Keypoints:
- $10m to scale African agri-SMEs
- 10,000 jobs for women, youth
- Backed by MEDA and KfW
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, administered by MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates, Mauritius).
This fresh injection of capital marks a major milestone in SEFAA’s mission to finance social enterprises that transform livelihoods for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. The fund aims to strengthen agricultural ecosystems, boost income-generating opportunities, and create more than 10,000 jobs for women and youth across 13 African countries.
Catalysing inclusive growth
The partnership between SEFAA, MEDA Mauritius, and the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund underscores a shared commitment to unlocking economic potential and fostering employment across the continent.
By directing financing to agri-SMEs that are commercially viable but underserved by traditional banks, SEFAA plans to bridge a critical funding gap. The organisation’s focus on enterprises that work directly with smallholder farmers is intended to drive sustainable economic impact and long-term poverty reduction in rural communities.
Mezuo Nwuneli, Managing Partner at Sahel Capital, said the new commitment validates years of effort:
‘Since the inception of the Fund in 2021, we have processed 33 facilities to 18 companies in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This $10m commitment from the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, through MEDA Mauritius, is a testament to our team’s hard work and the impactful results we are achieving. It will accelerate our mission to improve income opportunities for smallholder farmers by empowering the agri-SMEs that engage with them.’
Building sustainable agribusinesses
Dorothy Nyambi, President and CEO of MEDA, highlighted the alignment between the organisations: ‘We are proud to partner with SEFAA and Sahel Capital, whose strategic vision matches MEDA’s commitment to advancing economic opportunity through inclusive finance. With the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund’s support, this collaboration strengthens our joint mission to catalyse job creation for women and youth while helping to build the ecosystems they need to thrive.’
The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund focuses on unlocking capital for African SMEs to scale operations and create dignified employment. Its investment in SEFAA reflects a targeted strategy to direct catalytic capital towards enterprises with strong potential for inclusive growth.
Early backers and future plans
SEFAA’s growth has also been enabled by the early backing of KfW Development Bank, whose initial investment was key to launching the fund in 2021. The fund currently provides flexible financing—primarily debt, alongside equity and quasi-equity options—to agribusinesses that improve productivity, market access, and livelihoods for smallholder farmers, with a strong emphasis on social impact and gender inclusion.
Operating across countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Cote d’Ivoire, SEFAA typically invests between $300,000 and $2.4 million. Alongside funding, it offers a technical assistance facility to strengthen operational capacity and ensure long-term sustainability.
With this latest $10m boost, SEFAA is set to expand its footprint across the continent, delivering transformative impact for farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural communities alike.
