The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Egypt has partnered with global innovation platform Plug and Play to launch the Egypt Climate Invest Programme (ECIP). The 20-month initiative is designed to stimulate innovation and funnel investment into the country’s burgeoning climate technology sector.
Bridging The Gap Between Startups And Investors
ECIP aims to address a critical gap in the ecosystem by connecting financial institutions with promising climate tech startups. The programme will work directly with five financial entities to help them identify and evaluate early-stage climate investment opportunities, fostering their strategic involvement in supporting green technologies.
By mobilizing local and regional capital, the initiative seeks to accelerate Egypt’s transition towards a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. The programme is a strategic component of GIZ Egypt’s “Innovation for the Private Sector” project, which focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian companies through green economic transformation.
“We are proud to launch the Egypt Climate Invest Programme (ECIP), which is a new achievement that contributes to tangible progress in the path of transformation towards a green and sustainable economy in Egypt,” stated Svenja Bachmann, Head of the Private Sector Innovation Project implemented by GIZ Egypt.
“By supporting investors, empowering entrepreneurs, and promoting cooperation between various stakeholders, the program opens broad horizons for climate innovation and contributes to achieving sustainable economic growth.”
A Tailored Programme For Growth
Over its duration, ECIP will provide 30 Egyptian Pre-Series A climate tech startups with dedicated technical and commercial support. This includes specialized mentorship, access to resources, and expert guidance to help them navigate regulatory challenges, prepare for market entry, and become investment-ready.
The programme also features bi-monthly sessions where participating startups can connect with Plug and Play’s wider regional network. These meetings will bring together regional and international investors to build connections and exchange insights on early-stage funding, aiming to increase investment flows into Egypt’s climate innovation scene.
Karima El Hakim, Director of Africa at Plug and Play, commented, “Through the Egypt Climate Invest Programme, we are not only supporting startups in the field of climate resilience, but we are also contributing to spreading awareness of climate issues on a large scale… We aim to educate investors and encourage financial institutions to include climate resilience solutions in their plans to make them an integral part of the basic existing environment and commercial products to create a sustainable and long-term impact.”
Hossam Allam, Managing Partner at Climate Resilient Africa Fund, added, “Climate finance has moved beyond focusing on carbon rates—it is now about aligning diverse classes of capital to create tangible impact. This training will help investors and startups understand the latest standards, tools, and insights that shape how the transition to a net-zero economy is financed and measured.”
Strategic Alignment With National Goals
The initiative is strategically aligned with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and its global climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement and outcomes from COP27. A key feature of the programme will be a major matchmaking event designed to bring together investors, startups, major corporations, and ecosystem stakeholders, acting as a catalyst for strategic partnerships and investment deals that reinforce Egypt’s position as a regional hub for climate innovation.
About The Egypt Climate Invest Programme
The Egypt Climate Invest Programme (ECIP) is a 20-month initiative by GIZ Egypt and Plug and Play created to accelerate investment in Egypt’s climate technology sector. The programme supports both financial institutions in identifying green investment opportunities and early-stage Egyptian startups through technical assistance, mentorship, and network access to help them scale and secure funding.
Source: Al Mal News
