News
All news
For more information, please contact:
Axel Hallgren, Press and Communications Manager
axel.hallgren@swedfund.se+46 70 234 49 46Press
April 8, 2025
Improved access to financial services in Africa
Swedfund invests EUR 26 million in AfricInvest’s Financial Inclusion Vehicle (FIVE), a platform designed to support financial institutions across Africa. The investment aims to increase access to financial services for underserved individuals and small businesses, with a focus on digital innovation, economic empowerment and inclusion.
Press
March 20, 2025
Swedfund invests in African SME Fund
Swedfund has committed EUR 15 million to the AfricInvest Small Cap Fund, a private equity initiative focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa.
Press
February 24, 2025
Swedfund continues to support SME lending in Kenya
Swedfund has announced a second investment of USD 7.5 million in Kenya's Victoria Commercial Bank (VCB) PLC. The loan will further strengthen the bank's ability to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which play a vital role in Kenya's economy by creating jobs and driving growth.
Press
February 20, 2025
Swedfund, BII and Norfund invest $85 million in AgDevCo to support agribusinesses in Africa
The joint commitment will support small and medium-sized agribusinesses to increase productivity and expand food systems across sub-Saharan Africa. AgDevCo’s investments have already benefited over two million smallholder farmers, improving their livelihoods, climate resilience and food security.
News
February 17, 2025
Preventing and responding to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment: new good practice handbook
Since 2019, the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and Swedfund have been working together to strengthen Swedfund's ability to identify, prevent and respond to risks of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) in its investment portfolio and operations. One key result in this partnership is the publication of the Good Practice Handbook on the Prevention of and Response to SEAH, a practical guide to help fund managers, investment platforms and financial institutions address SEAH risks.
Press
January 31, 2025
Swedfund supports local food processing and smallholder farmers in Africa
Swedfund supports increased local processing capacity in African through a working capital loan of up to USD 15 million to Robust International (Robust). The loan is part of a joint initiative together with the Dutch, British and French development finance institutions and the Dutch fund manager ILX.
Press
January 29, 2025
Swedfund invests for climate resilient infrastructure and digital connectivity in Africa and emerging Asia
Swedfund, Sweden's development finance institution, is committing €40 million to the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF), a company of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), managed by Ninety One. The investment will address infrastructure gaps in Africa, the Levant and South and Southeast Asia by supporting projects that elevate climate action and support inclusive and sustainable development.
Press
December 10, 2024
Swedfund and IFU invest in renewable energy development in Southern Africa
Swedfund and the Danish Investment Fund for Developing Countries, IFU, have partnered with Sturdee Energy to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy in Southern Africa, with a primary focus on South Africa, a country heavily reliant on coal-fired electricity.
Press
November 13, 2024
Closing MSME finance gap in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal
Swedfund has invested EUR 20 million in Compagnie Financière Africaine (COFINA), a leading mesofinance institution that provides loans to businesses in West and Central Africa to enable them to develop and grow their business.
Press
October 21, 2024
Swedfund and Finnfund invest in Siddhartha Bank to strengthen Nepal’s financial inclusion and financing to renewable energy
Nepalese banking sector by providing a loan of USD 10 million each to Siddhartha Bank.
Press
July 29, 2024
Catalysing sustainable growth through SMEs in Southeast Africa
Swedfund, Sweden’s development finance institution, has invested USD 10 million in Inside Equity Fund II, aiming to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with impactful and innovative solutions in Zambia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Press
July 16, 2024
Investment for enhanced access to finance for MSMEs in Nigeria
Swedfund invests USD 30 million in Access Bank Nigeria Plc to reach underserved MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) at scale. By providing long-term capital and capacity building to unbanked and under-banked companies in Nigeria, the investment is expected to support sustainable private sector development and inclusive growth.
