The Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA), managed by Sahel Capital, has secured a $10 million investment from the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, managed by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) through its Mauritius entity.
The investment marks a significant milestone in SEFAA’s mission to support social enterprises that strengthen agricultural ecosystems and transform the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa.
By providing catalytic financing to agricultural small and medium-sized enterprises (agri-SMEs) that are often excluded from traditional financing, SEFAA aims to create over 10,000 jobs for women and youth across 13 African countries.
“Since the inception of the Fund in 2021, we have processed 33 facilities to 18 companies in seven countries in SSA,” said Mezuo Nwuneli, Managing Partner of Sahel Capital.
“This $10 million commitment from the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, through MEDA Mauritius, is a testament to our team’s hard work and impact. It will accelerate our efforts to improve income opportunities for smallholder farmers by enabling agri-SMEs to scale.”
Dorothy Nyambi, President and CEO of MEDA, emphasized the shared vision behind the partnership. “We are proud to partner with SEFAA and Sahel Capital, whose strategic vision aligns with MEDA’s commitment to advancing economic opportunity through inclusive finance.
With the support of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, this collaboration strengthens our mission to catalyze job creation for women and youth while building enabling ecosystems for SMEs and MSMEs to thrive.”
The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund is focused on unlocking capital for African SMEs, enabling them to expand and create sustainable employment.
SEFAA’s growth has also been bolstered by the pioneering support of KfW Development Bank, whose early investment was instrumental in establishing the Fund.