Grace Ashiru
Sahel Capital, a leading private investment firm dedicated to advancing Africa’s agribusiness sector, has announced that its Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA) has secured a $10 million investment from the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund. The capital, managed by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Mauritius, will be channelled into expanding financing for small and medium-sized agribusiness enterprises (SMEs) across sub-Saharan Africa.
This new investment marks a significant milestone in SEFAA’s mission to strengthen agricultural ecosystems, enhance food security, and improve the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers. The fund is expected to catalyse more than 10,000 jobs for women and youth across 13 African countries—sectors that remain critical to the continent’s long-term economic growth, as agriculture currently employs over 60% of Africa’s workforce and contributes about 23% to sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP (World Bank, 2023).
SEFAA was launched in 2021 to close the financing gap for agribusiness SMEs that are financially viable but often excluded from traditional lending due to stringent collateral requirements and perceived risks. By enabling these SMEs to scale their operations, access new markets, and adopt improved technologies, the fund delivers broader benefits to rural communities and strengthens value chains across food production, processing, and distribution.
“Since the inception of the Fund in 2021, we have processed 33 facilities to 18 companies in seven countries in SSA,” said Mezuo Nwuneli, Managing Partner of Sahel Capital. “This $10 million commitment from the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, through MEDA Mauritius, is a testament to our team’s dedication and the impactful work we are driving. It will be instrumental in accelerating our efforts to improve income opportunities for smallholder farmers by enabling the agri-SMEs that engage with them, further cementing our position as a leading fund in the food and agriculture sector in Africa.”
The partnership between Sahel Capital, MEDA Mauritius, and the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund underscores a shared commitment to unlocking catalytic capital for SMEs while generating sustainable employment. Dorothy Nyambi, President and CEO of MEDA, emphasised the values driving the collaboration: “We are proud to partner with SEFAA and Sahel Capital, whose strategic vision aligns with MEDA’s mission of advancing economic opportunity through inclusive finance. With the support of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, this collaboration strengthens our shared mission to catalyse job creation for women and youth by financing SMEs and MSMEs, while also supporting the development of enabling ecosystems they need to thrive.”
The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, a $200 million fund-of-funds initiative, is designed to unlock capital for African SMEs by investing in gender-diverse fund managers and offering capacity-building support. Its investment in SEFAA represents a targeted effort to channel catalytic financing into enterprises with strong growth potential. This initiative is closely tied to the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young Africans, particularly women, to secure dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. Priority countries include Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda.
With the new $10 million commitment, SEFAA is now better positioned to expand its reach, broaden access to finance, and deepen its impact across sub-Saharan Africa. By enabling agribusiness SMEs to access growth capital, the fund continues its mission of empowering smallholder farmers, advancing gender inclusion, fostering innovation, and creating sustainable jobs for Africa’s rapidly growing youth population—an essential driver for the continent’s economic resilience.
Got a Story to Tell?
Share your journey with TechInAfrica and connect with thousands of African founders, investors, venture capitalists, tech leaders, and industry decision-makers. Whether you’re building the next big thing or reshaping the future of tech in Africa, we’ll help you get your story in front of the people who matter.
