How to access technical assistance funding from Norfund

As development finance institutions take on a bigger role in funding global development, attention is growing not only on how they invest — but also how they support those investments to succeed. For Norfund, the Norwegian DFI, that work happens through its business support program. Business Support is a technical assistance, or TA, facility that provides grant funding for projects designed to help portfolio companies grow more sustainably, reach underserved markets, or address specific operational challenges. The support is delivered by third-party providers, jointly selected with the investee, and can range from feasibility studies to supply chain strengthening or local community engagement efforts. In a recent Devex Pro Live conversation, Marianne Jønsberg, the senior manager for business support at Norfund, explained how the institution structures and deploys grant funding for TA — and what organizations interested in partnering with Norfund should keep in mind. Here are the key takeaways: 1. The budget may be small — but its reach is strategic Norfund’s Business Support facility has existed since 2000 and in 25 years has backed more than 350 technical assistance projects. The total allocation so far: $30 million. In 2024, Norfund’s Business Support budget was just $1 million — a small sum compared to the DFI’s $700 million in total investments that year. But with that limited funding, the team still launched 20 new projects and reached roughly a quarter of Norfund’s direct investees. “We have limited TA budgets,” Jønsberg said, “but we’ve prioritized smaller projects that still allow us to reach a large portion of our portfolio.” 2. Projects are co-financed — and investees must take the lead Norfund provides up to 50% of the total cost of each technical assistance project, with the rest covered by the investee. The rationale? Ensuring buy-in and long-term sustainability. “If you’re putting cash on the table, you will at least try to ensure that you get the results you’re looking for,” Jønsberg said. That cost-share model, she explained, is meant to encourage both ownership and commercial viability. Project needs are typically identified by the investee or Norfund’s investment teams, and proposals are co-designed in close collaboration. Final approval comes from a dedicated TA committee, which evaluates proposals based on alignment with Norfund’s strategic priorities, the level of investee buy-in, the potential for long-term sustainability, and whether the project can meaningfully strengthen development outcomes. Critically, the buy-in from investee leadership is seen as nonnegotiable — not just for alignment, but to embed ownership. Capacity building needs to be integrated since TA projects are often small, but their long-term impact depends on whether the investee’s team is equipped to carry them forward, Jønsberg explained. 3. Partner engagement: What Norfund looks for Norfund doesn’t implement projects itself. Instead, it co-develops scopes with investees and jointly selects delivery partners. That could include NGOs, consultancies, or individual experts — but local presence and contextual understanding are essential. “We do encourage [...] strong local presence,” Jønsberg said. Norfund looks for delivery partners who bring sector expertise and a strong local presence — people who can collaborate closely with investees on the ground and help drive results. The most effective collaborators, she noted, are those who share Norfund’s values, bring sector-specific insight, and are committed to long-term outcomes. The most effective collaborators, Jønsberg suggested, are those who align with Norfund’s values, offer deep sector knowledge, and are invested in long-term outcomes. Beyond just producing reports, Norfund emphasizes learning, trust-building, and a shared commitment to sustainable success. For organizations hoping to engage, Jønsberg suggested starting by reviewing Norfund’s active investment portfolio online to identify alignment in geography or sector. 4. Sectoral and geographic priorities: From client protection to climate Norfund deploys technical assistance across a broad set of priority sectors, including renewable energy, financial inclusion, agribusiness, climate, gender, and occupational health and safety — with projects active across 30 core countries in its portfolio. In renewable energy, Jønsberg pointed to two recent projects in India, where TA funding helped engage local communities affected by large-scale infrastructure developments. Both were implemented in partnership with local NGOs and aimed at improving development outcomes in the areas surrounding Norfund’s energy investments. In financial inclusion, TA is being used to strengthen client protection practices among microfinance institutions in Latin America and Asia — a critical step, Jønsberg said, to ensure responsible lending and safeguard vulnerable clients. And in agribusiness — where most of Norfund’s investments are in sub-Saharan Africa — Business Support has helped grow local supply chains by supporting producers to source more directly from smallholder farmers. That includes piloting new sourcing models or introducing new crops suited to the local context. This work, she noted, is often “challenging but very rewarding,” and requires strong, long-term partnerships with local actors. Climate is an increasingly important cross-cutting area for TA, with projects focused on helping investees understand and calculate their emissions, adapt to climate risks, and implement initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint. “We’ve seen Business Support playing an important role,” Jønsberg said, “and it will continue to do so.” Gender equality and occupational health and safety also remain central themes across the portfolio. As Jønsberg put it, these are “key thematic areas” where demand continues to grow across all sectors and geographies. 5. What’s next: Scaling, collaboration, and flexibility Despite its modest size, Norfund’s Business Support facility plays a strategic role in complementing the DFI’s broader investment approach. But Jønsberg acknowledged one major constraint: scale. “We can co-fund with the private sector or the company [...],” she said, “but we need others — bigger players — to really drive those ideas forward.” When asked what makes a TA project succeed, Jønsberg pointed to early alignment, staff capacity at the investee, and timing. Flexibility is also key — especially in fragile markets. When asked what makes a TA project succeed, Jønsberg pointed to early alignment, staff capacity at the investee, and timing. She emphasized the importance of flexibility, especially in fragile markets, noting that projects often evolve and require implementing partners who can adapt to changes. She also emphasized the value of keeping TA decision-making close to the investment team. Jønsberg also emphasized the value of having the Business Support team embedded within Norfund’s investment departments. Being involved from the early due diligence phase, she said, allows them to co-design projects that are grounded in the specific needs and timing of each investment. Looking ahead, Jønsberg hopes the facility retains its flexibility — even amid wider aid cuts. She also expects greater collaboration among DFIs, particularly around technical assistance. “There’s an increasing demand for TA,” she said. “​​We have to continue making those efforts.” Want more briefings like this? Let us know — and stay tuned for upcoming live conversations here.