Facilitating sustainable growth in the places that need it most
Growth Continent Infrastructure Foundation
GCIF is guided by the belief that the goal of development aid is to help its recipients become independent of it. If aid is successful, it will make itself obsolete. GCIF provides this opportunity.
About Us
Growth Continent Infrastructure Foundation (GCIF) is a Registered Charity in the United Kingdom [equivalent to 501(c) 3 status in the United States]. GCIF partners with entrepreneurs and non-for-profits to develop the physical and social infrastructure to support sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa. GCIF supports organizations by providing consulting and fundraising support on projects in renewable energy, electricity storage, water, education, workforce training, gender equality and healthcare.
Approach
GCIF is unique. We combine investments in foundational infrastructure with relevant education and local participation to create jobs and facilitate long-term stability and prosperity. Our approach provides nonprofit organizations the opportunity to support some of Africa's most innovative entrepreneurs within the sustainable development space. We also provide investors with bankable investment opportunities linked to training and education for local communities.
The Communities We Serve
We build relationships with local leaders, community members and institutions, and include public consultations and survey data to ensure local needs and concerns are fully recognized and addressed. We also integrate the international donors and investors into the community engagement process, to ensure that the training provided is relevant and impactful for the communities in which we work in both the short- and long-term.
The GCIF team has supported 6 projects, training 90 individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing clean drinking water to in excess of 400 people and solar electricity to a remote village, providing power to over 90 homes. GCIF will continue to fill the funding gap by collaborating with regional social impact organizations to achieve funding, develop strategy, undertake feasibility studies and bring projects to fruition. GCIF will also continue to introduce investors and charitable foundations to entrepreneurs and self-sustaining business opportunities that augment and fortify the physical and social infrastructure in the region.
GCIF Team
GCIF's team enjoys a combined 60 years of experience in infrastructure investment, law, renewable energy, development aid and fundraising, with about half of this track-record being Africa-focused. GCIF seeks to leverage this experience and our flexible, nuanced approach to reimagine development aid, and invest in infrastructure for growth.
Partners
Charity Commission for England and Wales
GCIF is supported by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, a non-ministerial government department in the United Kingdom that registers, regulates and provides advisory support to charities regionally.
Liquidstar
Liquidstar is a for-profit social enterprise with pilot projects in Benin and Nigeria. Liquidstar builds and operates charging stations of the future, which consist of small scale solar PV on top of or near shipping containers that function as battery chargin stations. Batteries are charged and picked up for in home use and by electric bike drivers.
Africa Power
Africa Power is a commercial energy solutions provider that provides services and solutions to meet the full range of electrification needs in rural (off-grid) communities in Africa.
Associated Country Women of the World
ACWW is an international nongovernmental organisation (NGO) and pursues its charitable objectives through its member societies, individual members and networks of non-member NGOs. Together, the organisation represents more than 9 million women 80-plus countries. GCIF is a proud ACWW-member.
Get in Touch
We’re happy to hear from you. Contact us today to learn more about GCIF and the entrepreneurs, businesses and communities we serve.