The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Nigeria created an Associate Award under the Strengthening Health Outcomes Through the Private Sector (SHOPS) Leader with Associates to improve private sector clinic-based reproductive and maternal and child health services in Nigeria. This five-year project expanded key services in six states across Nigeria: Lagos, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Abia, Edo, and Benue. Banyan Global worked with local commercial banks, private provider associations, and other stakeholders to increase access to finance for private health providers that were contributing to improving health outcomes. Banyan Global assisted USAID to structure Development Credit Authority (DCA) health-sector loan portfolio guarantees with two banks: Diamond Bank and Acción Microfinance Bank. These DCA agreements supported up to $8.7 million in new loans to private health providers. Banyan Global also provided technical assistance to the banks in lending to the health sector. Banyan Global also developed a suite of business training courses specifically tailored to the needs of private health providers, including nursing and maternity homes, doctors, and pharmacists. In addition, Banyan Global supported the project’s efforts to strengthen “centers of excellence” – private health facilities that have a proven record of quality clinical service delivery. Banyan Global helped these facilities to strengthen their business and financial management practices, including upgrading to efficient software-based accounting systems. Banyan Global also explored the business advantages available to providers who form group health practices.