Ecobank DRC secures $30M BII facility to boost SME financing

Ecobank DRC, a subsidiary of the Lomé-based leading independent pan-African banking group, Ecobank Group, has secured a $30 million risk-sharing facility from British International Investment (BII) to expand SME financing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, strengthening credit access for underserved businesses.

The facility will support lending to small and medium-sized enterprises operating across key sectors, including agriculture, agro-processing, infrastructure, renewable energy, and industrial projects, areas central to the country’s economic growth.

The agreement comes as development finance institutions intensify efforts to unlock private-sector capital in frontier African markets, where SMEs face persistent barriers, including limited collateral, high borrowing costs, and restricted access to long-term financing.

How the facility works

Under the arrangement, BII will share the credit risk on new and existing SME loans originated by Ecobank DRC, enabling the bank to extend more flexible and longer-tenor financing to businesses.

The structure reduces lender exposure while increasing the volume of loans that can be deployed into the real economy.

Focus on underserved businesses

SMEs remain a key driver of employment and economic activity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but face one of Africa’s largest financing gaps.

BII said the partnership aligns with its strategy to support private-sector growth in high-potential but underserved markets. “Small and medium-sized enterprises are at the heart of economic development and job creation in the DRC, yet many continue to face significant barriers in accessing capital,” said Chris Chijiutomi. Ecobank DRC CEO Joel Kabuya described the facility as a strategic move to scale SME lending while maintaining prudent risk management standards.

Part of broader Africa investment strategy

The transaction marks BII’s second risk-sharing facility with Ecobank Group, following a similar deal with Ecobank Sierra Leone in 2024.

It is also being implemented under the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA), a platform backed by BII, FMO, and Proparco to channel investment into frontier African economies.

Why this matters

Despite vast natural resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to face limited access to formal financing, particularly for small businesses.

Risk-sharing facilities backed by development finance institutions have emerged as a key tool to unlock commercial lending, support job creation, and drive economic diversification. The Ecobank DRC–BII partnership is expected to expand SME credit access, strengthen domestic supply chains, and position the bank as a leading SME lender in the Congolese market.

For BII, the deal reinforces its commitment to increasing investment exposure in frontier markets, with at least 25% of capital allocated to least developed countries under its five-year strategy.