The International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) SME Growth Accelerator 2026 for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: 15 November 2026

Program Description

The SME Growth Accelerator grant supports high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets seeking to scale their operations, enter new markets and create quality employment opportunities. The programme also offers mentorship, access to business networks and potential follow-on financing opportunities.

Eligible Expenditures

Eligible expenditures include:

• Working capital
• Pilot deployments
• Technical assistance and capacity-building activities
• Climate and ESG-related investments
• Market research and feasibility studies
• Equipment and technology procurement
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities

Geographical Scope

The geographical scope of the program includes Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be:

• For-profit SMEs
• Employing between 10 and 250 employees
• Demonstrating verified annual revenues between USD 250,000 and USD 10 million

Funding Details

The SME Growth Accelerator provides funding ranging from USD 50,000 to USD 1.5 million.