3 min

A world without poverty

While Swedfund shares the same goal as Swedish development cooperation, we use other tools to achieve it. Our investments help to create more jobs with decent working conditions and improve access to essential products and services in the world's poorest countries.
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Artikeln i korthet

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Portföljbolagens verksamhetsländer och det är där våra investeringar skapar utvecklingsresultat. Vårt arbete tar avstamp i vår förändringsteori (Theory of Change). Det innebär att vi gör en analys av hur en potentiell investering kan bidra till förändring samt vilka direkta och indirekta
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Portföljbolagens verksamhetsländer och det är där våra investeringar skapar utvecklingsresultat. Vårt arbete tar avstamp i vår förändringsteori (Theory of Change). Det innebär att vi gör en analys av hur en potentiell investering kan bidra till förändring samt vilka direkta och indirekta
Lorem ipsum dolor
Portföljbolagens verksamhetsländer och det är där våra investeringar skapar utvecklingsresultat. Vårt arbete tar avstamp i vår förändringsteori (Theory of Change). Det innebär att vi gör en analys av hur en potentiell investering kan bidra till förändring samt vilka direkta och indirekta

How we operate

Our work is based on our Theory of Change. This means that we carry out an analysis of how a potential investment can contribute to change and what direct and indirect development effects we can help to create. We contractually bind the changes we want to achieve and consider possible, and provide expertise and technical assistance as and when necessary to support sustainable development.  Our business model is based on three pillars: impact on society, sustainability and financial viability. We follow up and report a number of indicators.

Our three pillars

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Impact on society
Our investments aim to have an impact on society in developing countries. We measure performance using the following indicators:
  • Jobs
  • Gender equality and women’s economic empowerment
  • Climate impact
  • Tax revenues
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Sustainability
Our investments are aimed at helping to create sustainable businesses in developing countries. We measure performance using the following indicators:
  • Decent working conditions
  • Management system for environmental and social issues, including human rights
  • Management system for anti-corruption
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Financial viability
We aim to help create profitable and financially viable companies in developing countries. We measure performance using the following indicators:
  • Turnover and profitability  
  • Return on funds
  • Capital mobilisation

Our focus

According to our Owner instructions, Swedfund’s remit is to operate in the least developed countries, where there is the greatest opportunity to make a difference. We have therefore opted to have a geographical focus on sub-Saharan Africa and some of the most vulnerable countries in Asia and Eastern Europe. Approximately 60% of Swedfund’s investments are made in sub-Saharan Africa.
67%
Proportion of investments that increases both turn-over and profitability
39%
Volume of mobilised capital of total contracted value
MSEK 1,460
Capital injection for 2023

Our additionality

According to Swedfund's Owner instructions, our investments must be additional in accordance with the OECD's definition. This means that we enable investments that would otherwise not take place. Swedfund assesses additionality from three perspectives: financially, in terms of sustainability and based on the investment’s impact on society. A prerequisite within each new investment is that we contribute something in one of the dimensions. In addition to capital, it may be a question of providing skills to help companies develop in a sustainable direction. We often provide Technical Assistance (TA) for quality-enhancing initiatives amongst portfolio companies and to increase the overall development effects that the business generates.
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100%
We only invest in renewable energy

Our risks

Taking risk is a pivotal part of our mission and business. We are catalytic by taking risks and showcasing opportunities. Our ambition is to act as a bridge to private capital and boost private investment in developing countries. Our risk management method aims to achieve risk optimisation based on our mission goals and business model, rather than risk minimisation in every respect.

Sectors

We invest in four sectors which we consider to be particularly important for achieving our goal: Energy & Climate, Financial Inclusion, Sustainable Enterprises and Food Systems. Climate, gender equality and women's economic empowerment, and digitalisation are three thematic areas that are integrated into all aspects of our work, irrespective of the chosen instrument, geography or sector.

Project Accelerator

The Project Accelerator carries out feasibility studies and capacity-building initiatives to develop sustainable and investable projects within critical infrastructure in developing countries. The projects are developed with a local project owner who thereafter implements it with financing from a development bank or a Swedish export credit solution. Swedish companies can be a part of the solution within sectors such as energy, water, digitalisation and sustainable transport. The Project Accelerator is an example of how synergies between trade and development cooperation can be utilised.