Who finances energy
The institutions that lend to, invest in and guarantee energy projects in Africa and other emerging markets, what each one finances, and where to start with them. Each applies its own rules: apply to them directly.
Multilateral development banks
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World Bank (IBRD and IDA)
Loans, credits and grants to governments for generation, transmission, distribution and access. Co-leads Mission 300 with the African Development Bank, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
Visit World Bank (IBRD and IDA) -
OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund)
Public- and private-sector loans and grants in developing countries, with energy among its core sectors.
Visit OPEC Fund -
Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
Sharia-compliant finance for power, renewables and energy access in its member countries.
Visit IsDB -
European Investment Bank (EIB)
The EU’s lending arm: loans for renewables, grids and efficiency inside and outside Europe.
Visit EIB -
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Infrastructure loans, with energy one of its largest sectors, for members in Asia and beyond.
Visit AIIB
Development finance institutions
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International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Equity and loans for private power producers, utilities and off-grid companies; the World Bank Group’s private-sector arm.
Visit IFC -
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
Political-risk insurance and credit enhancement that make cross-border energy investments bankable.
Visit MIGA -
British International Investment (BII)
The UK’s development finance institution: equity and debt for power and renewables in Africa and South Asia.
Visit BII -
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
Loans, guarantees, equity and political-risk insurance for private projects in developing countries, including power.
Visit DFC -
Proparco
Private-sector arm of the French development agency (AFD): loans and equity for power and renewable producers.
Visit Proparco
Climate funds
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Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA)
Grants and concessional finance for project preparation, mini-grids, clean cooking and green baseload, managed by the African Development Bank.
Visit SEFA -
Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Grants, concessional loans, equity and guarantees for low-emission and climate-resilient projects, through accredited entities.
Visit GCF -
Climate Investment Funds (CIF)
Concessional finance, delivered through the multilateral banks, for clean technology, renewables in low-income countries and coal transition.
Visit CIF
African institutions
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African Development Bank (AfDB)
Sovereign and private loans across Africa’s power sector, including Desert to Power; co-leads Mission 300.
Visit AfDB -
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
Trade and project finance across Africa, including oil, gas and power infrastructure.
Visit Afreximbank -
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
Equity, debt and project development for African infrastructure, with power one of its largest sectors.
Visit AFC -
Africa50
An infrastructure investment platform owned by African governments and the AfDB that develops and invests in power and transport projects.
Visit Africa50
Nigerian institutions
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Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)
Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund; its infrastructure fund invests in power and other domestic infrastructure.
Visit NSIA -
InfraCredit
Guarantees that let Nigerian infrastructure projects, including off-grid and embedded power, borrow long-term in naira.
Visit InfraCredit -
Rural Electrification Agency (REA)
The federal agency that channels grants and results-based finance from development partners to mini-grid and solar-home-system developers.
Visit REA
Descriptions summarise each institution’s published mandate; amounts, terms and eligibility change, so check with the institution. CEII is not affiliated with these institutions unless stated, and does not process applications for them.