Norfund is the Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries, investing to create jobs, improve lives and support the transition to net zero.
Norfund is owned and funded by the Norwegian Government and is the Government’s most important tool for strengthening businesses that create jobs and reduce poverty in developing countries.
We invest for impact on commercial terms, as a responsible, minority investor working closely with partners. Through local presence we seek solutions designed for the countries in which we invest.
Norfund’s mandates
Norfund’s overall mandate is defined by the Norfund Act of 1997. The Act states that Norfund’s role is to assist in building sustainable businesses and industries in developing countries by providing equity capital and other risk capital.
Norfund has two investment mandates:
- Development: Create jobs and improve lives by investing in businesses that drive sustainable development
- Climate: Investing in the transition to net zero in emerging markets
The Climate Mandate is undertaken through the Climate Investment Fund.
Investing where others may not
To fulfil our mandates effectively, we focus on countries and investment areas where we can make a difference and our development impact is likely to be strong.
The extent to which an investment contributes to an outcome that would not have happened otherwise is referred to as ‘additionality’. Additionality is high where capital is scarce and investors are reluctant to invest because of high levels of real or perceived risk. Norfund is willing to assume more risk than most other investors.
Our preferred instrument is direct equity, but we also offer loans and invest through funds.
Being additional also means adding non-financial value in the form of expertise and active ownership to the investments we make, improving both profitability and development impact of the companies.
Investing for development
Norfund invests in companies that will contribute to economic and social development impact through:
- the direct and indirect jobs they provide and the income these give
- the goods and services they offer
- the taxes they pay
Norfund also enhances the development effects through business development support.
Our investment regions
Norfund’s main investment region is Sub-Saharan Africa. Norfund also invests in selected countries in Asia and Latin America.
Our investment areas
Responsible investor
Norfund adds value by helping our investees to achieve high standards of governance and strong environmental and social performance. We believe that high Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards are prerequisites for succeeding at delivering on our mandate.
Profitability is a precondition
Companies only survive if they are profitable over time, so profitability is essential for the creation of sustainable jobs and lasting development effects. Delivering positive returns is also important for Norfund in order to be catalytic, mobilizing private investors to invest with us – or inspired by us.
A member of EDFI
Norfund is part of EDFI, the Association of European Development Finance Institutions, which was established in 1992 to support and promote the work of bilateral Development Finance Institutions (DFIs).