{"id":22778,"date":"2025-01-20T10:43:48","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T09:43:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/norfund1dev.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=22778"},"modified":"2025-10-15T14:08:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T12:08:39","slug":"the-norfund-conference-2025-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/the-norfund-conference-2025-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Norfund Conference 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-ingress-font-size\">The annual Norfund Conference was held on Thursday, May 15th, at Taket Steen &amp; Str\u00f8m in Oslo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/54521192539_15c8250633_k-1-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-22768\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ann Nkatha, Norfund&#8217;s East Africa Office Manager, hosted the conference. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We explored the risks and dilemmas we face in investment processes \u2014 including what happens when things go wrong. We delved into the compatibility between cutting climate emissions and making profitable investments, and asked whether recycling could be part of the solution. Participants met international experts, the Norfund team, our partners and portfolio companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-arrow\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/190747405@N02\/albums\/72177720326045775\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos from the conference here<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-gray-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-line has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\" id=\"navigating-noise\">Opening show<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Navid Rezvani, Bao Andre Nguyen, and Catherine Michelet&#8217;s performance set the tone for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Norfund Conference 2025 - Opening Show\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_GiHrsDB4qo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-line has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\" id=\"navigating-noise\">Navigating noise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This session navigated the noise of a rapidly changing international landscape to identify what truly matters for Norfund\u2019s markets \u2014 and what is just background noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Keynote by Norfund CEO Tellef Thorleifsson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Norfund Conference 2025 - Tellef Thorleifsson\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qmyKGj1PCS4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Panel conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00c5smund Aukrust, Minister of International Development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Runa Alam, Co-Founding Partner and CEO, Development Partners International<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reyburn Hendricks, CEO, H1 Holdings <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Norfund Conference 2025 - \u00c5smund Gr\u00f8ver Aukrust,  Runa Alam and Reyburn Hendricks\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/o9bHg3flXcw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-line has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\" id=\"your-call\">Your call<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An interactive investment session gave the audience deeper insight into the risks and dilemmas involved in investing in developing countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Naana Winful Fynn, Regional Director West Africa, Norfund<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ylva Lindeberg, EVP at Norfund <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The audience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Norfund Conference 2025 - Your Call! - Naana Winful Fynn and Ylva Lindberg - Part 1\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MSs1IEF6Y_E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-gray-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-line has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\" id=\"will-the-market-deliver-the-climate-finance-needs-of-emerging-economies\">Will the market deliver the climate finance needs of emerging economies?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the Climate Investment Fund outperforming expectations on both climate impact and financial returns, private investors remained hesitant \u2014 raising the question of whether a state-owned development fund can succeed where markets hold back, by delivering both profitability and meaningful impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Status on renewable energy in emerging markets <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> Iben F\u00fcrst Frimann-Dahl, Principal, Rystad Energy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Norfund Conference 2025 - Presentation by Iben F\u00fcrst Frimann-Dahl - Principal Rystad Energy\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9LSN9MPI6gs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e2f73469762a9a18a57d1e54e8b57815\"><strong>Panel conversation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Yngve Slyngstad, Board Chair, Industry Capital Partners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saifuddin Dhorajiwala, Founder and Executive Director at Fourth Partner Energy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bj\u00f8rnar Baugerud, Head of the Climate Investment Fund at Norfund<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-96de237a66a2272c57d0e47cd615cc6c\"><strong>Panel moderated by \u00c5slaug Haga, Board Director at Norfund<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Norfund Conference 2025 - Yngve Slyngstad, Saifuddin Dhorajiwala, Bj\u00f8rnar Baugerud &amp; \u00c5slaug Haga\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0FH4d8sXORo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-line has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\" id=\"h-bridging-the-gap\">When we fail<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking risks means sometimes failing \u2014 and this session explored what failure has looked like for Norfund, how lessons were drawn from past setbacks, and how these experiences helped shape stronger future investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Introduction on different flavours of risk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Marianne J\u00f8nsberg, Head of Business Support at Norfund<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Case from Scalable Enterprises investment area<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Donald Kariuki, Investment Manager at Norfund&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Case from Renewable Energy investment area<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Birgit Edlefsen, Senior Vice President at Norfund<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-gray-light-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-line has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\" id=\"can-we-recycle-out-of-our-problems\">Can we recycle out of our problems?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This session examined the complex role of recycling in the green transition. While materials like plastic and paper are vital to modern economies, they also drive pollution and deforestation. The discussion explored how recycling can be part of the solution\u2014without becoming a vehicle for greenwashing or sidelining informal workers\u2014and whether improved waste management can create new jobs without displacing the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Olawale Adebiyi, CEO at WeCyclers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Karoline Andaur, CEO at WWF Norway<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Carl Johan Wahlund, Senior Vice President at Norfund<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-dark-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bfb1026de8c354da442bf8fa69c2163c\"><strong>Panel moderated by Vibeke Krohn, Head of TOMRA Textiles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Norfund Conference 2025 - Olawale Adebiyi, Karoline Andaur, Naana Winful Fynn &amp; Vibeke Krohn\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xN7p7l0haag?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-line has-primary-dark-color has-text-color\" id=\"your-call-1\">Your call<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An interactive investment session gave the audience deeper insight into the risks and dilemmas involved in investing in developing countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Naana Winful Fynn, Regional Director West Africa, Norfund<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ylva Lindeberg, EVP at Norfund<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The audience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Norfund Conference 2025 - Your Call! - Naana Winful Fynn and Ylva Lindberg - Part 2\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B3nd0T_i0Ag?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-arrow\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/norfund-conference-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Watch the sessions from last year&#8217;s conference<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The annual Norfund Conference was held on Thursday, May 15th, at Taket Steen &amp; Str\u00f8m in Oslo. We explored the risks and dilemmas we face in investment processes \u2014 including what happens when things go wrong. We delved into the compatibility between cutting climate emissions and making profitable investments, and asked whether recycling could be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27202,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-no"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22778"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22778\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27202"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.norfund.no\/no\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}