Bridging the Gender and Climate Funding Gap in Africa
Spotlight on Altree Capital with Jenni Chamberlain, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Founded in 2006, Altree Capital is a leading investment manager focused on driving growth across Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We manage the Altree Kadzi Gender Climate Fund (AKGCF), which provides growth capital to women-led and women-benefiting businesses. Our mission is to generate strong financial returns while delivering measurable social and environmental impact by investing in gender and climate opportunities.”
Tell us about Altree Capital, highlighting key milestones and achievements in the industry.
Altree Capital is an investment manager established in 2006 by Jenni Chamberlain with the vision to drive international investment into Africa to transform local economies. Following the success of its predecessor funds which beat their respective benchmarks, Altree launched the Altree Kadzi Gender Climate Fund (AKGCF) in 2023 to close the funding gap for women-led and climate-focused enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa. The AKGCF aims to raise between US$50mn to US$80mn to invest in Africa’s most ambitious leaders managing early-stage high-growth companies.
Each investment needs to meet at least two of the 2X Challenge Criteria, with at least 40% of our investments focused on climate. Key milestones to date include investing in five businesses across gender and women’s health (Uncover and Kasha) and gender and climate (Wahu, Burton & Bamber, and Nature’s Nectar). Lastly, we are proud recipients of prestigious grants from Prosper Africa, the African Women Impact Fund and the Climate Gender Equity Fund, which have enabled us to make these investments and showcase the importance of our work. These pilot projects demonstrate our focus on gender equity and climate-smart strategies, with investments that drive climate adaptation and mitigation, such as Wahu!’s electric vehicles and Burton & Bamber’s food waste prevention solutions.
What unique strengths, expertise, or strategic approach does your organisation bring to the industry?
Altree Capital brings a unique approach by investing at the intersection of gender and climate. Our focus ensures that every business we back meets at least two of the 2X Criteria, with a significant portion addressing both gender and climate. Currently, each investment qualifies for at least three of the 2X Criteria and 60% of our Altree Kadzi Gender Climate SPV (AKGC SPV) portfolio focuses on businesses that promote climate adaptation and mitigation, while 40% addresses women’s health.
This synergy between women’s empowerment, health and climate action is a catalyst for societal progress and sustainability. Our tailored support, such as climate-smart tools for carbon reporting and market access, helps companies grow sustainably. Altree is bridging the gender and climate funding gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa, empowering women and businesses while driving climate resilience. By supporting women-led and climate-focused enterprises, we contribute to the private capital ecosystem through strong financial returns and meaningful impact.
What are Altree’s core values and how do they contribute to your success in the industry?
At Altree Capital, our core values — inclusivity, sustainability and integrity — guide everything we do. We are deeply committed to empowering women and addressing climate change, believing that real progress comes from tackling both challenges together.
By prioritising gender equity and climate action in our investments, we ensure that the businesses we support create lasting social and environmental impact. Sustainability is at the heart of our approach. We work closely with our portfolio companies to build long-term strategies for climate resilience, helping them thrive in a changing world. Integrity shapes our relationships with investors, partners and communities — we believe in transparency, accountability and doing what’s right, even when it’s tough. These principles are key to our success and longevity. By staying true to our mission and values, we believe Altree will continue to make a meaningful difference in Africa while delivering strong financial returns for years to come.
What motivated Altree to join AVCA?
Altree Capital was motivated to join AVCA because we believe in the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change across Africa. AVCA’s mission aligns with our own goals of advancing private capital investments that foster gender equality, climate resilience, and economic growth. Being part of this network gives us the opportunity to connect with like-minded investors, share best practices, and strengthen our impact in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We see this membership as a platform to enhance our knowledge, expand our network, and access new opportunities for both fundraising and partnerships. Through AVCA, we can amplify our voice in key discussions around private capital’s role in addressing Africa’s most pressing challenges. We’re excited not only to learn from other members but also to become a leader in knowledge sharing, drawing on our niche expertise in gender and climate investing in Africa. By contributing our insights, we aim to help shape a more inclusive and sustainable investment landscape across the continent. Ultimately, we believe AVCA membership will support Altree’s growth and long-term impact.
What are your key priorities and objectives over the next 12 months?
Our key priorities are threefold: scaling the Altree Kadzi Gender Climate Fund by securing commitments from like-minded investors focused on empowering women and driving climate action; supporting our portfolio companies to grow through active guidance, value-add and assistance in various areas of the enterprises in which we invest; and deploying new capital into investments within the health and climate sectors along with additional support to our current investments.
