Thinking about applying to our Graduate Programme but need more info? We’ve got you covered! 🏢 Join us on October 15th at our London office for an exclusive event from 17:30-19:30. This is your chance to learn everything about the world of development finance and how to crush it in the application process. What’s on deck: 👉 Get the 411 on British International Investment and what it means to be part of a development finance institution. 👉Dive deep into what you’ll do as a Graduate Analyst. 👉Get insider tips from our recruitment team—this is GOLD if you want to succeed! 👉 Connect with impact and investment pros and our current grads to hear their stories and experiences. ❗ Spots are limited! Register your interest now and we’ll hit you up with all the details. #EventAlert #GraduateProgramme # Register with the link in the comments
About us
We are the UK's development finance institution and impact investor, backed by the UK Government. With over 75 years’ experience, we are a trusted investment partner to businesses in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. We invest to create more productive, sustainable and inclusive economies, enabling people to build better lives for themselves and their communities. We currently partner with nearly 1,500 businesses, working with our investees to help them succeed and grow impactful businesses.
- Website
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http://www.bii.co.uk
External link for British International Investment
- Industry
- Financial Services
- Company size
- 501-1,000 employees
- Headquarters
- London
- Type
- Public Company
- Specialties
- Development finance, Emerging markets investment , Private Equity fund investing, Impact investing , Microfinance, Debt finance, Equity finance, Africa, Asia, Climate finance, and Gender lens investing
Locations
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Primary
123 Victoria street
London, SW1E 6DE, GB
Employees at British International Investment
Updates
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As part of our series looking back at the conversations shared at the UN General Assembly meetings, next we look at energy access in Africa. Our Chair, Diana Layfield joined discussions on increasing energy access, and the challenges and opportunities to scaling renewable energy. At BII, we continue to pioneer approaches and products throughout the continent, investing where others aren’t. But how can we do more and at scale? There are several lessons to build on. First, there’s the essential role government transparency and clarity plays to increase renewable energy projects. There is also a clear need to invest in grid infrastructure and create space for the private sector. And finally, capital and the right type of capital. For example, we know that blended finance is crucial to delivering affordable energy access to rural populations via mini-grids and solar home systems.
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At UN General Assembly Week in New York, we joined conversations about digital access in Africa. More specifically the challenges and opportunities for addressing the digital divide. At SEMAFOR's ‘The Next 3 Billion’ event, our Chair Diana Layfield, joined a panel discussion on driving greater digital access. During the event Diana spoke about access to affordable and quality internet being a challenge despite some of the progress that has been made. She pointed out that a holistic approach across the entire digital ecosystem and value chain is needed to address these challenges. Watch the event video on the link in the comments.
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During UN General Assembly Week in New York, we were part of a number of conversations about the future of development – exploring topics from mobilising private investment to improving digital access; from energy access to being prepared for future pandemics. At BII, we're eager to continue the dialogue and share our insights on some of the discussions we had there. One event our Chair, Diana Layfield, spoke at was the Global Africa Business Initiative’s Unstoppable Africa event, on a panel called ‘Africa as THE investment destination’. She discussed the ways in which private sector investment could be sparked into action across a number of sectors. The discussion explored how demonstrating commercial viability can pave the way for institutional investors, and unlock growth opportunities in Africa. Learn more about the work BII is doing in this space by clicking the link in the comments.
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Investing in women, especially in the agriculture sector, has a positive impact on productivity, food security and overall empowerment. It makes sense. Research has shown women entrepreneurs are more likely to start businesses with a sustainability focus, but often lack access to appropriate credit to effectively scaleup their businesses. We want to shine a light on the opportunity that exists here and to open doors for these entrepreneurs. Our recent report, ‘How can gender- and climate-smart approaches unlock financing for SME agribusinesses in West Africa?’, aims to help financial service providers identify credit opportunities within the food and agriculture sector and adopt an inclusive and climate-smart approach. Read it in the link below in the comments
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In founding GIP Ghana, we aim to provide long-term flexible capital, primarily in local currency, to SMEs. Fido is a great example of the kinds of companies we hope to benefit and opportunities we want to create. Learn more about the our relationship with GIP, the work it's doing and the companies it's supporting in the link in the comments.
Growth Investment Partners (GIP) Ghana is investing in Fido to boost financial inclusion in the West African country. Fido is a digital lender to low-income workers, micro-entrepeneurs and businesses who have limited access to traditional financial services. GIP is an investment platform that British International Investment launched in 2023 to provide long-term and flexible local currency financing to SMEs in Ghana. "We are thrilled that GIP Ghana’s second investment will support the growth of Fido, a pioneering fintech company dedicated to expanding financial services to underserved communities in Ghana," says Kwabena Asante-Poku Jnr, CFA, coverage director for Ghana at British International Investment. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dkncRcsj * Stay ahead in Africa's private equity and venture capital sector with Africa Private Equity News’ monthly Dealmaker’s Log – a database of reported investment deals, exits, and fundraising closes. Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/duy5dWPs Alon Eitan
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Congratulations to our partner Gridworks, along with Songa Energy on this impressive milestone in Burundi. BII founded Gridworks as a commitment to developing and investing in Africa’s electricity networks. It provides long-term capital to transmission, distribution and distributed renewable energy businesses, both on and off-grid. A partner to governments, utilities, and companies in the energy sector, its goal is to connect Africa’s people and its businesses to reliable, affordable power.
Very proud to see the Upper Mulembwe hydropower project in Burundi breaking ground! The 9MW project is the largest private energy project in the country and, thanks to Gridworks' capital, is being developed by Songa Energy, a subsidiary of our investee company Anzana Electric Group (formerly Virunga Power). A special thanks to the Minister for Energy, Hydraulics and Mines, Hon. Ibrahim Uwizeye, and representatives from the US embassy and UK High Commission in Burundi for joining the event yesterday. Burundi faces a significant energy challenge. Only 12% of the country's population has access to electricity, with that number falling to 2% in rural areas. With mountainous terrain and consistent surface water flow, Burundi is an ideal country for the development of small hydropower. Anzana's portfolio in Burundi also includes the Ruvyironza Hydroelectric Power Station, which began construction in 2023 and is expected to be commissioned early next year. The two projects are expected to generate more than 60 GWh/year. #AfricanEnergy #Burundi #electricity Alison Thorpe British International Investment
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Increasing the level of private investment in emerging economies is essential. BII is proud to be launching a new facility to boost the flow of private capital into these countries. The new facility aims to unlock private capital in climate and sustainability-focused investments in emerging economies that are currently deemed to be too risky by global investors. As a development finance institution, we aim to use concessionary finance to give global investors the confidence to put their capital where it is most needed. Learn more about the facility below (link in comments).
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Bringing greater access to electricity in Africa has long been a priority for BII. This is why we’re proud to support Mission 300, which aims to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030. Our Chair, Diana Layfield joined our partners at the The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week, as it set out its support for the Mission 300 initiative. At BII, we have contributed by: - Being proactive in developing the solar home system industry, with the companies we support now providing access to clean power to 38 million people. - Founding Gridworks, which was set up to develop and invest in critical electricity network infrastructure in Africa. - Providing catalytic capital to address a broad range of climate challenges, including access to energy. We have ambitions to do much more and look forward to playing an active role in the Mission 300 initiative.
⚡️#PoweringAfrica takes real change. Change that requires collaborative action. That's why The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) Leadership Council (GLC) is here to support Mission 300. Together, we're accelerating Mission 300. Our aim is to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030. This will change more than 300 million lives and we have more than three dozen leaders committed to making this change. Read the press release for more: https://lnkd.in/d9WfUi27 #LetsChangeEnergy by #PoweringAfrica☀️ Woochong Um Joseph N. Damilola Ogunbiyi Andrew Herscowitz Jonas Gahr Støre Rajiv J. Shah Eric Phillip Gay The World Bank The World Bank Group African Development Bank Group Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) The Rockefeller Foundation Bezos Earth Fund IKEA Foundation British International Investment Agence Française de Développement onepoint5 European Investment Bank (EIB) IFC - International Finance Corporation Green Climate Fund RMI Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
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We’re pleased to partner with the G7 development finance institutions, MedAccess, European Investment Bank (EIB), and IFC - International Finance Corporation to support future pandemic responses. Our Chair, Diana Layfield, joined the group to sign a memorandum of understanding at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The initiative is an important step to reduce the impact of future pandemics on vulnerable populations. It further cements our commitment, as the UK’s development finance institution, to invest in businesses providing essential health services and products, including vaccines. For example, we’re proud to have founded MedAccess, to increase access to life-changing medical supplies. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CDP KfW DEG Agence Française de Développement Proparco Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)