The African Guarantee and Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) has launched a call for expressions of interest seeking specialized firms in financial engineering and project structuring, as part of its mission to support the economic and social development of its member states.
The fund is actively seeking qualified partners with expertise in several key areas, including financial engineering and structuring of financing, the development of bankable business plans, feasibility studies (technical, economic and environmental), and advisory services related to Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and fundraising.
FAGACE, headquartered in Cotonou, Benin, plays a crucial role in mobilizing financing for development projects across its 14 member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, and Togo. Established over four decades ago, the institution has mobilized more than 2,500 billion CFA francs towards economic integration within the region.
The initiative underscores FAGACE’s commitment to bolstering access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) – a critical engine for growth in African economies. According to the fund, it aims to facilitate the financing and implementation of development projects through loan guarantees.
Successful firms selected through this process will be integrated into FAGACE’s official database and may be solicited for strategic missions throughout Africa. Collaboration will be formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The deadline for submissions is , at 17:00 hours (Cotonou time). Interested firms are required to submit a single PDF document to offres@fagace.org.
This call for expressions of interest comes as guarantee funds across Africa are increasingly recognized for their pivotal role in unlocking investment and driving economic transformation. A recent report highlighted that Africa’s top five guarantee funds have collectively unlocked over $6 billion in investments to empower SMEs. The African Guarantee Fund (AGF), for example, has mobilized over $2 billion in guarantees since its inception in 2011, supporting more than $800 million in credit guarantees in 2024 alone.
FAGACE’s activities align with a broader trend of strengthening financial ecosystems in Africa. In early 2025, FAGACE launched a new Youth & Tech Startups Guarantee Programme, allocating an initial $60 million to support digital entrepreneurs across Senegal, Togo, and Guinea, demonstrating a focus on innovation and future-oriented economic development.
The fund’s commitment extends beyond financial guarantees. FAGACE actively participates in regional and international forums, including seminars co-organized with the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (BID), and events focused on agribusiness and industrial development. It also supports initiatives aimed at promoting African soccer through financing guarantees.
The selection process will prioritize firms demonstrating relevant skills, experience, and adequate human and material resources. Applicants must provide a letter of expression of interest outlining their areas of expertise, a detailed company presentation, recent technical references (certificates of successful completion of similar contracts from 2022-2023), a certificate of non-bankruptcy dated less than three months prior to submission, and an original certificate from the National Social Security Fund proving up-to-date payments.
FAGACE’s efforts are particularly significant given the challenges faced by SMEs in accessing finance across the continent. Guarantee funds play a vital role in mitigating risk for lenders, thereby encouraging them to extend credit to businesses that might otherwise be considered too risky. This, in turn, fosters economic growth, job creation, and increased financial inclusion.
The fund’s governing bodies recently renewed the term of office of its General Manager, signaling confidence in the institution’s direction and its continued contribution to development financing and economic integration in Africa. FAGACE aims to be a “modern institution” contributing to development financing and economic and financial integration in Africa, according to its stated ambitions.
