Norfund - The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, is owned by the Norwegian Government and serves as an instrument in Norwegian development policy. Norfund contributes to poverty reduction and economic development in the poorest countries through investments in profitable businesses and transfer of knowledge and technology.
Norfund invests equity and/or debt capital, always as a financial minority together with partners, international or Norwegian.
The main sector for investment is clean energy, both through the hydro power company SN Power and through direct investments. Norfund is Norway's biggest investor in microfinance through the Norwegian Microfinance Initiative (NMI), and is also a prominent investor in small and medium sized businesses through regional funds and direct investments.
Norfund's geographical focus is on Sub-Sahara Africa, where the fund has three regional offices (Johannesburg, Nairobi and Maputo). In addition, Norfund invests in selected countries in Asia and Latin America, with regional offices in Costa Rica and Bangkok. Norfund seeks to hire local staff in the regions, and 15 nationalities are represented among the staff.
