BII Launches £9 Billion Africa Investment Strategy to Drive Economic Growth BII Launches £9 Billion Africa Investment Strategy to Drive Economic Growth

British International Investment (BII) has launched its new five-year strategy with the aim of driving £9 billion of new capital into Africa to support economic growth.

The UK’s development finance institution announced it will commit nearly £5 billion of its own capital over the five-year period, while mobilising the remaining balance from domestic and international private investors.

This strategy represents BII’s largest-ever commitment to the African continent, surpassing its current Africa portfolio by 21%.

A key feature of the new approach is an increased allocation to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), with at least 25 per cent of total investments earmarked for these economies, many of which are located in Africa and continue to face structural barriers to attracting capital.

BII has identified countries such as Sierra Leone and Zambia as priority markets where it will combine financing with policy engagement, technical support, and partnerships to strengthen investment ecosystems.

Sectorally, the institution will channel funds into areas considered critical to economic transformation, including financial services, energy, transport, trade, digital infrastructure, and sustainable industries.

The strategy also aims to scale investments that deliver broader “market-level impact,” targeting systemic improvements beyond individual firms.

BII has raised its climate finance ambition to 40 per cent of total investments, up from 30 per cent previously, as it seeks to address Africa’s energy deficit.

With an estimated 600 million people lacking access to electricity across the continent, BII will back renewable energy projects, grid expansion, and off-grid solutions to expand power access.

The approach reflects a broader shift toward blended finance, where public capital is used to de-risk investments and crowd in private funding to underserved markets.