Current and Past Programs
At Lightroad, we are proud to have been involved in numerous impactful programs that leverage innovative finance for social good. We design blended finance solutions around the realities of borrowers, enterprises and the institutions that finance them. Our work connects financial structuring with partner coordination, technical assistance and a clear plan for implementation.
Below, we highlight key programs where we are involved, showcasing our commitment to creating sustainable and inclusive economic systems.
GreenRaah
Through GreenRaah, we work with financial institutions to expand access to electric three-wheeler finance for underserved micro-entrepreneurs. The facility combines catalytic support from donors, repayment-linked incentives, financial and digital literacy along with borrower assistance to make vehicle ownership more accessible and strengthen livelihoods by enhancing income by 2-3x.
Productive clean energy for women micro-entrepreneurs
Through our GIZ-supported engagement, we address financing barriers for women micro-entrepreneurs adopting productive clean-energy assets in Bihar and Odisha. Our work combines tailored financial products, credit enhancement and borrower support to make equipment more accessible, helping women improve business productivity and earning potential.
Affordable working capital for women-led FPOs
We support a catalytic financing model that combines working-capital lending with time-bound interest-linked incentive support for women-led farmer producer organisations (FPOs). By making loans affordable, the model aims to help these enterprises procure more produce, serve buyers and retain greater value for their farmer-members by enhancing their incomes.
Innovative finance for health and nutrition
We supported an international non-profit organization in developing innovative financing models across five Asian countries. These models connect funding with nutrition priorities and measurable outcomes, providing pathways to expand programme reach and strengthen the sustainability of nutrition interventions.
Finance for enterprises that support coral reefs
We designed a returnable-grant facility for enterprises supporting coral reef conservation and community livelihoods in Indonesia. The model combines revenue-linked repayments, business support and impact monitoring to help enterprises grow sustainably, support local incomes and contribute to reef conservation.
Financing the transition from learning to earning
In collaboration with SecondMuse, we contributed six proposed financing mechanisms to World YMCA’s Learning to Earning initiative. These connect financing with skills, employment and entrepreneurship, aiming to help young people access training, transition into sustained work and pursue opportunities in the green economy.
Project VidyaPravaah
Project VidyaPravaah is a financing model designed to make education/ skill programs more accessible and affordable by providing deserving students with access to funding through a combination of loans and grants. The model uniquely blends CSR or donor capital with commercial capital, creating a multiplier impact of up to 20X leverage on donor capital. Under this model, philanthropic capital serves as a risk guarantee for financial institutions, enabling them to extend loans to students who otherwise lack access to financial support. Alternatively, the model will also include an option for returnable grants if loans from financial institutions are not possible, where students receive financial support with the understanding that they will repay it after completing their studies, serving as a moral obligation rather than a traditional loan. Beyond financial assistance, Project VidyaPravaah shall offer students mentoring support, providing a holistic approach to enhance their academic and professional development.
Future Economy Lab Asia by Secondmuse
The Future Economy Lab Asia (FELA) of Secondmuse is an ongoing initiative that focuses on redefining economic development across Asia. This program engages a diverse range of stakeholders, including investors, government bodies, and community leaders, to collaboratively design innovative financial mechanisms. By weaving together various funding sources, such as government contracts, philanthropy, and traditional investment, FELA aims to create financial solutions that drive returns, reduce risk, and foster large-scale positive impact.
As a partner in FELA, Lightroad supported Secondmuse in designing blended finance mechanisms for financing Gender-Smart Climate Businesses in Asia.
Revolving Loan Fund involving plastic credits to combat plastic pollution
We supported SecondMuse in designing a proposed USD 8 million revolving finance facility for a programme backed by Visa Foundation. The model combines repayable catalytic capital and technical assistance to help recycling enterprises grow, improve waste recovery and recycle repayments into support for additional businesses.
