Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries Tenders

Norfund was established as a company under special law under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997. Here is some background on the establishment and history of Norfund:

In 1995, the North-South/Development Aid Commission argued that Norway ought to establish an investment fund as a key instrument of its development policy. For some years, NORAD had provided loans to Norwegian enterprises that established themselves abroad, but was restricted by its mandate from providing equity to companies. At that time Norway was one of very few Western European countries that did not have a development finance institution (DFI). The proposal to establish Norfund was submitted to the Storting as a separate matter in Proposition No. 13 to the Odelsting chamber (1996-1997), and the Norfund Act was approved on 9 May 1997 (No. 26).

The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund) was established by the Storting in 1997, with the objective of alleviating poverty by investing in and providing loans to profitable and sustainable companies, thereby contributing to economic development and growth in private enterprise. It was to operate in countries with limited access to commercial finance owing to the reluctance of ordinary commercial entities to invest because of high risk.

Since its establishment, Norfund’s annual capital contribution has increased from NOK 175 million in 1998 to NOK 1 billion in 2011. Capital is allocated to Norfund by the Norwegian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A key premise for the establishment of Norfund was the understanding that development assistance needs to contribute more to developing a productive private sector and thereby long-term economic sustainability. Norfund was initially restricted to co-investing with Norwegian partners, but this restriction was lifted in 2002. Now Norfund can never be the majority owner, but is free to co-invest with both Norwegian and international partners.