Private and public sectors

Through our operations, we are in an optimal position to support both public and private sector development, as well as activities linking the two sectors. We engage in both the public and the private sector, and use financial instruments flexibly, alone or in various combinations, to match the financial needs of projects.

 

Through our financing, we provide different kinds of solutions for the financing of nationally prioritised public sector projects implemented by public sector entities, especially the multilateral development banks in the focus countries. We co-finance projects in the public sector through grants and concessionary loans with the goal of validating the project's concept and leveraging financing from other sources. In addition, we identify financing opportunities and act as a matchmaker between the public and private sectors to help raise capital for demonstrably viable and scalable initiatives. 

Our approach to private sector operations recognises the central role of private sector actors and stakeholders in achieving the global climate and development goals determined in the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. This approach highlights the private sector as an essential source of innovation, cutting-edge solutions, efficient interventions and market development. In this context, a guiding principle is that private sector companies, such as technology providers and project developers, play an important role in leading the transition of developing countries towards green, resilient and sustainable economies and societies. Moreover, by supporting initiatives and partnerships between the public and private sector, we strengthen these transformational processes.

We have been in the forefront of developing adaptation finance led by the private sector where strategic transformations of business models and production processes can provide adaptation and resilience solutions, as well as mitigation and adaptation co-benefits.

In private sector operations, we focus on early-stage project financing, which is usually associated with the highest risk levels during the lifecycle of projects. For example, the Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) and the Nordic Climate Facility (NCF), two financing facilities managed by NDF, have provided catalytic and early-stage financing to a significant number of companies with green and climate-relevant technologies and solutions in developing countries.

We add value to investments by mobilising co-financing from investors with higher return expectations and lower risk appetites, including commercial and institutional investors. Our catalytic impact is also relevant to publicly funded DFIs, both multilateral and bilateral, including the Nordic DFIs.