SIFEM Marks a Milestone Year in 2025 with Record Investment Volume

Zurich, 19 February 2026 – The Swiss development finance institution SIFEM, managed by responsAbility Investments AG, concluded 2025 as a record-breaking year. With a final surge of activity in December, SIFEM successfully closed the year with total commitments of USD 182 million across 13 projects—the highest-ever annual investment volume in its history.

This milestone provides a strong foundation for the 2025–2028 strategic cycle and underscores SIFEM’s role in delivering essential capital to emerging markets. The final four investments of the year illustrate SIFEM’s responsible and collaborative investment approach, focusing on high-utility projects ranging from digital access expansion to climate-resilient infrastructure.

Overview of recent investments

1. Circulate Capital Asia Fund II

SIFEM has committed USD 15 million to the second flagship fund of Circulate Capital. This fund focuses on scaling the circular economy across Southeast Asia and South Asia, with a specific emphasis on plastic recycling and waste management supply chains. By scaling solutions that reduce plastic pollution and lower greenhouse gas emissions through improved recycling infrastructure, this investment directly contributes to SIFEM’s climate mitigation goals.

2. Helios Investors Fund V

SIFEM has committed USD 15 million to the fifth flagship fund managed by Helios Investment Partners. This pan-African growth equity fund targets mid-market companies positioned to benefit from Africa’s demographic expansion and rapid urbanisation. The fund focuses on digital infrastructure, financial services, and tech-enabled business services. This investment is expected to support the creation of approximately 7,000 sustainable jobs and carries a strong commitment to the 2X Challenge, with a target of 50% of portfolio companies meeting gender equality criteria by exit.

3. Lendable Transportation and Energy Fund

In a strategic move to support tech-enabled sustainability, SIFEM joined the first close of Lendable’s Transportation and Energy Fund, committing USD 15 million. This fund provides asset-backed credit to SMEs and mid-market enterprises driving the adoption of electric mobility, renewable energy, and resilient agriculture. LTEF leverages proprietary data and "blended finance" structures to unlock capital for high-impact sectors that are traditionally underserved by commercial banks.

4. Acre Export Finance Fund I

SIFEM’s USD 12.5 million commitment to Acre Export Finance Fund I addresses a critical bottleneck in infrastructure development: the "commercial equity gap" in export credit agency (ECA) backed deals. The fund provides the necessary commercial debt to trigger larger-scale infrastructure projects in sectors such as renewable energy, health, and water across emerging markets, ensuring that essential services reach those who need them most.

All 13 projects committed in 2025 were screened using SIFEM’s new Impact Rating Tool (IRT), which became fully operational in 2025. The framework aims to give insight into each investment’s contribution to SIFEM’s strategic objectives: supporting decent employment opportunities where needed most, social inclusion and gender equality, and climate action.

As SIFEM’s portfolio manager, responsAbility ensures that SIFEM’s capital is deployed effectively, balancing financial returns with measurable development outcomes. Our responsibilities include sourcing and overseeing investments that align with SIFEM’s strategic objectives of fostering economic growth, creating quality jobs, and promoting climate resilience in emerging markets.