With over 100 years of combined experience, EMIF Group’s investment team has extensive direct experience developing and financing infrastructure projects in non-OECD countries. Collectively, we have mobilized over US$20 billion in equity capital through advisory, active development, construction equity, and M&A activities.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, our investment team members possess regional expertise across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our skill set includes risk mitigation, project document structuring (e.g., off-take, guarantees, credit enhancement), capital raising, and financial and technical assessment.
We have worked and maintain good relationships with a large network of funders, including development banks, a large network of family offices, small pensions, impact funds, and foundations. This network is anticipated to provide both the anchor capital for this and future funds, and help grow our investible project pipeline in concert with our cooperation framework through the United Nations.
Founding Partners
John Safrance
John was a senior cleantech and Independent Power Producer institutional equities analyst over a career spanning fifteen years in Toronto. In 2014, he joined a Canadian Independent Power Producer focused on renewable energy development, construction, and operation in low- and middle-income countries. There, he managed the financial modelling team and financial diligence efforts within the company’s broader M&A team. He also led the company’s political risk mitigation program. John is a member of the Blue Dot Network, participating in the working group for Investment Efficiency And Outcomes.
Tom Eveson
Over the last few decades, Tom has held senior roles on both the buy and sell side of capital markets, including investment banking and asset management. Most recently, Tom has focused on sustainable finance, ESG assessments, benchmarking services, and impact reporting within capital markets. Over the past several years, Tom has been involved in creating new initiatives to support blended-finance solutions in emerging market infrastructure to close the gap between required development and private capital. Tom is a member of the Blue Dot Network, participating in the working group for Transparency.
Henry Barclay
Henry spent five years in technology, growing startups from zero to nine figure valuations. He has also helped family offices invest into sustainable impact projects, from atmospheric water harvesting and cellular-based meats to sustainable urban development. Before this, Henry worked on conservation and research projects around the world, including in Madagascar, South Africa and Indonesia. He spent two years running a wildlife foundation, forming international conservation and education programs during his tenure.
Advisory Board
We are assembling an independent Advisory Board to advise and make recommendations to the manager with respect to matters within the areas of their experience and expertise. Members are to be composed of industry experts or service providers in the area of the Development Fund’s focus, including:
- Private Equity Asset Management
- Blended Finance
- Emerging Markets
- Infrastructure
- Environmental, Social & Governance
- Development Finance
The Advisory Board shall be comprised of at least three members, to a maximum of six, and are to be appointed by EMIF Group’s founding partners. We are targeting a minimum 50% female representation on the Advisory Board and will strive to exceed that level of representation.