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Categories: financial inclusion

Mohizi is a small-scale, women-led plantain chips producer in Côte d'Ivoire that has been able to formalise and grow its business with loans and support from COFINA. Photo: Axel Hallgren/Swedfund

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 micro, small and medium-sized businesses in West and Central Africa to enable them to develop and grow their business.

Inside Equity Fund invested in Alpha Polyplast, a Zambian company that specialises in recycling plastic waste, to increase its capacity to recycle plastic waste throughout the country. Photo: Alpha Polyplast

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.

Photo: Sam Makoji / Getty Images

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.

Founded by a female entrepreneur, Kinshasa-based DPXL is known for urban signs & billboards. The company has received XSML funding for new equipment and is now looking to expand further. Photo: Sighted Design, DRC

Investing for continued support to SMEs in Central and East Africa

Swedfund invests 15 MUSD in African Rivers Fund IV, an impact-oriented credit fund empowering sustainable growing companies in Central and East Africa to increase access to long term small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing and support for sustainable private sector growth.

Swedfund invests in Teyliom Finance to promote financial inclusion in West Africa

Swedfund invests in Teyliom Finance to promote financial inclusion in West Africa

Swedfund invests USD 5 million in a loan to Teyliom Finance, a subsidiary of Teyliom Group, a leading pan-African group active in five industries, across twelve countries. The investment is directed towards Bridge Bank Microfinance to strengthen financing for micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) and is expected to enhance financial empowerment of women in Côte D'Ivoire.

Micro, small and medium-sized companies create 4 out of 5 jobs in emerging economies. Photo from Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Photographer Michael Tsegaye.

Swedish investment to support financial inclusion

Micro, small and medium-sized companies (MSME’s) create 4 out of 5 jobs in emerging economies. Yet, in developing countries, around 200 million MSME’s lack access to finance, especially companies owned by women. Today Swedfund announces an investment up to 15 MUSD in Accion Digital Transformation Fund, focusing on the digital transformation of financial institutions in developing countries.

Nurse in Subol Hospital in Lagos Nigeria.

Swedfund supports health entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa

Healthcare infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa is insufficient to meet the healthcare needs of its 1.1 billion population. Swedfund now commits EUR 5M in debt funding to Medical Credit Fund II, a fund that provides financing to small and medium-sized enterprises within the health sector in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Swedish funding to Co-operative Bank of Kenya enables growth in the private sector

Swedish funding to Co-operative Bank of Kenya enables growth in the private sector

Swedfund provides a USD 15 million long-term subordinated loan to Co-operative Bank of Kenya (“Co-op Bank”) to support the Bank’s lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and green finance projects. By supporting Co-op Bank, Swedfund will contribute to job creation and private sector development.

Additional commitment to strengthen the support to African companies

Additional commitment to strengthen the support to African companies

The Swedish Development Finance Institution Swedfund is making an additional investment in African Development Partners (“ADP”) III to further support the development of the private sector in Africa. The fund will contribute to significant social development by creating new jobs and tax revenues through its investments across the African continent. The fund exercises active ownership with a clear

Picture from SOS Médecins de Nuit (MDN), a healthcare clinic based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A clinic funded by African Rivers Fund.

Swedish investments for private sector growth – in DRC, Uganda and Angola

Today Swedfund announces an investment of USD 10m in African Rivers Fund 3 (ARF 3), together with IFC, FMO, BIO and DGGF. African Rivers Fund 3 will primarily provide loan financing to small and medium-sized companies in DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), Uganda and Angola.

A child in Kenya is reading in the light from off-grid solar energy. SunFunder borrower [M-KOPA], Kenya.

​Swedfund makes large commitment to the off-grid solar energy sector

Swedfund, the Swedish Development Finance Institution, commits USD 12m to the Solar Energy Transformation Fund managed by SunFunder. The investment will contribute to increased access to electricity, as well as the increased generation of renewable energy for exposed demographics in the least developed countries in the world according to the OECD DAC list. The investment is in line with Swedfund’s

​Swedfund supports inclusive growth in Sri Lanka

​Swedfund supports inclusive growth in Sri Lanka

LOLC Group subsidiary and LOFC (LOLC Finance PLC) has signed an agreement with Swedfund, to receive a total of 10 million dollars in a Senior Loan. LOFC is a leading financial institution in Sri Lanka that enables financial inclusion, an increased tax base and job creation. For Swedfund these are important tools to reduce poverty and support democratic development.

Swedfund strengthens the support of African companies through investment in African Development Partners III

Swedfund strengthens the support of African companies through investment in African Development Partners III

Sweden's development financial institution Swedfund has invested 15 million dollars in the African Development Partners III fund. With this investment, Swedfund sees an opportunity to continue to contribute to the sustainable development and growth of more companies in Africa. The Fund exercises active ownership with a clear focus on ESG issues such as business ethics and anti-corruption.

Swedfund invests in Equity Bank Kenya

Swedfund invests in Equity Bank Kenya

​Swedfund provides a USD 15 million long-term subordinated loan to Equity Bank Kenya, a leading Kenyan commercial bank with strong focus on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). By supporting Equity Bank, Swedfund will contribute to private sector development, job creation, and responsible lending practices.

 Swedfund supports SMEs in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

Swedfund supports SMEs in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

The Swedish Development Finance Institution, Swedfund, lends 10 million EUR to Premier, a financial institution providing credit to private individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

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