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.
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.
100%
We only invest in renewable energy
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.
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.
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.
