British International Investment Targets £9bn Investment Drive for Africa in New Five-Year Strategy

British International Investment Targets £9bn Investment Drive for Africa in New Five-Year Strategy

LONDON, UK, April 23, 2026 — British International Investment (BII), the United Kingdom’s development finance institution and impact investor, has unveiled an ambitious new five-year strategy aimed at unlocking £9 billion in investment for Africa to accelerate economic growth and development across the continent.

At the core of the plan is a renewed push to mobilise private capital into underserved markets. BII will directly commit close to £5 billion, while the remaining funds are expected to be sourced from both African and international private investors. Leveraging nearly 80 years of investment experience in Africa, the institution plans to use its capital strength, partnerships, and risk appetite to attract financing into sectors and regions that have traditionally struggled to secure investment.

A key feature of the strategy is a stronger focus on frontier markets, particularly countries classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries (LDCs). BII has pledged that at least 25 per cent of its total investments will be directed toward these markets, where over a billion people live despite limited access to private capital due to structural challenges.

Within Africa, BII intends to concentrate efforts on selected frontier economies such as Sierra Leone and Zambia. Its approach will combine direct investment with policy engagement, technical support, and strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening local investment climates and capital markets.

The institution will prioritise high-impact sectors including financial services, power, transport, trade, digital infrastructure, and sustainable industries—areas seen as critical to long-term economic transformation.

Speaking on the strategy, UK Minister for Development Jenny Chapman emphasised a shift in the country’s development philosophy. She noted that the UK is moving away from traditional aid models toward long-term partnerships that integrate investment, expertise, and policy reform.

“A modern development approach means using every tool available—from finance and research to diplomacy—to support sustainable growth and job creation,” she said, adding that BII will play a central role in delivering this vision.

Also commenting, Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII, highlighted the institution’s longstanding presence on the continent.

“Africa has always been central to BII’s mission. This strategy sharpens our focus on where we can have the greatest impact—particularly in frontier markets—by combining investment with deep local insight and global partnerships,” he said.

Climate finance is another major pillar of the plan. BII aims to allocate at least 40 per cent of its investments to climate-related projects, an increase from its previous 30 per cent target. With nearly 600 million Africans still lacking access to electricity, the institution plans to support renewable energy development, strengthen power infrastructure, and expand access to clean energy solutions.

These efforts will align with broader initiatives such as Mission 300, which seeks to connect 300 million people across Africa to electricity by 2030.

In addition, BII will expand its “market-level impact” approach—investments designed not just to support individual companies, but to develop entire sectors and ecosystems.

Gender-focused investing will also receive increased attention, with a target for 30 per cent of new investments to meet the criteria of the 2X Challenge, which promotes women’s economic empowerment.

About BII
British International Investment invests in businesses across developing economies to tackle poverty, drive economic growth, and address climate challenges. The organisation currently supports more than 1,600 businesses across 66 countries, with total net assets valued at £9.87 billion.