A Kenyan-born entrepreneur and global superstar, Rihanna, are teaming up to change how climate finance works on the African continent.
Jo Opot, founder of Gather Ventures, has launched a climate-focused investment fund aimed at supporting women-led startups across Africa.
Backed financially by Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation, the fund is turning the spotlight on African women, who are often overlooked when discussing solutions to the climate crisis.
In a statement, Gather Ventures indicated that it is on a mission to fight climate change while helping women build lasting wealth in communities where both environmental shocks and economic inequality hit hardest.
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Moreover, Opot, who grew up in Kenya, said her mission is deeply personal.
She witnessed firsthand the legal and cultural obstacles that prevent African women from building and passing down wealth.
“Many women work hard to build wealth with their partners. But when those partners die, the property often goes to the man’s relatives, not the woman. We want to change that,” Opot told AFROTECH.
How the Rihanna Venture Will Solve the Climate Crisis
Jo Opot believes climate finance can no longer ignore gender. According to her, it is time to center the voices of women, especially those in low-income and rural communities, who face the brunt of climate disasters yet are rarely at the decision-making table.
Gather Ventures is doing that by targeting sectors where women are active, like agriculture, while also pushing into construction and clean energy, where women are still underrepresented.
The fund prioritizes flexible financing, offering grants, loans, equity, or working capital depending on what each startup needs.
Also Read: Why African Higher Education Should Focus on Disaster Management & Climate Change
Currently, 80% of the fund’s investments go to women-led companies tackling climate challenges.
Notable beneficiaries include:
- Mobility for Africa, which provides electric tricycles designed for rural women to access markets, health services, and schools.
- Giraffe Bioenergy, which transforms cassava into clean cooking fuel, reduces deforestation and indoor air pollution.
Both projects solve environmental problems while giving women tools to grow financially.
Opot said the goal is not just climate action, it is wealth creation. She believes investing in women isn’t charity, it’s a smart strategy.
“Women have proven to be effective agents of change. Investing in them is not just fair, it’s strategic,” she said.
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