Team Belgium
Building strong partnerships for impact
While the Belgian State is BIO's sole shareholder, the company recognises its accountability to a broader community. This includes Belgian taxpayers, civil society organisations, and fellow impact investors. BIO actively fosters collaboration with these stakeholders to maximise its impact on development goals.
Synergy within Belgian Development Cooperation
BIO works hand-in-hand with other key players in Belgian development cooperation. This includes the directorate-general for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD), the Belgian development agency Enabel, and civil society organisations.
Concrete examples
- In Senegal, BIO seconded an investment expert to Enabel's agricultural project, supporting the development of an industrial zone (Agropole) in the Sine Saloum region.
- In Côte d'Ivoire, Enabel supports smallholder cocoa farmers who supply BIO's client La Compagnie Cacaoyère du Bandama.
- Additionally, BIO is involved in Enabel's Awa Prize, promoting women entrepreneurs from developing nations.
Expanding the Impact Investing Landscape
BIO is a member of Impact Finance Belgium (IFB), a membership association that aims to increase the share of impact capital in Belgium. IFB unites diverse actors committed to measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial returns.
BIO actively participated in the 2nd edition of the Belgian Impact Day held on November 8th, 2023, at The Square in Brussels.
BIO joined the workshop titled "How to create social impact in the South," with other workshops boasting the presence of prominent figures like Ms Sandrine Dixson-Declève (Co-president of The Club of Rome), Mr Vincent Van Peteghem (Belgian Minister of Finance), and Mr Hans Stegeman (Chief Economist at Triodos Bank).
Beyond the 4 plenary sessions on core impact finance topics, IFB offered 16 focused sessions, diving deep into areas like Technology and Impact Finance (exploring how AI and innovation can amplify impact), Place-Based Finance (financing mechanisms for social and affordable housing), Expanding Investor Range (strategies for including parties beyond private equity), Measuring & Reporting Impact (ensuring transparency and accountability in impact investing), and Global Impact Trends (understanding the drivers of impact finance in neighbouring countries). BIO's participation underscores its commitment to IFB's mission: "Impact Finance Should Become the Norm!"
Building Alliances for Sustainable Change:
- The Shift: BIO is part of The Shift, a multi-sectoral platform connecting companies, NGOs, academic institutions, and other societal actors. This collaboration fosters partnerships for a more sustainable future.
- Global Gateway: BIO actively participates in the Belgian Interdepartmental Consultation Platform on Global Gateway. This platform facilitates collaboration between public and private actors within Belgium and aligns with the European Commission's global development initiative.
Overall, BIO positions itself as a collaborative force within the Belgian development ecosystem. By working alongside diverse stakeholders, BIO amplifies its impact and contributes to a more sustainable and equitable world.
The Ubora Prize, meaning "excellence" in Swahili, aims to promote the development of strong and sustainable businesses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by recognising companies that prioritise environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
The Ubora Prize builds upon a legacy of prior initiatives focused on promoting good corporate governance in the DRC. It is overseen by I&F Entrepreneuriat and Kivu Entrepreneurs, organisations with a proven track record of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
The inaugural Ubora Prize received a strong response, with 478 applications submitted by businesses from Kinshasa, Goma, and Matadi. The jury, comprised of distinguished professionals with expertise in various aspects of business and social responsibility, meticulously evaluated the applications. Ultimately, four outstanding companies were chosen as laureates.
The 2023 winners
-
La Kinoise
Tisya Mukuna was awarded the SME Excellence Prize for the West of the DRC.
La Kinoise is a Kinshasa-based company transforming Congolese coffee using modern roasting techniques. Tisya has also established a unique franchise program, "Un chariot, un boulot" (A cart, a job), that empowers young Congolese through mobile coffee sales.
-
Meyakulisha
Dorcas Sakaneno was awarded the Young Promises Prize for the West of the DRC.
Meyakulisha specialises in offering natural juices made from local Congolese plants. Dorcas, the CEO, is passionate about promoting health and wellness within her community.
-
Kivu Kuku Poultry Farm
Christian Mugisho was awarded the SME Excellence Prize for the East of the DRC.
The leader in the eastern DRC's poultry industry, Kivu Kuku Poultry Farm exemplifies innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. Christian Mugisho, the company's founder, is committed to developing the entire agro-pastoral value chain.
-
Ets KIM's
Yannick Kimanuka was awarded the Young Promises Prize for the East of the DRC.
Yannick launched Unick Parfum, a company creating fragrances using locally sourced natural ingredients. She is dedicated to not only offering high-quality products but also fostering environmental responsibility.
Each year, BIO organises two "BIO Burger Days." This half-day program aims to educate Belgian university and college students about impact investing, a growing field focused on creating positive social and environmental change alongside financial returns.
On the 8th March 2023, BIO welcomed some forty students from ICHEC Brussels Management School, and on 2nd of October another forty from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
The program offers students a chance to learn from experts. BIO itself provides an introduction to impact investing, while guest speakers from the private sector, civil society, and diaspora associations share their experiences of doing business in developing countries.
The Burger Days are a valuable opportunity for students to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of impact investing and its role in sustainable development.
- Learn about the challenges and opportunities of doing business in developing nations.
- Hear first-hand from entrepreneurs making a positive impact in the African diaspora.
This initiative highlights BIO's commitment to fostering the next generation of responsible investors and promoting positive change in the developing world.
Record-breaking participation and inspiring winners
- 1,647 women from 18 Belgian development cooperation partner countries entered the competition.
- Twelve winners were selected across four categories: Start-up, Scale-up, Innovation, and People's Choice Award.
By supporting women entrepreneurs, the Awa Prize recognises their crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Women reinvest over 90% of their income back into their families and communities, creating a ripple effect of positive change.
Winners of the AWA prize 2023
-
Ilewa
Adétola Danielle Adanlawo from Benin wins first prize in the Start-up category. She is the founder and director of Ilewa, which manufactures and distributes washable and reusable baby nappies made from banana fibres.
With her company, born of personal experience, Adétola aims at waste reduction (351,000 tonnes of waste per year worldwide) and offers a sustainable, economical and allergen-free alternative.
As well as selling products, Adétola organises campaigns to raise awareness about environmental protection and the importance of menstrual hygiene.
-
Bilinda
Mariama Diallo of Guinea wins the first price in the scale-up category. With Bilinda SARL, the company she founded and runs, she offers environmentally-friendly cleaning products and a professional cleaning service.
With over 28 employees, the company provides decent jobs and ongoing training. In the aftermath of the Covid 19 pandemic Bilinda SARL began marketing cleaning products, responding both to the need for cleaning solutions and to the lack of environmentally friendly products on the market.
-
Ecoplast Innov
Edith Kouassi of Côte d’Ivoire wins first prize in the innovation category. She founded Ecoplast Innov with the aim of taking action for the environment by recycling waste that all too often ends up in the environment: plastic and tyres.
The company collects waste and transforms it into a range of clean surfacing products: paving slabs and decorative wall plaques, playing field coverings and so on.
This led to more than 130 tonnes of tyres and 360 tonnes of plastic waste reused since the company was created.
-
Ikaze Ventures
Dative Uwimana of Burundi wins the People’s Choice Award. She founded Ikaze Ventures and offers tourists from all over the world the chance to discover the still little-known wonders of Burundi.
The company made an impact at several levels. For example, part of the profits from the tourist tours is donated to environmental conservation, waste collection and tree-planting activities are organised and capacity-building is offered to local communities.
