private investments, helping SMEs access sustainable financing models.

Collaborate, Don’t Compete: Funders, accelerators, and ecosystem enablers must work together to build systems that support SMEs at every stage.

Build from the Ground Up: Start by addressing the needs of grassroots enterprises while creating scalable solutions that reach across regions.

Green Catalyst Africa is about identifying opportunities and building the systems green SMEs need to succeed. Some of the ideas discussed during the session include:

A Sustainability Campus: A potential platform to teach green skills and support early-stage entrepreneurs in developing impactful, scalable solutions.

Stronger Partnerships: Connecting SMEs with organizations that provide hands-on support, helping them bridge the gap between ideas and action.

Global Advocacy: Amplifying African voices at events like COP29 and the UNCCD COP16 to ensure green SMEs are part of key global climate discussions.

While some of these initiatives are still ideas in development, they represent actionable pathways to create long-lasting systems of support for green enterprises.

The Green Catalyst Initiative thrives on collaboration. Whether you’re an individual, an organization, or part of a larger network, there’s a way for you to contribute:

Become a Partner: Collaborate with us to scale impact through strategic support, knowledge-sharing, or joint projects. We’re always looking for innovative ways to work together.

Share Your Expertise: Join as a mentor, expert, or researcher to help green enterprises overcome challenges and innovate solutions.

Support Financially: Your donations—tax-deductible via our 501(c)(3) sponsor—help drive meaningful change in climate action, inclusive growth, and community engagement.

Engage Your Network: Amplify our work by sharing Bloom’s mission and connecting us with individuals or organizations passionate about green enterprise growth. You can reach out to us at connect@bloom.pm.

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