Impact Finance
Impact finance at Helvetas brings together philanthropy, private-sector expertise and institutional leadership to mobilize capital and scale high-impact sustainable solutions. By combining partners’ resources with our deep local knowledge and trusted networks, Helvetas implements financial mechanisms that strengthen value chains and de-risks promising investments to advance social equity, economic resilience and environmental sustainability. This collaborative approach amplifies the contribution of all development actors, translating partnerships into measurable, lasting impact for people and ecosystems.
OUR COMMITMENT
For 70 years, Helvetas has been committed to reducing poverty, advancing human rights and making equal opportunities a reality everywhere. As a recognized Swiss non-profit organization that is politically and religiously independent, Helvetas supported 4.8 million people across 35 countries in 2024.
Our goal with impact finance is to leverage private capital for sustainable and inclusive development, using approaches that empower communities and foster long-term economic resilience. Helvetas achieve this by bringing together the essential pillars of capacity building and access to fair finance.
OUR IMPACT FINANCE MODEL
Bridging the finance gap
Helvetas helps create impact through our deep knowledge of regions and industries (or value chains) where the potential investee operates. Given our context knowledge, there are opportunities to provide advice to impact investors, offering tailored technical assistance and guiding investment strategies towards maximizing impact in poverty reduction, climate adaptation and mitigation, and increasing the resilience of vulnerable groups.
It is estimated that over four trillion dollars is needed to close the global financing gap and to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The lack of access to fair finance is a key constraint for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which limits job creation and income generation. Impact finance approaches offer an alternative way of mobilizing and catalyzing capital to support inclusive economic growth.
Leveraging deep context knowledge
Helvetas helps create impact through our deep knowledge of regions and industries (or value chains) where the potential investee operates. Given our context knowledge, there are opportunities to provide advice to impact investors, offering tailored technical assistance and guiding investment strategies towards maximizing impact in poverty reduction, climate adaptation and mitigation, while increasing the resilience of vulnerable groups.
Supporting pipeline building and deal creation
One way nonprofits like Helvetas participate in impact finance is as a deal structurer. Our longstanding presence in partner countries allows us to leverage local partnerships to support the identification of potential investment opportunities and to navigate the negotiation process leading up to the actual transaction on behalf of impact investors.
Helping businesses become investment-ready
Helvetas provides technical assistance to help MSMEs become investment-ready and increase their social and economic impact. Investment readiness requires strong business models that enable enterprises to operate independently and sustainably, while creating jobs and income opportunities. Through an inclusive systems approach, Helvetas strengthens and connects local service providers (such as accelerators and incubators) with microfinance institutions, banks and insurance companies to better meet the needs of local businesses.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
Partner with us to align your philanthropy or capital with measurable, lasting impact. Through Helvetas’ impact finance approach, you can help pioneering initiatives scale, strengthen local economies and deliver tangible social and environmental benefits. By forming a catalytic partnership, you contribute to structuring and de-risking investments that unlock additional private capital for sustainable development.
Partner with us to create opportunities where they are needed most. By blending your philanthropic support with private investment, we can reduce the risks associated with promising initiatives and unlock capital for communities striving to build a better future. Together, through impact finance and Helvetas’ deep local expertise, we can help people and ecosystems flourish with dignity, resilience and lasting impact.
Partner with us to co-create systemic solutions that strengthen your value chains while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. By combining your business expertise with Helvetas’ deep contextual knowledge, trusted local networks and impact finance instruments, we can jointly design and scale impactful initiatives that foster social equity, economic resilience and environmental sustainability.
Partner with us to shape the future of development cooperation through innovative finance solutions. Together, we can combine your policy leadership with Helvetas’ proven expertise and local networks to design catalytic mechanisms that foster social equity, economic resilience and environmental sustainability.
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