Client: USAID South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E) via PA Government Services, Inc..

There are two main objectives of this work: 1) To create on-the-ground knowledge of and familiarity with the S³IDF Social Merchant Bank (SMB) model in all three countries with a focus on influencing select local parties or their affiliates to undertake the next steps towards adopting the SMB Model. 2) To undertake a more extensive reconnaissance study in one of the countries that enables a donor and/or government entity could develop a pilot SMB project. Based on preliminary investigations, the in-depth reconnaissance study will likely occur in Sri Lanka.

Client : USAID South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E) The application of the SMB requires a revolving fund (RF) or analogous mechanism to provide "gap filling" finance (secondary debt, equity and/or loan guarantees) that facilitates commercial banks and others (savings and credit organizations) to provide the primary debt for the targeted pro-poor investments. This project examined the legal and administrative issues and options to run the RF on a commercial basis. Potential for allowing other funders (not just donors) to participate in the RF, and itsapplicability for other renewable energy investments was also explored. The study examined the factors for applying the SMB in various country environments and then focused on the particulars of RF operation issues for Nepal. This work built upon the previous USAID SMB Reconnaissance Study (below). Reports: Nepal S³IDF Social Merchant Bank (SMB) Model: Revolving Fund Concept Note
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Client : USAID South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E) This project examined the potential for transferring and/or applying the S³IDF SMB model to Nepal in the context of an Improved Water Mill Program (IWMP). This program posed an SMB opportunity for leveraging development assistance. The study addressed various questions regarding the implementation of such a project including: "How?" "With whom?" (e.g. local partners and types of public-private partnerships), "What type of initial projects?" and "What is a preliminary plan for an initiative to transfer and/or apply the SMB model and build a pilot portfolio of SMB projects?" Reports: Nepal Social Merchant Bank (SMB) Model Reconnaissance Study
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Client : Global Village Energy Partnership International (Kenya, Uganda) This project was to help GVEP/International plan a major East Africa Energy Access Initiative. S³IDF considered numerous issues with respect to alternative organizational models and local partners including possible financial institution hosts for a revolving fund or analogous structures in Kenya and Uganda.