Year 2 Second Quarterly Report: INVEST Project: Mobilizing Private Investment for Development

INVEST was created through co-creation and is driven by a research and learning mandate. The initiative aims to unlock private investment as a key way for USAID to engage the private sector. INVEST conducts rapid and constant learning that informs USAID programs and strategies. The initiative is flexible and can adapt to USAID and market needs. INVEST works to identify opportunities for blended finance in various sectors, including coffee and mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and corporate investment models that USAID can support. The initiative also designs blended finance roadmaps for USAID bureaus and provides transaction advisory services to companies in off-grid energy and other sectors. Through the INVEST partner network, USAID can access niche technical and financial expertise on demand. The network comprises 17 firms engaged in INVEST buy-in and core activities. INVEST has 16 buy-ins from 12 different USAID missions and operating units, in addition to USAID/PCM core funding. The initiative is implemented in various countries, including the United States, Haiti, Tunisia, Liberia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Afghanistan, and India. INVEST provides transaction advisory services, including designing blended financing vehicles, structuring funds and financial instruments, and creating trade and investment linkages for companies. The initiative also supports private sector engagement and learning strategies. INVEST's activities include assessing opportunities for blended finance, identifying corporate investment models, and building blended finance roadmaps for USAID bureaus. The initiative's buy-in activities are focused on procurement or design, implementation, and transaction advisory services. INVEST's geographic focus includes various countries in Africa and Asia, with a focus on sectors such as energy, health, and agriculture. The initiative's timeframes are not specified, but it is clear that INVEST is a long-term effort to mobilize private capital and support USAID's engagement with the private sector. The initiative's recommendations are not explicitly stated, but it is likely that INVEST will continue to adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of USAID and the investment community.