International Development Grant

Investing in Inclusive Infrastructure

Project Number: CA-3-P008544001

Status: Operational

Country/Region:

India 10.00%
Pakistan 10.00%
Cambodia 10.00%
Togolese Republic 8.00%
Côte d'Ivoire 8.00%
Vietnam 10.00%
Cameroon 8.00%
Kenya 8.00%
Bangladesh 10.00%

Regional Focus:

Africa 8%
Asia 10%

Maximum Contribution: $40,000,000.00

Start Date: March 30, 2021

End Date: December 11, 2036

Duration: 15.7 years

Project Description

This project aims to enhance provision of affordable and sustainable infrastructure services in low-income countries and fragile states to combat poverty and help economies grow. GuarantCo part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) addresses the shortage of long-term patient funding and the lack of local currency infrastructure financing and local capital market development in Africa and Asia. Project activities include: (1) providing expertise and financial services to structure contingent credit solutions especially guarantees; (2) strengthening gender equality inclusivity and development impact considerations in project design and (3) enhancing the capacity of local financial stakeholders investors and project companies to make investment ready projects. Infrastructure projects often face high perceived or real risks or market constraints including potential losses from borrowing in foreign currencies making it challenging to obtain sufficient long-term debt finance. GuarantCo seeks to bridge the gap between a project’s financial requirements and the financial terms available from the market by using structured guarantees to help transfer risk and use long-term patient funding. Its activities mobilize additional investment in low-income countries and fragile states towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased and / or lower-cost capital flows to infrastructure including local capital as a result of more developed local capital markets; (2) enhanced scale replicability affordability and transformation of inclusive infrastructure projects that support the Sustainable Development Goals in frontier markets; and (3) enhanced gender equality outcomes and improved development and gender lens for infrastructure investment.

Progress & Results Achieved

Since 2017 GuarantCo has provided improved access to infrastructure for over 7 million people in lower income countries across Africa and Asia including more affordable and sustainable energy housing digital communications and transportation - 75% of GuarantCo’s current project portfolio is in local currency. These local currency credit solutions have contributed to the creation of more than 17 thousand short and long term jobs for local residents. For instance in 2022 GuarantCo provided Bangladesh’s PRAN Agro with a bond guarantee to attract domestic institutional capital and support expansion plans including land development construction storage facilities and processing machinery. The expansion is expected to result in over 20 percent increased sourcing from local farmers contributing to rural income and food security. The investment into PRAN Agro has also provided much needed job security. The company currently employs 11 000 employees 67 percent of which are women.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
GuarantCo Ltd.

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Low-cost housing 10%
National road maintenance 10%
Rail transport 10%
Telecommunications 10%
Energy generation renewable sources - multiple technologies 10%
Solar energy for isolated grids and standalone systems 10%
Electric mobility infrastructures 10%
Formal sector financial intermediaries 10%
Responsible Business Conduct 10%
Agro-industries 10%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Reimbursable grant

Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Level 2 Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting)
Level 1 Climate change mitigation
Level 1 Climate Change Adaptation
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2020-04-01 to 2021-03-31 $40,000,000 CAD
Geographic Information
000
Project Number: CA-3-P008544001