The UNDP in Mauritius and Seychelles, supported by the UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub (ASFH), have embarked on a strategic initiative aimed at fostering sustainable development through targeted investment. In this context, a three-day Inception Workshop was organised in Mauritius on 17 to 19 June 2024, gathering the various project partners.

Building on insights from the SDG Investor Map, the programme focuses on developing an SDG investment pipeline, facilitating deal brokering, and managing impacts to channel SDG-aligned capital into impactful opportunities. The project aims to nurture a pipeline of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) whose operations align with the countries’ National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national SDG targets. As part of this initiative, crucial technical assistance will be provided to enhance the investment readiness of SMEs, expand market intelligence for efficient deal sourcing, and connect enterprises with a network of local and global investors.

The project outlines several key objectives, including identifying high-impact SMEs and facilitating their capitalization through active investment brokering. Additionally, it seeks to map investors interested in deploying capital to SMEs through various financial instruments aligned with local private sector partners and identify public support mechanisms for semi-commercial capitalization of SMEs using appropriate financing tools. The project also aims at developing robust pipelines focusing on SMEs operating in priority sectors such as sustainable food systems, the blue economy, and regional integration; conducting investment brokering for selected partnerships, and guiding stakeholders in developing financing structures aligned with SDG Investor Maps.

Upon completion, the initiative aims to provide actionable insights and recommendations for ongoing investment brokering support, not only in Mauritius and Seychelles but also potentially in other Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It will inform UNDP's future initiatives in scaling up similar pipeline building efforts globally, reinforcing sustainable development goals through strategic financial interventions.

Through these collaborative efforts, UNDP underscores its commitment to leveraging finance as a tool for sustainable development, fostering economic resilience, and advancing environmental and social priorities in Mauritius, Seychelles, and beyond.