A wheat strand. Photo pexels-pixabay-162870
The Social Enterprise Fund for Agriculture in Africa (SEFAA), managed by Sahel Capital, is deepening its efforts to unlock opportunities for smallholder farmers and agri-SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa with support from the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund.
The partnership aims to expand SEFAA’s capacity to finance enterprises that generate meaningful employment for women and youth while strengthening local agricultural ecosystems.
Since its inception in 2021, SEFAA has focused on early-stage and growth-oriented agribusinesses, providing flexible financing and technical assistance to help them scale.
Through this collaboration, SEFAA plans to create over 2,000 direct jobs for women and youth across 13 African countries, contributing to its broader goal of enabling 10,000 jobs by channeling catalytic capital and business development support to high-potential agribusinesses often overlooked by traditional financing.
Additionally, SEFAA expects to generate over 30,000 indirect jobs through stronger supply chains, higher productivity, and improved market access for small farm businesses.
The initiative is designed to drive inclusive growth and enhance long-term economic resilience for farming communities and the wider agrifood sector.
“Since the Fund’s inception in 2021, we have partnered with companies that are delivering tangible improvements in the livelihoods of smallholder farmers,” said Mezuo Nwuneli, Managing Partner of Sahel Capital.
“Support from the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, through MEDA Mauritius, will accelerate our efforts to enable high-potential agri-SMEs to thrive and generate lasting impact.”
Dorothy Nyambi, President and CEO of MEDA, added;
“We are proud to partner with SEFAA and Sahel Capital to create dignified employment and sustainable growth for women and youth. This collaboration reflects our shared mission to build resilient agricultural value chains and inclusive economies across the continent.”
The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund is a US$200 million fund-of-funds that catalyzes risk capital through African-owned and African-led investment vehicles, applying a gender-lens investing approach.
The fund equips fund managers with tools, resources, and expertise in Gender, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (GDEI) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
It strengthens local investment ecosystems that generate dignified and fulfilling work for young women and youth, foster inclusive growth, and promote sustainable development across Africa.
SEFAA’s model focuses on identifying agribusinesses that can create measurable social impact while remaining financially viable.
By targeting companies that improve productivity, market access, and livelihoods for smallholder farmers, the fund ensures that investments translate into tangible benefits for communities.
The partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund allows SEFAA to offer a combination of capital and advisory support, giving enterprises the flexibility to grow while maintaining their social objectives.
“Support from strategic investors like the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund is crucial for scaling interventions that create employment and strengthen local economies,” said Nwuneli.
“It allows us to work with enterprises that might not have access to traditional financing yet have significant potential to transform agriculture and livelihoods in Africa.”
Beyond creating jobs, SEFAA’s work is structured to improve inclusivity in the agricultural sector. Women and youth remain at the center of its investment strategy, ensuring that enterprises generate equitable opportunities and contribute to closing gender and age-related employment gaps in rural and semi-urban areas.
By prioritizing social impact alongside financial sustainability, SEFAA is building a pipeline of agribusinesses that can withstand market challenges while creating lasting community benefits.
The collaboration between SEFAA, Sahel Capital, MEDA, and the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund exemplifies a holistic approach to agricultural development.
By combining capital, technical assistance, and a focus on social impact, the partnership addresses both immediate employment needs and long-term systemic challenges in the agrifood sector.
With this support, SEFAA is poised to expand its reach, strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers, and create a lasting impact across Africa.
About Sahel Capital
Sahel Capital is a leading investment firm focused exclusively on the sub-Saharan agribusiness sector.
Through its funds, including SEFAA, Sahel Capital provides tailored capital and technical assistance to enterprises that improve productivity, market access, and livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
About MEDA
MEDA is an international economic development organization that creates business solutions to poverty.
MEDA works with entrepreneurs and small businesses worldwide to provide access to finance, business development services, and market linkages.
About the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund
The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund is a US$200 million fund-of-funds that catalyzes risk capital through African-owned and African-led Investment Vehicles with a gender-lens investing approach.
It supports female-led and gender-diverse IVs to invest in and provide hands-on growth support to SMEs across sub-Saharan Africa.
Aligned with the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, the Fund aims to create 15,000 direct jobs and over 368,000 indirect jobs for women and youth, strengthen local investment ecosystems, and promote Gender, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (GDEI) and ESG principles.
