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  • Our focus in the ACP region
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  • Our focus in the ACP region
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  • The EIB focuses on private sector development and vital infrastructure as its core priorities in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
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  • The EIB focuses on private sector development and vital infrastructure as its core priorities in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Our activities are carried out in line with the EU Agenda for Change and the Sustainable Development Goals, and we support the EU’s New Consensus for Development, which is also based around these focus areas. On the ground, this means we can reach many kinds of operation, and more people than may be expected.

    The private sector

    Digital economy

    The EIB believes in businesses which use technology to benefit the poorest people, finding solutions for healthcare, education and financial services.

    The private sector

    Financial sectors

    Developing local and regional financial sectors is vital to enhancing access to finance and to sustainable economic development. We provide credit lines also in local currency, guarantees, invest in funds, microfinance, provide financing for capital expenditure of financial institutions and build capacity across the board.

    The private sector

    Small and medium businesses

    We provide the financial resources, tools and advice to invest in small enterprises – the driving force for economic growth and employment across the world. The EIB also makes financing available to MidCaps (companies of 250 to 3 000 employees).

    The private sector

    Corporates and industry

    We support European businesses looking to invest worldwide and in sustainable industrial development programmes in the ACP/OCT regions.

    Sustainable infrastructure

    Sustainable infrastructure

    The EIB invests in sustainable infrastructure in water and sanitation, energy, transport and telecommunications. These lay the platform on which the private sector can develop.

    Cross-cutting priorities

    Climate action

    The Bank invests in projects in climate change mitigation and adaptation. These lessen the carbon footprint, and help prepare for more frequent and more extreme climactic events.

    Cross-cutting priorities

    Fragile economies

    The EIB provides long-term financing and technical assistance to provide an economic kick start in countries affected by conflict, natural disasters and epidemics.

    Cross-cutting priorities

    Food security

    The EIB invests in agribusiness projects, increasing food security and creating good jobs in rural areas.

    Cross-cutting priorities

    Gender equality and youth

    Where possible, the EIB prioritises initiatives which support women and young people, and which level the playing field.

    Cross-cutting priorities

    Migration

    We contribute to tackling the root causes of migration through meeting the needs of smallholders, small businesses, creating dedicated financial instruments and exploring new and emerging sectors. We also finance investments that improve economic resilience in ACP countries that host a large number of refugees.

    Cross-cutting priorities

    Regional integration

    The Bank supports projects which bring countries and regions together, in the financial sector and in shared infrastructure operations which connect people and businesses.

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  • In focus: Small and medium businesses

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  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups and entrepreneurs all play a pivotal role in strong economies, and they are the means for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) to develop and diversify further. However there remain significant obstacles to progress for ambitious companies, and the EIB is focused on helping to overcome these.

    SMEs will be crucial in the achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals, and thus they should be prioritised. The EIB has several ways to support them, and also to invest in the infrastructure which is required to enable them to thrive. We have been doing this for some years now, and while the concept has not necessarily changed, the means of delivery most certainly have.

    From bus factories to sisal farms

    The EIB invests in microfinance institutions, equity funds and venture capital and also extends credit lines to financial intermediaries. Taken together, these instruments all bring funding to SMEs where it was not previously available or accessible. This means that the EIB can support projects as diverse as a bus factory in Senegal and a sisal farm in Kenya, in addition to the thousands of microenterprises who have benefitted from our lending to microfinance institutions across the ACP regions.

    Small businesses are the drivers of the economy, and the creators of the good jobs that people want. Entrepreneurs and innovators find solutions to the problems that entire populations can face. They all play a part in inclusive economic development, and thanks to the ACP Investment Facility and the Impact Financing Envelope, the EIB has the instruments to support companies of all shapes and sizes.

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  • Last modified-on: 18-05-2022