Swedfund International

"As a development finance institution, we don't wait for 'when'. If you ask us, now is the time. Private sector investment and engagement are key to Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. Ukraine's economy is showing remarkable resilience, with exports resuming, but financial fragility remains - especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs play a crucial role in economic stability and recovery, supporting employment and keeping the economy afloat. Swedfund is committed to coming in early, taking risks where others hesitate, and paving the way for long-term, sustainable investments. Critical infrastructure projects address immediate needs and lay the foundation for future growth. Through our Project Accelerator, we help public owners to prioritise and implement projects that meet EU and international standards. In short, we are helping to turn ambitious ideas into concrete and workable solutions for Ukraine's recovery." Last week, our CEO Maria Håkansson kicked off the new year by sharing Swedfund's experience at the #World2025 event hosted by The Economist and Dagens Industri. The event brought together thought leaders and experts - including Ambassador Andrii Plakhotniuk, Embassy of Ukraine in Sweden, defence expert Joakim Paasikivi and Chatham House researcher Armida V. and many more - to explore the trends shaping geopolitics, business and innovation in 2025. Thanks to the organisers Magasinet Världen Om + Economist editors Alasdair Ross and Tom Standage for leading such powerful conversations. 📸: Samuel Unéus #Swedfund #DFI #Ukraine #Sustainability #Leadership #Världen2025 #Geopolitics

Celebrating progress in the City of Novovolynsk in Ukraine! 🤝 We are pleased to announce the signing of an agreement between Novovolynsk City Council, NIRAS and Swedfund International, which officially launches an important feasibility study for the modernisation of the city's wastewater treatment and collection systems. The study is an important step towards: 💧 Reducing pollution of vital water resources. ⚡ Improving energy efficiency and exploring the potential for sludge reuse. 🌍 Meeting EU environmental standards to protect public health and the environment. ➡ Preparing funding applications to implement these solutions. Our thanks to the Novovolynsk City Council and NIRAS. We would also like to thank our local advisors Gennadiy Rudenko and Dick Lundberg, as well as #ProjectAccelerator Manager Sophie Taintor and team, for their invaluable contributions. We look forward to the positive impact this project will have on Novovolynsk and its residents. Photo 1: NIRAS International Consulting Photo 2-5: Online signing ceremony #Swedfund #ProjectAccelerator #WasteWater #FeasibilityStudy #Novovolynsk #Ukraine

As we just rounded off the year 2024, we want to take time to celebrate a milestone for Swedfund. 🎉 10 years of Women4Growth (#W4G)! 🎉   W4G started as a vision to empower women and foster gender equality and has continued to grow into a transformative programme creating meaningful change. Over the last decade, W4G has reached so many companies, and industries, contributing to a future where everyone is empowered to lead, innovate, and thrive. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey. Here’s to 10 years of #growth and #empowerment – and to the transformative years ahead! 💪   #W4G #GenderEquality #10YearsOfImpact

⚕ Breast and cervical cancer are among the most common cancers affecting communities in Kenya and Tanzania. However, access to radiotherapy remains limited. Swedfund's #ProjectAccelerator recently visited #Kenya and #Tanzania to meet with key stakeholders in cancer care and radiotherapy. Our meetings included representatives from the Ministry of Health, Kenya, National Treasury Kenya, health facilities and the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI). We had productive discussions and are excited to support efforts in both countries to increase access to radiotherapy and improve public health in both countries. Thank you to everyone involved in the visit. Onwards to continued collaboration and impactful progress. 🧩 #Swedfund #ProjectAccelerator #PublicHealth #Health #DevelopmentCooperation Håkan Dahlfors, Elsa Ekblom, Regeringskansliet, Utrikesdepartementet

📢 Swedfund is hiring! Are you ready to take your investment experience to the next level and work across the entire investment cycle in developing countries to advance sustainable development? Swedfund is looking for an Investment Manager to join the Financial Inclusion team. The role focuses on managing debt investments in financial institutions, microfinance organisations and private credit funds that support SMEs and entrepreneurs in underdeveloped regions. You will be involved in all phases of the investment cycle: due diligence, deal structuring, portfolio management and driving value through operational improvements, sustainability and governance. The role also involves project management, working with the ESG, Impact and Legal teams, as well as mentoring analysts and supporting sector strategies. 📍 Location: Stockholm, Sweden 📅 Application deadline: Rolling applications (apply early!) ✅ Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/dvf6t8iQ #Swedfund #ImpactInvesting #FinancialInclusion #SwedfundCareers #Manager

Uxolo finds Marie Aglert, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Investment Organisation at Swedfund International, in a buoyant mood. With a recent capital boost and new offices opening in Abidjan and Project Accelerator financing feasibility studies to support critical infrastructure projects in the public sector, the fund’s core African markets seem brim full of opportunity. How can Swedfund maintain the momentum of mobilising private capital? Read the preview from Uxolo’s recent interview led by Katharine Morton, Head of Export, Project and Development Finance, below 👇 Katharine Morton, Uxolo: “We’re speaking as you have just rung the bell on another investment signed for Swedfund, and soon after you’ve opened a new office in Abidjan. You’re busy. Can you tell me a bit about what you do, how you are funded and what Swedfund’s approach is to development finance?” Marie Aglert: “We are a state-owned company financed both through our portfolio reflows and an annual capital injection from the Swedish development cooperation budget. We've been in business for over 40 years, and in recent years we've significantly increased our investment volume and expanded our operations. We are in a good position to continue scaling our impact. We have a portfolio of around $1.1 billion, and a proposed capital injection of SEK1.8 billion for next year [$92.5 million], which includes dedicated capital for Ukraine and investments into the renewable energy sector to reduce carbon emissions. We have an ambitious strategy going forward to triple our impact by 2030. And yes, we just came back from our official office inauguration in Abidjan – a development we are very excited about.” 🔗Continue reading: https://lnkd.in/eCstEYJV #Uxolo #UxoloIntelligence #DevelopmentFinance #InfrastructureDevelopment #PrivateCapital #DFI

Malaysian Sarawak Energy kicks off feasibility study and ESIA for large-scale floating solar plant. 🌞 Sarawak Energy is a state-owned energy company in the Malaysian state of Sarawak in Borneo. During our three-year collaboration, we have identified the potential to integrate 1500 MW of solar power into Sarawak's electricity grid, assessed different ways of supporting grid stability and identified suitable locations for solar PV generation. The 50MW Batang Ai Floating Solar Plant, and first of its kind in Sarawak, is nearing completion and is expected to reduce emissions by 52 kilotonnes a year. Together with Swedfund, Sarawak Energy has just kicked off a feasibility study and environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for a second floating solar generation plant of up to 160MW in Batang Ai. 🌱 Floating solar panels reduce evaporation, save land, generate clean energy and reduce carbon emissions. 📸 Sarawak Energy #Swedfund #ProjectAccelerator #Floatingsolar #RenewableEnergy #Malaysia Regeringskansliet, Utrikesdepartementet

⚡ Swedfund and 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. Southern African countries have a major power supply deficit and lack risk willing capital for renewable energy investments. To support the green transition and the development of increased energy capacity from renewable sources, Swedfund and IFU are each committing USD 22 million in direct equity investments to support Sturdee Energy's growth initiatives. — This investment is a good strategic fit for Swedfund as it contributes to climate mitigation through replacing coal power with renewable power such as solar and wind, says Jonas Kolijn, Senior Investment Manager at Swedfund International. 👉 Read full press release: https://lnkd.in/gdgRfMuV #Swedfund #DevFin #Climate #Energy #Africa #Renewable #GreenTransition

From transforming public transport in Manila and Iloilo, to powering remote islands with renewable energy, our projects are contributing to a more efficient and climate-resilient future in the Philippines. Last Friday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Sweden and the Philippines to unlock funding for Swedfund Project Accelerator grants and Swedish export credits in energy, transport and digitalisation. Since 2017, Swedfund's #ProjectAccelerator has been supporting sustainable transport and clean energy solutions in Southeast Asia, and we're excited to see this collaboration grow. ♻🚌💡   Check out highlights of already ongoing projects in the country. 👇 Swedfund International, Regeringskansliet, Utrikesdepartementet, Andreas Carlson, Harald Fries, Embassy of Sweden in Manila, SEK Svensk Exportkredit, EKN Exportkreditnämnden, Business Sweden, Anna Älgevik, Louise Bernander, Håkan Dahlfors, Stefan Falk

Swedfund recently provided a €20M loan to Groupe COFINA to support MSMEs in Côte d'Ivoire & Senegal, focusing on women-led businesses and agri 🌱. The investment aims to drive financial inclusion, job creation, and sustainable growth in the region. 👉 Read the full interview with our Regional Director Kitanha Toure, CPA.CA, CFA in Impact-Investor.com to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ergCCz34 #Swedfund #MSME #FinancialInclusion #GenderSmart #GenderLens #FoodSystems #Interview