The SANAD Fund for MSMEs Achieves USD 980 Million in Cumulative Investments, Strengthening Impact Across MENA and SSA

Luxembourg January 20th, 2025 –The SANAD Fund for MSMEs, advised by Finance in Motion, achieved a milestone in 2024, with cumulative debt and equity investments reaching approximately USD 980 million. SANAD continues to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and low-income households in the Middle East, North Africa (MENA), and select Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, fostering sustainable growth. 

Key 2024 Highlights

Support for MSMEs
The SANAD Debt Sub-Fund (DSF) maintained its focus on micro and small enterprises, with an average sub-loan size of under USD 10,000. Local currency disbursements, essential for mitigating forex risks, represented 31% of total financing in 2024.

Transformative Investments 
Notable transactions include USD 10 million in crisis-response financing to the Bank of Palestine and SANAD’s first direct investments in Egypt and Morocco, strengthening agricultural MSMEs and value chains.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
SANAD advanced women’s empowerment by setting impact-linked targets for women-led businesses. Collaborations with micro finance institutions in Morocco and Jordan provided crucial funding, complemented by a MENA-wide acceleration program for female entrepreneurs.

Additionally, the SANAD Equity Sub- Funds (ESF) have made significant progress on their investment journey to support MSMEs through small financial institutions, FinTechs, AgTechs and InsureTechs by adding three more companies to the portfolio (overall 9 active investees), whilst at the same time supporting the existing portfolio on the way to divestment.

Expanding Regional Impact
SANAD launched the Womenpreneur Tour in Ghana and Kenya and partnered with Baobab to finance agricultural MSMEs in SSA through innovative local-currency structures.

Building Resilience
Reinvestment from long-term partners FMO and OeEB added approximately USD 40 million to the fund, reinforcing SANAD’s stability despite regional challenges.

Outlook
Chairperson Dr. Daniela Beckmann remarked, “SANAD’s achievements in 2024 reflect our unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable development and inclusive growth. From empowering women entrepreneurs to supporting MSMEs during crises, the fund remains a steadfast partner for it its partner institutions. We look forward to building on this momentum and driving further impact in the years to come.”

About SANAD
The SANAD Fund for MSME finances micro, small, and medium enterprises and low-income households in the Middle East and North Africa and selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa via qualified local lenders. SANAD thereby fosters economic development and job creation – including youth employment – agriculture, affordable housing, and innovations in finance and financial technologies. SANAD strives to meet these goals by providing debt and equity financing to its local partners. The SANAD Technical Assistance Facility multiplies the fund’s development impact and outreach through capacity-building with partner institutions, developing financial infrastructures according to the principles of responsible finance and conducting much required R&D.  

An impact investment fund advised by Finance in Motion, SANAD’s investors include the KfW Development Bank, which initiated the fund; the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ); the European Union; Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO); OeEB, the Development Bank of Austria; Germany’s GLS Bank and GLS Treuhand; the Dutch development bank FMO; and Calvert Impact Capital.  

About Finance in Motion
Finance in Motion structures, manages, and advises almost €4 billion across 10 funds, all classified as Article 9. These private market funds drive impact for people and planet through regional financial intermediaries, direct investments, advisory and capacity building. Founded in Germany, with local expertise from Latin America to CEE, it has been investing in emerging markets for over 20 years. www.finance-in-motion.com