<h1 style="text-align:center;">Press Release: RENEW to Enter Uganda Market</h1><a href="https://latest-api.renewcapital.com/uploads/RENEW_Press_Release_Uganda_FINAL_1d1427f9c5.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Download the Full Press Release.</a>Kampala, Uganda, September 6, 2018—RENEW, a private equity impact investing firm, announces its expansion into its second African country, Uganda. The partners of RENEW recently travelled to Kampala, Uganda to hold preliminary meetings with promising companies, explore potential office sites, and interview applicants for RENEW’s first full-time position in country. RENEW’s local entity, RENEW Investments Uganda LTD, is officially registered with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and has hired its first employee.Members of the RENEW team first traveled to Uganda in 2006 and have been observing the country ever since. Despite challenges, the country has experienced significant growth with a GDP of $88.61 billion (2017 est.). Several factors make it an attractive destination for RENEW and the Impact Angel Network, including a growing population (currently estimated at 40 million), a rising middle class with a per capital GDP of $2,400, a government oriented towards private sector growth and a legal system mainly based in English common law.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/uagnda_fotor_afaaa4a6de.jpg"></figure>“Uganda has performed very well over the past ten years. The country also has a special place in RENEW’s history, as it was the first country I visited on the continent and learned about the immense opportunity in Sub-Saharan Africa’s private sector. We are excited that RENEW and the Impact Angel Network (IAN) are expanding from Ethiopia, where we have become the most active investment firm, into Uganda; a country rich with culture and opportunity,” RENEW’s CEO Matthew Davis recently commented.RENEW has brought on Mary Adoi, as Legal Counsel. Mary comes to RENEW from Barry Investments Ltd, a commodity trading company operating in Northern Uganda, where she offered legal advisory services to the firm. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree from Makerere University Kampala and a post-graduate diploma from the Law Development Centre.RENEW has been a presence in Ethiopia since 2012 and, with the IAN, has become one of the most active private equity investors in the country and plans to bring this full model to Uganda. RENEW is an impact investment firm that has designed an innovative financing model to address the missing middle that exists in the capital markets across many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The missing middle is a gap in the capital markets that exists between micro-finance and larger equity funds and bank financing. The missing middle limits the development of the private sector, specifically for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). RENEW's model fills this gap by investing capital alongside the IAN, a global network of impact investors. RENEW established the IAN in 2012, and it has now grown to become the largest angel network in North America dedicated to investing in SMEs in Africa. RENEW and the IAN partner with the development community to build vibrant angel investment ecosystems that provide risk capital for SMEs, unlocking their potential for job creation and financial returns.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/uagnda2_c366fc7bb2.jpg"></figure>###&nbsp;To find out more about RENEW, please visit <a href="../../index.html">www.renewcapital.com</a>. RENEW manages the Impact Angel Network (IAN) and provides professional management and consulting services to portfolio companies. The IAN is one of the most active private equity investors in Ethiopia.

RENEW Expands to Second Country in Africa.

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Press Release: RENEW to Enter Uganda Market

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Discovering a New Home with RENEW</h1>The first time I googled RENEW, I was captured by a statement in their philosophy which stated, “we focus on investing rather than providing handouts”. As soon as I read that, I knew this was a company that wanted to change the economic and social landscape of Sub-Saharan Africa, and I had to be a part of it.My legal background in project finance helped me to appreciate the importance of having a grounded plan that inspired entrepreneurs, lenders and investors to believe in that same idea. The use of cash flow-based lending to finance a project or business is something that has always fascinated me, but it also made me question why it was only the large million-dollar business plans that were being supported. I found myself asking who takes care of the small and medium businesses? Looking around, the majority of the large projects that I was working on were either foreign or government-owned. Again, it made me wonder, who took care of the average Ugandan trying to make a direct and immediate impact in the lives of those around them?<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/teamphoto_0_064b605c18.jpg"></figure>After an attempt to try and help the very small shops in my community by lending based on “future cash flows”, I stumbled on the job advertisement for a Legal Counsel at RENEW. Impact investing in SME’s was exactly what I had been thinking about and trying to accomplish. I didn’t know it then, but with every scroll, I saw my ideas lining up with RENEW and I was excited to know more.During the interview process, the individual who interviewed me, also had a background in project finance. I clearly knew then that great minds gravitate towards the same goals at RENEW. When I spoke with one of the partners, Mathew Davis, I found out he had watched “The Office” and he understood my references to Michael Scott - I was sold.As I was still trying to wrap my mind around getting this job, I was asked to go meet the team in Ethiopia! Once I got there, I felt at home…literally. Everyone was very warm and caring and made sure the onboarding process was seamless. There was a lot to learn from the investment team at The Exchange. I came back to <a href="press-release-renew-enter-uganda-market.html">Uganda</a> excited to emulate what I had learned from everyone in Ethiopia.This company made me feel at home, and I’m excited to make Uganda a new home for the RENEW family.

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Discovering a New Home with RENEW

<h1 style="text-align:center;">An Angel Investor's Tour to Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda</h1>At the end of January, a longtime member and IAN investor, Dr. Andrew Umhau, joined Matt, Laura and Brooklyn on a regional trip across East Africa to see how the Ethiopia <a href="../../marketplace/portfolio.html">portfolio</a> was doing, meet new companies in Ethiopia and Uganda, and explore Rwanda. It was Dr. Umhau’s first trip back to Addis in over 7 years and a lot has changed since he last visited, including the amount of growth the country has undergone.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="/uploads/img_5912_2_2673dc655f.jpg"></figure>Over the course of the week with RENEW, Andrew was able to visit over 20 different businesses. This included a number of site visits, as well as meetings with partners and entrepreneurs. It was a unique opportunity for him to see some of the businesses his family had invested in, as well as other companies in the RENEW portfolio and in the current pipeline. Visiting RENEW in-country is always a valuable trip and provides a first-hand experience seeing the companies that are discussed on our Monthly Members’ Calls.After a few days in Addis, Andrew and the RENEW partners took off for Kampala, Uganda. Joined by our team member in-country, Mary Adoi, the group had the opportunity to visit with 16 different businesses currently interested in receiving financing. The entrepreneurs in Uganda were eager and excited for the prospect of working with RENEW.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:100%;"><img src="/uploads/img_6039_2_20d69849ab.jpg"></figure>The last leg of the journey was a stop in Rwanda: an exciting, young country vibrant with businesses. The team agreed there was a lot of growth potential in the country, and were excited by the people and the city of Kigali.Overall, Dr. Umhau experienced first-hand how RENEW works in-country. He had the chance to meet our team on the ground as well as a number of businesses, and he was able to witness some of the training and vibrant community that has been built at the Exchange.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/img_6140_3d45539148.jpg"></figure>

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An Angel Investor's Tour to Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Econ-Tourism Trips: Where Indiana Jones Meets Warren Buffett</h1>Over the years, I have hosted hundreds of investors in Ethiopia. One would think it could get monotonous, but it never does. More and more, high-net-worth individuals and families are signing up to become impact investors and choosing this as a more sustainable strategy for creating impact in Africa over more traditional charity models. Our role is to help them make good decisions and to oversee their investments on the ground. Our strategy is to find, vet and present the best small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa to our growing network of global change agents, called the Impact Angel Network (IAN). Each investor has a fascinating "journey of impact" that brings them to consider the idea of investing in Africa's future. It's amazing to hear their personal stories as we walk through factories, hear pitches from women-led companies, sit with employees of companies our investors have backed, and drive around the bustling cities of Addis and Kampala.Many trip participants have "aha" moments during these visits and take another step forward in developing a new framework around Africa's economic potential for financial returns and social impact. For me, each trip we host and every story I hear brings me back to the moment I realized the future we must be part of on the continent of Africa is building the private sector. Having investors in town also provides a concentrated time for me to have my own "aha" moments over and over again. The private sector needs to keep pace with the millions of youth that are entering the workforce each year. In Sub-Saharan Africa, more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25, and around 15 to 20 million well-educated young people are expected to join the workforce every year for the next three decades (World Economic Forum, 2017). The private sector needs to grow, and grow fast, and everyone needs to take part in making this happen or all of our efforts will be swept away with rising unemployment rates. But to watch hundreds of workers making things like yogurt, bread, shoelaces, toothpicks, tee-shirts, juice...I have hope. One business at a time, we can create thousands of jobs and a thriving economy.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/img_e6341_animation_9d2836eddf.gif"></figure>And there is an exciting upside to this story. By 2025, it is projected that almost two-thirds of the 303 million households in Africa will have discretionary income, an addition of almost 90 million consumers in a decade. This growth is expected to push Africa’s GDP growth from 4.9% to 6.2% in the next 10 years, outpacing the global GDP rate of 3.7% (McKinsey, 2015). Smart investors are seeing the "Made in Africa" brand as the next big thing. Indigenous companies, industrious entrepreneurs, creating products with features that appeal to their domestic markets at a price-point that works with the economy; that's a great opportunity. This both gives me hope and gets me excited as an impact investor.As I walk around the companies we have invested in - I am proud to say I have backed ten companies here in Ethiopia - it's with great pride that I observe the women our companies are employing and know that each one likely supports multiple people in her household and that their living conditions are improving. She's hopefully having better access to clean water, healthcare and education because she has a job.We recently had several members of the Impact Angel Network in Addis Ababa and the time was full of good conversations and observations. During the Econ-Tourism Trip, we saw 4 portfolio and 9 pipeline companies. My partner and husband, Matthew Davis, then took several of them on to Uganda where they spent a day meeting several more companies we are considering for investment.Africa's private sector is the future. We all need to get behind it and play a role in supporting local companies grow into big ones and create millions of jobs to absorb the youth that will be entering the workforce. I encourage you all to come see what is happening here in Africa. Think different. See the future. Grow a company, build a nation and leave a legacy. This is the mission statement of the Impact Angel Network. If you are on a journey to witness firsthand and potentially invest in Africa's economic potential, we invite you to join us in Ethiopia for the next Econ-Tourism Trip October 27 - November 2, 2019.****Please note: Specific investment opportunities are made available only to “accredited investors” after completing the Impact Angel Network registration and onboarding process and following a waiting period.<hr>Sources:World Economic Forum (May 2017). The Future of Jobs and Skills in Africa. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_EGW_FOJ_Africa.pdf">http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_EGW_FOJ_Africa.pdf</a>McKinsey &amp; Company (July 2015). Winning in Africa’s Consumer Market. Retrieved from: <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/winning-in-africas-consumer-market">https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/winning-in-africas-consumer-market</a>

Join us for our next Econ-Tourism Trip from October 27 - November 2, 2019.

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Econ-Tourism Trips: Where Indiana Jones Meets Warren Buffett

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Press Release: RENEW &amp; the IAN Close Investment in Diaper Company</h1><a href="https://latest-api.renewcapital.com/uploads/Press_Release_Kijani_FINAL_457b9dc5ff.pdf">Download the Full Press Release.</a>Denver C.O. and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 17, 2019 -- RENEW’s <a href="https://www.renewcapital.com/what-we-do/investing">Impact Angel Network</a> (IAN) has made their first investment in Uganda from their recently capitalized women-focused investment fund. The fund was set up to invest in female entrepreneurs in Ethiopia and Uganda, and the first company to receive an investment is Kijani Baby (<a href="https://www.kijanionline.com/">Kijani</a>).Kijani is a cloth diaper company founded and led by Valerie Muigai and her husband, Mugai Ndoka. Ms. Muigai launched Kijani in 2013. After buying cloth diapers for her first child, Ms. Muigai learned how to make her own diapers for their second child. When the couple moved to Uganda, Ms. Muigui brought the extra diaper fabric and began making diapers for friends as baby gifts, at which point she realized there were no modern cloth diapers available in the Ugandan market. The couple saw an opportunity and established Kijani Baby.Kijani is Swahili for green, and was chosen to reflect the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Kijani’s vision is to provide a high-quality, affordable, environmentally-friendly alternative to disposable diapers and to provide positive employment opportunities for Ugandan women. The company aims to create well-paid jobs and a good work environment for its employees.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/kijani_collage_b3cf8f84d7.jpg"><figcaption>Image Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kijaniuganda/">Kijani Baby - Uganda/ East Africa Facebook Page</a></figcaption></figure>“We at Kijani are very excited to begin this partnership with RENEW,” said Valerie Muigui. “This investment will be instrumental to scale our production and improve our systems, so we can grow and make washable diapers affordable and accessible for more families in East Africa.”“As an entrepreneur myself and a mother of an infant daughter, I really respect Valerie and what she has built at Kijani Baby,” said Laura Davis, partner at RENEW. “We are excited to partner with Kijani to help the company expand in East Africa, and I will continue to use the company’s high-quality products to diaper our little one.”RENEW and the IAN committed capital to a fund dedicated to investing in women-owned and led companies in Ethiopia and Uganda. The fund is considering investments in other female entrepreneurs, pending completion of due diligence. The fund was designed by RENEW and the IAN to address social and financial barriers holding back female entrepreneurs in Africa. The fund, which supports the <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300">Sustainable Development Goals</a> (SDGs) and will support job creation for women and youth and empower women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia and Uganda, was made possible by RENEW’s partnership with Global Affairs Canada under the Accelerating Business Growth (ABG) project.<a href="https://latest-api.renewcapital.com/uploads/Press_Release_Kijani_FINAL_457b9dc5ff.pdf">Click here for the full Press Release</a>About the Impact Angel Network and RENEWThe IAN is one of the most active private equity investors in Ethiopia. Its members seek to achieve both significant positive social impact and financial returns through investments in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, a proven engine of economic growth and job creation which often lack capital due to their size. RENEW and IAN members believe that targeting employment through SMEs is, dollar-for-dollar, is the most effective and sustainable way to reduce poverty.RENEW, with its largest office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, manages the IAN’s investment operations and provides investment advisory and consulting services in support of its investments. RENEW’s work in Ethiopia was piloted with USAID and is currently undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada. The project, Accelerating Business Growth, aims at sustainable job creation for low-skilled workers, including women and young adults, through a dynamic and growing small and medium business sector in Ethiopia.&nbsp;###&nbsp;To find out more, please visit <a href="../../index.html">www.renewcapital.com</a>.

Part of RENEW’s women-focused fund and the first investment in Uganda.

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Press Release: RENEW & the IAN Close Investment in Diaper Company

<h1 style="text-align:center;">A Look at RENEW’s Portfolio</h1>Ever wanted to meet the faces behind RENEW’s portfolio companies? Take a few minutes and watch our video featuring a sampling of RENEW’s entrepreneurs and their companies and hear about the impact being created post-investment. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlNi1MWQvk0">Link to Youtube Video</a>.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/youtube_1_7c58987301.png"></figure>As of December 31, 2018, the Impact Angel Network portfolio is made up of ten incredible companies in East Africa. The portfolio has created 1,452 jobs, and supported more than 5,700 smallholder farmers. Be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.renewcapital.com/portfolio">portfolio page</a> for a snapshot of all our companies.Be sure to also check out RENEW’s <a href="https://latest-api.renewcapital.com/uploads/RENE_Ws_2019_2020_Impact_Report_7f2975da8d.pdf">Annual Impact Report</a>, “A Journey of Impact”, which gives an overview of the impact of our entire portfolio, as well as a deep dive into one company, Desta PLC, a garments manufacturing facility. This edition explores various aspects of the impact of the company from the perspective of several stakeholders. Everyone’s story is different, but each individual plays a key role in the growth and impact of this company that is a leader in the fast-growing textile industry in Ethiopia.

A short clip featuring a sampling of RENEW’s portfolio.

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A Look at RENEW’s Portfolio

<h1 style="text-align:center;">COVID-19, Bright Spots in RENEW’s Portfolio</h1>We hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe in these turbulent times. Here in Ethiopia, as of noon on April 7, 2020, there have been 42 cases of COVID-19 and 2 deaths. Nearby, Uganda is reporting 52 cases with 0 deaths. Some have questioned these numbers, but my opinion is that the governments of Ethiopia and Uganda are doing remarkably well in responding to the pandemic with limited resources.Matthew, Brooklyn, our 18-month-old daughter, and I remain in Ethiopia, where we plan to stay for the foreseeable future to continue our work supporting our portfolio and helping East Africa’s private sector weather this storm and recover fast. Here in Addis, our office remains open until the government tells us to shut down or until our team votes to close. We are implementing strict COVID-19 protocols and have moved all in-person meetings to phone and internet meetings. We have also been active with sharing best practices with our pipeline and portfolio companies and have also gone steps beyond that to equip our neighbors with tools and equipment to help curb the spread of COVID-19. In North America, Uganda and abroad, our team is working virtually as most normally do, so the impact on our day to day work culture has been minimal.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/tebita_69e17dd0d2.png"></figure>We have been able to continue supporting our portfolio companies and encouraging our team and our companies to use this crisis as an opportunity to get creative. We believe local companies in Africa may be hit harder by local and global instability than companies in developed countries. Supply chains and financing mechanisms are disrupted, and in some cases, entire markets have dried up. We are determined to play our part in not letting the economy lose a decade of progress.We are working on response efforts on many fronts, including running virtual training sessions with companies, acting as extra hands for management, lining up resources to address operational disruptions, leading major marketing initiatives, and helping restructure their financing to free up cash so they can weather (even thrive) during these uncertain times. This week we are running a session on contingency planning (both for COVID and the upcoming election). Let us know if you are interested in receiving a syllabus of the training, entitled “Contingency Planning: What is Your Plan B?” by emailing <a href="mailto:renew@renestrategies.com">renew@renestrategies.com</a>.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/da_0_4a0c7e8bd9.png"></figure>Here are some bright spots that are happening with our portfolio companies that go beyond their core business to help their customers during this unprecedented time:<ul><li>EAES | Tebita - Our team has launched a program that will allow U.S. Ethiopian Diaspora to pay for 24-hour peace of mind emergency response services for their loved ones via Tebita Ambulance and East Africa Emergency Services. The service includes on-demand ambulance services, home health check-ins (contactless unless otherwise dictated) and critical food delivery services for those who need to stay home because of old age or compromised immune systems. Visit <a href="https://www.eastafricaems.com/peace-of-mind-services">https://www.eastafricaems.com/peace-of-mind-services</a><a href="https://www.tebitambulance.com/"> </a>to learn more or subscribe.</li><li>RoadRunner | Deliver Addis - The company is working hard to respond to the surge in demand, and the RENEW team is assisting with marketing, relationships, etc. to increase their capacity. You can even get a reusable cloth mask as part of the company's grocery marketplace! We hope this helps consumers get access to critical food and also minimizes the risks of the virus spreading. If you are in Addis, visit <a href="https://deliveraddis.com/">https://deliveraddis.com/</a> to order food, groceries, alcohol or flowers for delivery!</li><li>dVentus - We are working with the engineers from dVentus to explore developing a ventilator prototype for Ethiopia. They have a design with locally available products and now we need to prototype and test it. We hope we don’t need it.</li><li>Kijani Baby - The need for reusable diapers is greater than ever. <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-coronavirus-changes-shopping-nappy-lady-races-to-meet-cloth-diaper-demand-11585906201?mod=hp_lead_pos12">Read more in WSJ</a>. We are working to help the Kijani team contact new buyers, shore up their supply chain and figure out how to legally operate under Uganda’s strict COVID-19 stay at home orders.</li></ul>Looking to the future, the need for capital to help local SMEs restart operations after a global/local shutdown and rehire employees will be critical for the country's stability/future. Our company, <a href="https://www.renewcapital.com/resources/blogs/Following%20Along%20with%20Travel%20Ethiopia">Travel Ethiopia</a>, is among those that are hard hit, and we are working with the company’s founder, Samrawit Moges, to shore up resources, adapt and weather the storm. Read <a href="https://cepheuscapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Macroeconomic-Impacts-of-the-Corona-Virus-A-Preliminary-Assessment-for-Ethiopia-r1.pdf">Cepheus’ initial analysis of sectors that will be impacted</a>. As we always do, we are exploring various innovative sources of capital to help meet the needs. If you have any questions or ideas, please let us know. Also, if you would like to arrange a "virtual coffee", we'd love to catch up.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/dventus_1_81897a3d1a.png"></figure>&nbsp;

Supporting business in Africa is more important than ever

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COVID-19, Bright Spots in RENEW’s Portfolio

<h1 style="text-align:center;">COVID-19 Q&amp;A - Operating Your Business in Uganda</h1>Uganda has taken one of the strictest stances on the African continent in efforts to prevent <a href="http://statehouse.go.ug/sites/default/files/files/presidential-statements/address-corona-virus-4-may-2020-converted.pdf">COVID-19</a> from spreading in the country. On May 4, 2020, the President of Uganda provided an updated statement on matters regarding COVID-19. According to the statement, a few essential industries and businesses are now allowed to operate. These include (i) agricultural farming; (ii) food markets; (iii) factories; (iv) wholesalers to supply to factories; (v) hardware shops to sell factory goods and supply construction sites; (vi) repair workshops (garages) to operate on the cargo trucks; (vii) metal and wood workshops; (viii) insurance providers; (ix) select lawyers; (x) restaurants; and (xi) warehouses.Now that many businesses have been allowed to re-open, there are a few things you need to know.How can my staff get to work?With public and private transport still restricted in Uganda, employers are asked to shuttle their staff to work or encourage their staff to either cycle or walk to work.What protective equipment should I provide my employees?It is mandatory for all persons to wear face masks in public, therefore employees should ensure that their workers have the required protective gear.My business interfaces with the public. What do I need to know?If you have a business that’s open to the public, please ensure that your staff can safely remain 2 meters away from your customers. All customers who enter your facility must wear a mask. Please ensure that your customers have space and abide by the rule of remaining 4 meters apart from each other. Further, there is a concern that forced air will cause the virus to spread so shops should not operate air conditioning. For restaurants, only takeaway services can be provided at this time.<figure class="image"><img src="/uploads/uganda_0_e5713c583b.png"><figcaption>Image Source: Wild Uganda Blog: <a href="http://www.wildugandablog.com/things-to-do-in-kampala/">10 Things to do in Kampala</a></figcaption></figure>What should I do if an employee is suspected of having COVID-19?As an employer, under the <a href="https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/statutory-instrument/2020/52">Public Health (Control of COVID- 19) Rule2 2020</a>, you have a duty to notify a medical officer or medical practitioner if you believe one of your employees has COVID-19. Please call the Ministry of Health toll-free line on 919/ 0800 1000661/ 0800 203033, if you believe one of your employees should be checked.If COVID-19 is confirmed, you can expect a site visit from a medical officer. They will assess the situation and may: (i) order all persons who have been in contact with the COVID-19 patient to remain at the premises; (ii) cause the staff who were in contact with the COVID-19 patient to be removed to a regional referral hospital or another suitable place for quarantine. Please note that the health inspector must have written instructions from a medical officer to conduct a search or inquiry.I have to import/export or export goods and supplies to run my business. What do I need to know?<a href="https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/statutory-instrument/2020/53">Public health (Prohibition of Entry into Uganda) Order, 2020</a>. Businesses are allowed to import and export cargo only, through the different border posts in Uganda via vehicle, air or water transport. Only the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations are able to bring people or animals into Uganda at this time.<a href="https://ulii.org/ug/legislation/statutory-instrument/2020/46">Public Health (Prevention of COVID-19) (Requirements and Conditions of Entry into Uganda) Order, 2020</a>. At the border, all persons and cargo/vehicles/aircraft or vessels will be subjected to an examination conducted by the government medical officers of health. The medical officers of health have the power to isolate or quarantine the personnel, e.g. truck drivers, cargo crew. Upon examination, such personnel may be quarantined at a designated place or placed under observation for 14 days or more, while other personnel may be advised on the measures to take to avoid being infected with COVID-19. These interventions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 may result in delays for logistics; therefore, businesses should plan for this potential risk.

Understanding the UG Government COVID-19 Regulations & What They Mean for Your Business

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COVID-19 Q&A - Operating Your Business in Uganda

<h1 style="text-align:center;">Short Stories of African Businesses who Persevered Through 2020</h1>2020 was a challenging year for businesses all around the world. But in Africa, where the government safety net is extremely fragile and companies are already faced with insurmountable challenges like frequent power outages, months of waiting for critical imports, broken supply chains, internet outages and political instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought much of the world to its knees, could have been the straw that broke Africa’s private sector’s back...but it didn’t.Below are some short stories on how some of RENEW’s portfolio companies [1] weathered the storm.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:96.37%;"><img src="/uploads/newyear3_4ca5e2398a.jpg"></figure><ul><li>Desta - Western markets all but shut down in 2020; very few people ventured to malls to shop for the season’s new line of clothes which had a ripple effect around the world and especially on the textile supply chain. In countries like Ethiopia, which are desperately trying to develop a textile industry, the ripple effect was felt hard. Desta, which the IAN made an investment into in 2015, was no exception to this. In addition to orders being delayed, they also had to protect over 1,300 workers and educated and safeguarded the local community where they worked to ensure COVID did not spread. Not only did the company adopt safety measures for their staff, but they also produced and distributed face masks to organizations that serve their community and donated more than 5,000 face masks to the community at large. Desta’s management used a slow few months to invest in more infrastructure, which paid off when the West began to reopen and supply chains restarted. They hired and trained 470 new employees at their Butajira factory and have become one of the largest employers in that region. You can read more about their recent expansion in their blog post.</li><li>dVentus - In collaboration with RENEW, engineers from dVentus developed a ventilator prototype based on locally sourced materials in Ethiopia. Although the machine wasn’t needed due to a surprisingly low number of hospitalizations in Africa from COVID, the team demonstrated how adaptable and creative the private sector can be when the need presents itself.</li><li>Kijani Baby - This year, despite the harsh lockdown measures undertaken by the Ugandan government, Kijani Baby, our reusable cloth diaper company, was able to develop new products such as training pants for toddlers and quick-dry swimming diapers. They also started selling their products in Kenya and continued to focus on the U.S. and U.K. markets.</li><li>METAD - The coffee company opened their new state-of-the-art coffee processing facility in February 2020, employing 52 permanent employees and 225 temporary and contract workers. The METAD team had a record-breaking volume from their 6,800+ out-growers, which was about 3x what they've been processing for the last six years. METAD continues to develop projects with leaders and elders in order to continually give back to their local community. Read more about the new factory <a href="https://www.facebook.com/692180905/posts/10157519683085906/">here</a>.</li><li>Roadrunner | Deliver Addis - Ethiopia’s premier online food delivery company had a banner year. Thanks to the creativity, skill and speed of Feleg Tsegaye and the Deliver Addis team, the company quickly scaled up services, expanded their online store to include groceries and other consumer products, weathered an internet blackout for an entire month, and still came out hitting daily records for deliveries. The IAN saw the growing demand for e-commerce in Ethiopia sparked by COVID and made two investments to help the company scale up.</li><li>Queen of Sheba | Travel Ethiopia - The tourism industry was hit hard by COVID-19, but Travel Ethiopia wasted little time to pivot and repurpose their vehicles to support government and other private sector clients. As part of those measures, Travel Ethiopia secured a contract with the FDRE Ministry of Health to rent four of its idle vehicles to the Ministry in its effort to fight COVID-19.</li></ul>We are proud that as of June 30, 2020, through the investments made by the Impact Angel Network with support from Global Affairs Canada and USAID, we have created 2,114 jobs, helped support 2,936 jobs, supported 7,700 smallholder farmers, and attracted $45 M USD ($57.1M CAD) to companies through our work in East Africa. We’re extremely proud of all the hard work and the resiliency of our companies that went into 2020. We are cautiously optimistic about the accomplishments we’ll see in 2021!