Foundation or philanthropic investor
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is a government agency and a part of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Established in 1961, it is responsible for Switzerland's international development cooperation and humanitarian aid. The SDC's mission is to alleviate poverty, promote economic development, and contribute to sustainable development globally. Its investment strategy as an LP involves providing mandates and contributions to international organisations, specialised funds, and private-sector companies. This approach allows the SDC to strategically deploy catalytic and concessional capital to foster sustainable growth, create jobs, and attract private investment in developing and fragile countries.
Investment focus
- Sectors
- Energy and powerTechnologyAgriculture and foodHealthcareSMEsFinancial servicesManufacturing and industrials
- Stages and strategies
- GrowthFund investmentsPrivate creditSeedSeries A
- Instruments
- EquityDebt
- Regions
- Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa, Global
- African markets named in public materials
- Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zimbabwe
Fund commitments
- COVID-19 Energy Access Relief Fund 1 September 2021
- Water Access Acceleration Fund (W2AF)
- Hardest-to-Reach Initiative
- Impact-Linked Finance Fund for Eastern and Southern Africa
- Impact-Linked Fund for Eastern and Southern Africa 2
- Impact-Linked Finance Fund for Education
- The BUILD Fund (Bamboo Capital Partners)
- Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa)
- Acumen Trellis Initiative
- Nutritious Foods Financing Facility (N3F)
Selected portfolio and direct investments
- Rural Spark B.V.
Recent investments and transactions
| Date | Transaction | Type | Value | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Aug 2026 | CEI Africa and Swiss Development Cooperation invest EUR 2 million in Spark's operations in sub-Saharan Africa | Venture Capital | $2.3m | Madagascar |
Sources
- Partner Researchers, accessed 14 November 2026
- Partner Researchers, accessed 14 November 2026
- https://acumen.org/news/coalition-launches-energy-access-relief-fund/, acumen.org. Accessed 14 November 2026; link checked 15 November 2026.