Ebola Emergency Liquidity Facility

completed

The proposed project, Ebola Emergency Liquidity Facility (EELF) is IFC’s immediate response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa and is targeting Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the countries severely affected to date. It seeks to provide immediate private sector-focused support to help alleviate the immediate trade and foreign currency denominated working capital needs in the countries. IFC’s immediate intervention relies on the use of IFC’s Financial Institutions Group (FIG) platforms to quickly help clients with working capital and contribute to maintaining trade flows, supporting employment, and restoring supplies of key goods and services. This intervention is the first stage of a more comprehensive, cross-sector (FIG, MAS, and Infra) combined IS-AS response. EELF’s total size is up to US$75 million for IFC’s own account and would comprise discrete funding lines to each eligible bank in the three targeted countries. The tenor of each facility is up to 12 months, with renewable options. EELF will initially target existing IFC portfolio clients in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and will later be also made available to other banks operating in West Africa.