FinDev Canada invests USD 33 million alongside institutional investors in BlueOrchard Climate Action Mobilisation Fund to accelerate climate finance

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Canada's bilateral development finance institution, FinDev Canada, announced a USD 33 million commitment to BlueOrchard Climate Action Mobilisation Fund ("the Fund or BOCAMF"), a private debt fund structured as a blended finance vehicle that achieved its first close of USD 250 million. The Fund received commitments from private-sector institutional investors Aviva Life and Daido Life Insurance Company, as well as Schroders, and British International Investment (BII).

The Fund will provide senior loans to financial institutions that channel climate finance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to companies directly. The target markets include Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. This origination strategy seeks to combine attractive risk-adjusted returns with measurable climate impact.

The Fund represents the first blended finance vehicle focused on emerging and development markets to issue notes with a publicly available investment-grade A3 rating assigned by Moody's, a leading international credit rating agency under its closed-end fund methodology.

As extreme climate events increase, demand for climate finance could exceed USD 9 trillion annually to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.  To help close this growing gap, the Fund aims to allocate at least 80% of its portfolio to climate mitigation and adaptation activities across various sectors, including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green buildings, sustainable transport, and solar energy.

This commitment supports Canada's goal of building stronger relationships across Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America, where new trade agreements and dynamic markets are creating more economic opportunities and strengthening sustainable development. Additionally, it advances collaboration with the private sector and strengthens the partnership with BII, building upon the memorandum of understanding signed in 2025.

"The scale of the climate challenge demands that we find new ways to mobilize institutional capital for emerging markets. This first-of-its-kind fund demonstrates what is possible when development finance, private investment, and deep market expertise come together with a shared ambition. By creating an investment grade pathway into emerging market climate finance, together, we are supporting climate solutions today while demonstrating a model that can unlock larger flows of capital in the future. That is the promise of blended finance – to turn investor interest into action and expand what the market can achieve," said Lori Kerr, CEO, FinDev Canada.

"The successful first close of BOCAMF demonstrates what can be achieved when institutional investors, development finance institutions, and investment managers work together to design solutions around investors' needs. By combining BlueOrchard's 25-year track record in emerging markets private credit with an innovative blended finance structure, including direct corporate lending, we have delivered an investment solution that broadens institutional access to climate finance while meeting the investment and regulatory requirements of insurers and other long-term investors," said Michael Wehrle, CEO, BlueOrchard.

 "BOCAMF was one of the winners of BII's flagship Climate Action Mobilisation Initiative, launched in 2025 to develop investment solutions capable of attracting greater private capital into climate opportunities in emerging markets. This first close is an important proof point for the continued evolution of blended finance as a powerful mobilisation tool. By demonstrating that institutional investor requirements can be met alongside meaningful climate impact, the Fund helps create a pathway for greater commercial investment into emerging markets. Each successful vehicle strengthens the market, builds investor confidence and makes it easier to replicate and scale future structures, ultimately mobilizing more private capital towards climate action where it is needed most," said Leslie Maasdorp, CEO, British International Investment.

About FinDev Canada       

FinDev Canada is a development finance institution that invests in emerging markets to deliver development impact, financial returns, and shared economic prosperity. We provide debt, equity, blended finance, technical assistance, and advisory across infrastructure, agribusiness, and the financial industry in developing economies to support development through the private sector. Find out more about FinDev Canada at www.findevcanada.ca.   

About BlueOrchard Finance Ltd

BlueOrchard is a leading global impact investment manager with a long-standing track record of delivering financial returns alongside measurable social and environmental outcomes. Established in 2001 as part of a United Nations initiative, the firm has been a pioneer in impact investing, with a particular focus on emerging and frontier markets. With more than two decades of experience, global reach and deep local expertise, BlueOrchard offers a broad range of impact investment strategies designed to meet the needs of institutional, private, and public investors. These solutions provide access to high-growth markets while supporting job creation and sustainable economic development. The firm has invested billions of dollars across more than 100 countries, benefiting millions of underserved micro, small, and mid-sized enterprises.

As part of Schroders, a global asset manager with a heritage spanning over 200 years, BlueOrchard combines specialist impact investing capabilities with institutional-grade infrastructure and governance.

Media Contact: FinDev Canada: Media@findevcanada.ca