VISTA YOUTH & GENDER AGRI VALUE CHAINS MBIL (EIB-20230646)

Countries
  • Guinea
  • Sierra Leone
Geographic location where the impacts of the investment may be experienced.
Financial Institutions
  • European Investment Bank (EIB)
International, regional and national development finance institutions. Many of these banks have a public interest mission, such as poverty reduction.
Project Status
Approved
Stage of the project cycle. Stages vary by development bank and can include: pending, approval, implementation, and closed or completed.
Bank Risk Rating
U
Environmental and social categorization assessed by the development bank as a measure of the planned project’s environmental and social impacts. A higher risk rating may require more due diligence to limit or avoid harm to people and the environment. For example, "A" or "B" are risk categories where "A" represents the highest amount of risk. Results will include projects that specifically recorded a rating, all other projects are marked ‘U’ for "Undisclosed."
Voting Date
May 15, 2025
Date when project documentation and funding is reviewed by the Board for consideration and approval. Some development banks will state a "board date" or "decision date." When funding approval is obtained, the legal documents are accepted and signed, the implementation phase begins.
Borrower
VISTA BANK (SL) LTD,VISTA GUI SA
A public entity (government or state-owned) provided with funds or financial support to manage and/or implement a project.
Sectors
  • Finance
The service or industry focus of the investment. A project can have several sectors.
Investment Type(s)
Loan
The categories of the bank investment: loan, grant, guarantee, technical assistance, advisory services, equity and fund.
Investment Amount (USD)
$ 44.77 million
Value listed on project documents at time of disclosure. If necessary, this amount is converted to USD ($) on the date of disclosure. Please review updated project documents for more information.
Currency conversion note:
Bank reported 40
Converted using 2025-05-15 exchange rate.
Primary Source

Original disclosure @ EIB website

Updated in EWS Jun 3, 2025

Disclosed by Bank Apr 2, 2025


Contribute Information
Can you contribute information about this project?
Contact the EWS Team

Project Description
If provided by the financial institution, the Early Warning System Team writes a short summary describing the purported development objective of the project and project components. Review the complete project documentation for a detailed description.

According to bank provided information, the operation consists in up to EUR 40m Single Signature Single Risk (SSSR) Multiple Beneficiary Intermediated Loans (MBILs) to Vista Group's banking subsidiaries in Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Through the MBILs, Vista Gui in Guinea (EUR 30m) and to Vista Bank (SL) in Sierra Leone (EUR 10m) will have the capacity to on-lend to eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps active in agriculture value chains. These businesses will have a positive impact on youth employment, gender equality, and women's economic empowerment.

The stated aim is to enhance access to finance for agricultural value chain SMEs and mid-caps, while also supporting the European Union's key priorities in both countries.

Under this operation, a minimum of 70% of the loan amounts will target agriculture value chains, including key sectors identified by EU Delegations. These include cashew, infant food (and its ingredients), fruit and vegetable processing, and rice value chains across both countries. Additionally, country-specific priorities will be addressed, such as fish and seafood processing, as well as cereals like fonio and rice in Guinea, and cocoa, palm oil, cassava, and coffee in Sierra Leone.

Furthermore, at least 30% of the total loan amounts will be directed toward businesses that are owned, run, employ, or primarily serve women, in alignment with the 2X Challenge criteria. A minimum of 50% will be specifically aimed at businesses led or founded by young entrepreneurs or those employing at least 40% young people.

Investment Description
Here you can find a list of individual development financial institutions that finance the project.
Private Actor 1 Private Actor 1 Role Private Actor 1 Sector Relation Private Actor 2 Private Actor 2 Role Private Actor 2 Sector
- - - - VISTA BANK (SL) LTD Client Finance
- - - - Vista Bank Group Parent Company Finance
- - - - VISTA GUI SA Client Finance

Contact Information
This section aims to support the local communities and local CSO to get to know which stakeholders are involved in a project with their roles and responsibilities. If available, there may be a complaint office for the respective bank which operates independently to receive and determine violations in policy and practice. Independent Accountability Mechanisms receive and respond to complaints. Most Independent Accountability Mechanisms offer two functions for addressing complaints: dispute resolution and compliance review.

*Contact information not provided at the time of disclosure*

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.eib.org/en/infocentre/registers/request-form/request-form-default.htm 

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF EIB

The EIB Complaints Mechanism is designed to facilitate and handle complaints against the EIB by individuals, organizations or corporations affected by EIB activities. When exercising the right to lodge a complaint against the EIB, any member of the public has access to a two-tier procedure, one internal - the Complaints Mechanism Office - and one external - the European Ombudsman. A complaint can be lodged via a written communication addressed to the Secretary General of the EIB, via email to the dedicated email address: complaints@eib.org, by completing the online complaint form available at the following address: http://www.eib.org/complaints/form via fax or delivered directly to the EIB Complaints Mechanism Division, any EIB local representation office or any EIB staff. For further details, check: http://www.eib.org/attachments/strategies/complaints_mechanism_policy_en.pdf 

When dissatisfied with a complaint to the EIB Complaints Mechanism, citizens can then turn towards the European Ombudsman. A memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the EIB and the European Ombudsman establishes that citizens (even outside of the EU if the Ombudsman finds their complaint justified) can turn towards the Ombudsman on issues related to 'maladministration' by the EIB. Note that before going to the Ombudsman, an attempt must be made to resolve the case by contacting the EIB. In addition, the complaint must be made within two years of the date when the facts on which your complaint is based became known to you. You can write to the Ombudsman in any of the languages of the European Union. Additional details, including filing requirements and complaint forms, are available at: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/interactiveguide.faces 

How it works

How it works