DBSA secures $100m AFD loan facility to support continental activity

7th April 2017 By: Natasha Odendaal - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has secured a $100-million loan facility from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), earmarked for energy, water, transport and information and communication technology infrastructure across Africa.

The DBSA aims to continue to advance development on the continent by expanding access to development finance and catalysing infrastructure investments and, therefore, effectively integrating and implementing sustainable development solutions.

The extension of infrastructure financing to the rest of Africa emerged as a new area of cooperation for the AFD and the DBSA, taking the partnership to a new level.

“The AFD wishes to support the growth of a strategic partner for the African continent by providing financial resources adapted to its needs, strengthening the operational partnership in the identification, prospecting and cofinancing with the AFD and its private-sector subsidiary, Proparco, and strengthening the DBSA’s capacity to integrate climate change in its financing activity,” AFD CEO Rémy Rioux said in a statement.

“This new credit line and the expanded partnership with the DBSA in favour of sustainable infrastructure financing are at the crux of our strategy in Africa. We aim to finance and exchange expertise on projects that enhance Sustainable Development Goals.”