The facility will allow Ecobank DRC to extend more loans to businesses by sharing part of the lending risk with BII, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor.

The initiative is expected to support enterprises operating in key sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, infrastructure, manufacturing, renewable energy and climate-focused projects.

The agreement comes at a time when access to credit remains a major obstacle for businesses in the DRC.

According to World Bank data cited in recent reports, many companies in the country continue to rely heavily on internal funding because bank lending remains limited, particularly for smaller enterprises that often struggle to meet collateral requirements.

BII said the partnership aligns with its newly launched five-year investment strategy, under which at least a quarter of its new investments will be directed towards frontier markets and UN-designated Least Developed Countries.

The institution has increasingly focused on using risk-sharing mechanisms to encourage lending in markets where commercial financing remains difficult to access.

Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at BII, said the initiative is designed to unlock more long-term financing for businesses that are central to the country’s economy.