About Norfund
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Norfund’s strategy has been formulated with a view to fulfilling the mandate laid down in the Norfund Act and reflects the overall priorities in Norwegian development policy. Establishing profitable and sustainable enterprises in some of the world’s poorest and least developed countries is difficult and risky. It demands expertise and know-how in a number of areas. Our strategy therefore consists essentially of building up this investment expertise. Norfund is a financial investor, and expertise in investing and managing risk in developing countries is therefore vital. This requires intimate knowledge of the frameworks prevailing in the countries and sectors where Norfund invests, of the enterprises and their managements and of the partners with whom we co-invest. In order to ensure the best possible knowledge of frameworks and policies, Norfund has concentrated its investment in a restricted number of countries. Key criteria for the choice of these countries have been to give priority to Africa, ensure a high proportion of investment in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and to include countries that have a prominent position in Norwegian development cooperation. These are all countries that have a pronounced need for capital and skills. In addition, Norfund has chosen to concentrate on renewable energy, the finance sector and agribusiness in particular. These are sectors where our activity is likely to produce a particularly marked development effect, and where the conditions are ripe for mobilizing skills of international quality possessed by Norwegian partners. Modernization of agriculture is the first phase of the growth out of poverty. Energy and a functioning banking and finance system are crucial for development.
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