Development Bank of Southern Africa

Direct (Regional)

Type: Direct (Regional)
Date approved: 07 Mar 2016
Size: Large
ESS Category: Category A, Intermediation 1
Fiduciary standards: Basic, Project management, Grant award, On-lending/blending (Loan), On-lending/blending (Equity), On-lending/blending (Guarantee)

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) based in South Africa, is a national entity, specifically a development finance institution, with a mandate to finance both private and public sector activities at national and regional levels in Africa. DBSA provides sustainable infrastructure project preparation, finance and implementation support in order to improve the population’s quality of life, accelerating the sustainable reduction of poverty and inequity, and promoting broad-based economic growth and regional economic integration. DBSA primarily focuses on the water, energy, transport, and information and communication technology sectors. It offers secondary services at the local level in the health, education and housing sectors. Its environment and climate change portfolio for the financial year 2014/2015 was worth approximately US$ 530 million and included renewable energy, energy efficiency, biodiversity and sustainable land management projects. DBSA in partnership with the national environmental affairs department has established and manages a special fund as a national mechanism that aims to provide catalytic finance to facilitate investment in high-impact and sustainable green initiatives in the country in which it is based, as well as to support poverty reduction and job creation. DBSA sought accreditation in order to support the GCF in acting as a key contributor to innovative and risk-sharing approaches in projects that contribute towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development.