€ 0
Overview
| Donor: | Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) |
| Application procedure: | Concept Note |
| Donor base: | Switzerland |
| Reference number: | - |
| Eligible applicants: | Social Business |
| Deadline: | ongoing |
Financial details
| Grant size: | Small - up to $100,000 |
| Minimum grant size: | - |
| Total available budget: | - |
| Funding type: | Equity, Loans, Other |
| Maximum grant size: | - |
| Funding ratio: | up to 100% |
Sectors
- Economic Development
- Education
- Energy
- Health
- Social Inclusion
Project Locations
Africa
Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
America
Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru
Asia
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Europe
Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine
Description
1) Objective
The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets is the development finance institution of the Swiss Confederation. SIFEM promotes long-term, sustainable and broad-based economic growth in developing and emerging countries by providing financial support to commercially viable small, medium and fast-growing enterprises (SMEs) which in turn helps to create secure and permanent jobs and reduce poverty. Theye prioritize investments in sectors vital for economic development, focusing on those with the capacity to generate and sustain significant job opportunities, provide inclusive goods and services, and contribute to climate change mitigation or adaptation. Key sectors include but are not limited to: manufacturing industry, transport & storage, ICT, wholesale and retail trade, production of renewable energies and energy efficiency solutions, healthcare and education.
They offer:
- Private Equity Funds: They take equity shares in funds that secure stakes in local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These funds play a dynamic role in actively fostering these enterprises’ growth and professional development. They prefer partnerships with established fund managers with a positive track record, and cannot consider seed-stage VC funds.
- Loans: SIFEM provides different types of loans to financial intermediaries such as local banks, leasing companies, micro-financing companies and other financial institutions. The loans may be earmarked for a specific purpose such as the expansion of the product offering to underserved communities or for climate projects.
- Advisory: They provide access to SECO’s capacity-building program, offering financial intermediaries specialized resources for initiatives that amplify the developmental impact of their projects. These advisory mandates primarily assist local investment firms in various aspects, including the adoption of new technologies, enhancement of production processes, optimization of sales and marketing efforts, and adherence to environmental, social, and governance standards.
2) Eligibility
They invest in small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as fast-growing companies through financial intermediaries.
3) Location
They work in developing countries and emerging economies. Priority countries are: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine.
4) Budget
Funding varies per investment.
5) Application
A project request can be sent all year round via their website.