About Swedfund

Swedfund has two tools that we employ to deliver on our mission. We make investments in the private sector and fund project preparation in the public sector through the Project Accelerator. Both are mutually reinforcing processes that enable us to work holistically for sustainable development in developing countries.

Swedfund invests to contribute to jobs with decent working conditions and increased access to essential products and services such as electricity, food and digital connectivity. Our investments aim to strengthen local economies, promote gender equality, and foster innovation while enabling more companies to meet international standards. Swedfund also invests in climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience to support a green transition in developing countries.  

Swedfund prioritises investments in Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Ukraine. Our local presence in these regions is an important resource in understanding local context and market conditions and play a vital role in sourcing of new investments and in value creation.  

Through technical feasibility studies and capacity-building initiatives in the public sector, we lay the foundation for more sustainable and investable infrastructure projects in developing countries. A well-developed infrastructure is central to poverty reduction, economic development and inclusive growth, where Swedish companies can be part of the solution. 

Swedfund has a public policy assignment with specific mission objectives focused on sustainable value creation and the 2030 Agenda. Our public policy assignment is based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on reducing inequality, decent work, climate, women's economic empowerment and capital mobilisation. We apply a digital lens to all investments to advance connectivity and technology that enables sustainable development. 

We also comply with several policies, guidelines, regulatory frameworks, undertakings and international principles. Find out more: Guidelines and policies 

Swedfund’s mission is to act additionally and catalytically by attracting private capital for investments. This means enabling investments that would otherwise not take place. 

Swedfund assesses additionality according to the OECD Development Assistance Committee’s definition which includes financial, value and development additionality. Within value additionality we assess an investment’s sustainability and societal impact. The definition of financial additionality includes contributing to capital mobilisation. 

We are additional by: 

As a development finance institution, 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 contribute to mobilise private capital to developing countries through investments and feasibility studies that lay the foundation for more investable infrastructure projects. 

Making sustainable investments that generate both impact and financial returns has an important demonstration effect and facilitates the mobilisation of institutional capital. 

Swedfund's risk management method aims to achieve risk optimisation based on our mission goals and business model, rather than risk minimisation. We constantly adapt our approach based on contextual, sector, and operational insights from our work and local presence in Africa, Asia, and Ukraine. 

DFI:s play a key role in accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda by investing in and developing the private sector to promote inclusive growth, an growing tax base and increased trade between countries. Our investments lead to more jobs, increased access to essential goods and services such as electricity, digital solutions, food and access to capital to grow or develop a business locally.

At a strategic level, the EDFI's agenda is harmonised with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. EDFI members make joint investments and have developed common requirements for their activities and how to monitor them. This means that more companies in developing countries are reaching international standards and moving in a more sustainable direction, which is key to mobilising capital from other investors. Together, we have a portfolio worth around €50 billion in sectors such as renewable energy, financial inclusion and financial inclusion. 

The EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC) was established to manage common interests and increase efficiency and opportunities for co-investment between the European development finance institutions. EDFI MC is also responsible for funds from the EU under the two programmes ElectriFI, which implements investments for increased electrification in Africa, and AgriFI, which addresses issues linked to the food sector and agriculture. EDFI MC also has access to guarantees through the EU as a pillar-accredited development finance institution that Swedfund can utilise to reduce the financial risk associated with investments. EDFI MC's responsibilities also include the ICCF/EFP investment platform for co-investment in the energy sector and for increased financial inclusion and job creation.

EDFI MC has developed guarantee programmes that are intended to increase the proportion of sustainable investments in developing countries, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Asia and Oceania. The guarantee programmes fall within the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to lead to increased investment in areas such as renewable energy, digitalisation, climate and health. 

Read more at EDFI