Africa

Your patient, experienced partner in Africa

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We are the UK’s Development Finance Institution, backed by the Government of the United Kingdom. We are an impact investor with over 75 years’ experience and we invest in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

Patient capital to support your ambition

We provide patient capital to businesses and funds across a broad range of sectors – find out more or speak to our local team.

We can commit:

Equity:

$10m to $250m
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Debt:

$10m to $250m
Find out more

We provide a broad range of bespoke capital solutions across equity and debt.

We also offer trade finance, guarantees and technical assistance.

Fund investing:

up to $150m
Find out more

Partnering with established and emerging GPs, across a range of strategies and sectors, we help fund managers harness impact-led growth and support their portfolios.

We offer a partnership
with purpose

A ‘triple pillared’ offering for business leaders and investment partners

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Drive growth and create positive ESG outcomes

Sector expertise

We invest across a broad range of sectors. Investing with a sector lens means we can spot trends and opportunities ahead of the curve, giving you a competitive advantage.

This supports a business’s growth journey.

Patient capital

We are uniquely positioned to offer businesses a broad range of capital solutions from $10m-$250m.

Unconstrained by exit time pressures, we stay with our partners to help them achieve their vision.

Our flexible capital solutions span the full range of equity, debt and funds.

Impactful partnerships

We partner with businesses across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean to add value beyond capital.

Creating cutting edge ESG and impact strategies, we also focus on business integrity to build capacity and resilience and sustain long term success.

We can also provide access to our extensive network of senior business leaders and policy makers when appropriate.

Sector expertise

We invest across a broad range of sectors. Investing with a sector lens means we can spot trends and opportunities ahead of the curve, giving you a competitive advantage.

This supports a business’s growth journey.

Patient capital

We are uniquely positioned to offer businesses a broad range of capital solutions from $10m-$250m.

Unconstrained by exit time pressures, we stay with our partners to help them achieve their vision.

Our flexible capital solutions span the full range of equity, debt and funds.

Impactful partnerships

We partner with businesses across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean to add value beyond capital.

Creating cutting edge ESG and impact strategies, we also focus on business integrity to build capacity and resilience and sustain long term success.

We can also provide access to our extensive network of senior business leaders and policy makers when appropriate.

We provide investment to support the growth of businesses

We are expert investors in the following areas:

Climate

At least 30 per cent of our total new commitments will be in climate finance.

We partner with businesses that are at the forefront of innovations to mitigate climate change, increase climate resilience and adaptation, and support the circular economy.

Infrastructure

We invest in crucial infrastructure that helps to form the building blocks for modern and thriving economies and societies.

Our investments in climate-smart digital and physical infrastructure bring people and businesses closer together, strengthen regional trade and enable the emergence of new value chains.

Digital transformation

We are passionate about the vast potential of the digital economy as a driver of growth, inclusion and innovation.

We invest in businesses and entrepreneurs who are using digitalisation to leapfrog development, improve access to services and unlock new markets and opportunities.

Diversity and inclusion

We are proud to be at the forefront of gender-smart investing.

We are a founding member of the 2X Challenge, which has raised over $33bn to empower women’s economic development. We have set a new target of 25 per cent of all new investments to qualify under 2X.

Our partnerships today include

In Africa

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$5.5 billion
Portfolio in Africa
Over three years (2022–2024) our overall portfolio grew
5.9  per cent Portfolio growth
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880+
Portfolio businesses in Africa
In 2024, we committed $903 million

to climate finance. This takes the total over last two years to over $2 billion.

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$33.6 billion
Raised to empower women’s economic development globally
47,200 Gigawatt hours
of electricity produced by our investments in 2024 to boost livelihoods and increase economic development across our markets
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Our local presence in Africa

Impact-led, commercially rigorous; we focus on climate, gender and inclusive value strategies.

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Click the country names to show our regional presence

Key facts

$723m Portfolio
86 Companies

Representative

Sherine ShohdyNorth Africa Regional Director and Head of Office, Egypt Get in touch

Key facts

$140m Portfolio
36 Companies

Representative

Kwabena Asante-PokuCountry Director, Ghana  Get in touch

Key facts

$470m Portfolio
117 Companies

Representative

Seema-Dhanani

Seema DhananiEast Africa Regional Director and Head of Office, Kenya Get in touch

Key facts

$586m Portfolio
116 Companies

Representative

Benson AdenugaWest Africa Regional Director and Head of Office, Nigeria Get in touch

Key facts

$641m Portfolio
92 Companies

Representative

Thithi Kuhlase-MasekoSouthern Africa Regional Director and Head of Office, South Africa Get in touch

Key facts

$94m Portfolio
15 Companies

Representative

Dirk HolshausenCoverage Director, South Central Africa

Get in touch

Key facts

$300m Portfolio
20 Companies

Representative

Dirk HolshausenCoverage Director, South Central Africa
Get in touch

Key facts

$155m Portfolio
23 Companies

Representative

Vivianne InfanteCoverage Director, Africa Coverage
Get in touch

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Click on map to show our regional presence

Egypt

Key facts

$723m Portfolio
86 Companies

Representative

Sherine ShohdyNorth Africa Regional Director and Head of Office, Egypt Get in touch

Ghana

Key facts

$140m Portfolio
36 Companies

Representative

Kwabena Asante-PokuCountry Director, Ghana  Get in touch

Kenya

Key facts

$470m Portfolio
117 Companies

Representative

Seema-Dhanani

Seema DhananiEast Africa Regional Director and Head of Office, Kenya Get in touch

Nigeria

Key facts

$586m Portfolio
116 Companies

Representative

Benson AdenugaWest Africa Regional Director and Head of Office, Nigeria Get in touch

South Africa

Key facts

$641m Portfolio
92 Companies

Representative

Thithi Kuhlase-MasekoSouthern Africa Regional Director and Head of Office, South Africa Get in touch

Zambia

Key facts

$94m Portfolio
15 Companies

Representative

Dirk HolshausenCoverage Director, South Central Africa

Get in touch

Zimbabwe

Key facts

$300m Portfolio
20 Companies

Representative

Dirk HolshausenCoverage Director, South Central Africa
Get in touch

Ethiopia

Key facts

$155m Portfolio
23 Companies

Representative

Vivianne InfanteCoverage Director, Africa Coverage
Get in touch

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Click the country names to show our regional presence
Click on map to show our regional presence
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“This is a critical time of global uncertainty, with Africa facing significant economic challenges. We remain committed to supporting the continent, especially in markets and sectors that drive growth but often struggle to attract capital. By working counter-cyclically with private sector partners and financial institutions, we aim to mobilise investment, strengthen climate adaptation and resilience, create jobs and unlock opportunities that build long-term economic sustainability.”

We would welcome the opportunity to get to know you and your business. You can get in touch here

Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa

We are commited to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

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British International Investment: your patient, experienced partner in Africa